Passivity in activity. Beyond the oxymoron

Abstract

The necessity for development of the notion of passivity in the context of >;Me – Other> relationship studies is substantiated. General theoretical approach of activity theory to the study of this relationship is analyzed. The problem of inter-psychic status of psychic functions as a basic one is revised. It is shown that in Sartre's and Levinas' philosophical works self-identity of the subject is disrupted and the possibility to consider activity and passivity of the subject’s relationship with Other in dialectical interconnection is opened up. Current studies of joint attention role in early ontogeny are analyzed. In these studies the idea of “being moved” is introduced (but not elaborated to the scientific notion level) describing the state of developing child. The draft of multi-level description of activity-passivity interconnection is proposed.