I spent years in my therapy training partly on this exact point which amounts to really knowing that even the simple 'other' with you is a person as real as you

It was in the process of getting to know myself that others became more and more real, too. And how many are willing to follow the edict of many religions, the Oracle at Delphi, the words of many wise people from e.g.Socrates on ,and others, to "Know Thyself"?

We learn many ways to manipulate the environment (which includes others) to get what we want. Much of commonsensical daily life runs counter to treating others as real, flesh-and-blood,feeling people. It can be a lot of hard work ro start to 'get'/have that experience. Really hard work, sometimes. I suspect if we really made that effort, our existing social set-up would break down. That depends on us pigeon-holing and manipulating each other a lot for its very functioning. It's one thing to truly relate with those closest to us. With everyone,on the other hand, is a whole other ball of wax.

Course we'd all be better in terms of functioning and living with each other - being truly responsive, caring, loving, real, present, with each other - having that as the foundation of our society. Tho' how the 'ther(s)' might respond to that 'treatment' is yet another matter. They might not be able to handle it. But......

I dunno.


   Ivor