Fragments

"My Lived Experience"

The phrase's current popularity is understandable, a representative component of the cultural spirit. Used in conversation, it is a summary form of:

"I am the only one who has had my unique set of experiences. Thus, any belief I express shall stand firm in the face of any disagreement as long as I wish it so.”

Note that this represents a certain attitude at least as much as a certain article of faith. More than simply “this is what I believe,” it implies (at least) something like, “any attempt to nuance or argue the matter further with me is likely to be met with a firm defense.”

There is at least one good reason for giving this approach a modicum of credibility. Unless all ideas and beliefs at all times are to be considered by all as merely theoretical or contingent, we must allow ourselves and others a degree of privilege to arrive at what we think of as “understanding” ...no matter how subjective another’s understanding of a thing may seem to be. 

But why only a modicum of credibility? Why shall we not be as unquestioning of another's "lived experience" as s/he seems to wish us to be? The answer is: because we are considering here the realm of one person's subjectivity.

Subjectivity: One person's own unique experiences and the meanings assigned to those experiences, bound up in various ways with one’s individuality, unique awareness (“consciousness”), and giftedness, but which cannot but be in many ways inherited, unconsciously derived, unexamined, self-serving, and habitual.

If I am pursuing anything like adult functionality, or anything approaching wisdom for life, it seems best to give proper value and attention to my own unique experiences and the meanings assigned to those experiences.

It also seems vital to place such priorities not too high on the priority list, given the vast expanse if Reality about which I have little or no awareness, and the great value of all the "lived experiences" of the rest of humanity.