Mr Christopher Burdett
(he/him)

BA, MA

Research student

I am a PhD student at Cardiff University. The focus of my research is the philosophy of interpersonal relations. I wish to use Sartre's conception of human relations to advance our understanding of why we often treat the poorest those whom we are closest to.

Thesis

How does the philosophical problem of otherness manifest itself within human relations?

In my research, I claim that common behaviours manifested in interpersonal relations, including invalidation, denial,
and manipulation, are illuminated by a discussion of the philosophical problem of the Other, as formulated by the 20th Century French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre. I define these behaviours as follows:

Invalidation: An attempt to negate the credibility of another’s opinion/output. In some instances, there may be no clear reason given why the other’s opinion is not valid.
Denial: An individual may deny the experiences of the other. This may allow an individual to excuse themselves for
the way they treat another, for the failure to acknowledge, say, the pain caused, allows one to evade guilt.
Manipulation: An individual may attempt to manipulate the view that another individual has of them. This may be by using the aforementioned behaviours. This may also be by more overt means, such as gaslighting an individual, thus making them question the conceptualisation they have formed.

The problem of the Other, and of interpersonal relations, is explored in Part 3 of Sartre’s Being and Nothingness. He
claims that relations with others “are wholly governed by my attitudes with respect to the object which I am for the
Other […;] the Other’s existence reveals to me the being which I am without my being able either to appropriate that being or even to conceive it” (1943, 385). Our ‘being-for-others’, as Sartre calls it, is a fundamental aspect of our
identities, yet, is also an aspect which I am not in total control of, for this conceptualisation is enacted by the other, and thus all I can do is attempt to ensure that this conceptualisation is coincident with the conception of my self which I wish to confirm as ‘me’. Conflict is a key feature of Sartre’s conception of interpersonal relations. Sartre even goes as far as asserting that “[c]onflict is the original meaning of being-for-others” (386) and Cox (2006) summarises Sartre’s view of interpersonal relations as a “ceaseless, unresolvable power-struggle” (2006, 46). I contend that a significant cause of this ‘power struggle’ is this battle to ensure that the ‘self’, which is reflected back at me by the Other, is one that is coincident with the sense of self which I wish to take ownership of. Behaviours, such as those mentioned above, can thus be viewed as the tools wielded in the course of such a struggle. Such behaviours have also been documented in landmark empirical studies of relations conducted by thinkers such as Laing (1964) and Henry (1965). Research must now determine why such behaviours are so widespread in interpersonal relations. It is surely false to suggest that such behaviours are only exhibited in unloving relations (for if this were the case, then the prevalence of such behaviours would result in a position which would deny the plausible view that there are, and we are engaged in, loving relationships). I argue that the answer to understanding this difficult aspect of interpersonal relations can be found by building upon the framework set out by Sartre.

This project addresses a gap in the philosophical literature. Existing works by figures such as Levinas (1961) and Buber (1923) fall short in examining the lived experiences of interpersonal relations. The exploration of the behaviours exhibited within interpersonal relations, is generally omitted by philosophy. This is what my project offers, and this is necessary to further our understanding in not only philosophy, but also in contemporary debates relating to psychiatry and ethics. In Sartre’s critique we find a phenomenological examination of one self being confronted with another. In recent years there has been a revival of the interest in Sartre’s work, precisely owing to the relevance that his phenomenological account of interpersonal relations can yield in a number of issues including psychiatry, ethics and politics.

The significance of my research transcends the realm of existential philosophy and makes a contribution to the realm of philosophical counselling, whereby further research would be suited to the question of how one can understand and develop human well-being. This research also has the potential to further the discussion concerning our understanding of abusive relationships and supporting individuals involved within such relations. Thus, the implications are far-reaching, providing an essential contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics underlying interpersonal relationships and, by extension, all human connections

I completed my Undergraduate Degree at UWE Bristol in 2015. Upon completion of my degree, I began a PGCE at Exeter University, and I then taught at Secondary level for 2 years, before going to Bristol University to study for my Master's Degree in Philosophy. My Master's was awarded a Distinction, with my thesis, titled: I'm your lark-mirror, my
dear, and you can't escape me” Is it Possible to have a Good Faith Relationship with The Other? also receiving a distinction. After completing my Master's Degree I began teaching at a large Sixth Form College in East London. I began working at the college in 2020 and began teaching full-time in 2021. My A-level teaching experience includes Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics), Government and Politics, and Philosophy. I am now teaching at the College Part Time (Tuesday and Thursday) while completing my PhD.