Previous
Liberalism
Intersubjective reality refers to ideas, beliefs, and constructs that exist not in the physical world or purely within individual minds, but within the shared consciousness of groups. These realities gain power and longevity through collective human agreement, enabling large-scale cooperation among strangers. Examples include money, nations, corporations, and legal systems—none of which have objective existence but function because people collectively believe in them. In Homo Deus, Harari identifies intersubjective realities as the foundation of human civilization. He argues that Homo sapiens’ unique ability to create and maintain these shared myths is the key to their dominance over other species. Intersubjective realities allow for flexible cooperation in large groups, enabling complex societies, economic systems, and political institutions. However, Harari warns that these realities are fragile; they persist only as long as people continue to believe in them.
Get the entire Homo Deus LitChart as a printable PDF.
"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Intersubjective Reality Term Timeline in Homo Deus
The timeline below shows where the term Intersubjective Reality appears in Homo Deus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3
...says that much of what humans consider reality is not purely objective or subjective but intersubjective—existing only because many people collectively believe in it. Unlike objective realities like gravity, which exist...
(full context)
Dreamtime Harari reiterates that Homo sapiens dominate the world because they alone can create intersubjective realities—shared fictions like laws, corporations, and nations that exist only in collective imagination. While animals...
(full context)
