Supersensible

Supersensible refers to aspects of reality or experience that transcend the limitations of our physical senses and empirical observation. It encompasses that which is beyond the realm of what can be directly perceived through sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell. This often includes spiritual, metaphysical, or abstract concepts like consciousness, the divine, or ideal forms. The supersensible realm is typically explored through reason, intuition, faith, or philosophical inquiry, as it cannot be fully grasped through purely scientific methods. It implies a level of existence or understanding that surpasses our ordinary sensory experience and requires a different mode of apprehension.

Supersensible meaning with examples

• The artist sought to capture the essence of joy, a supersensible emotion, in their painting, striving to convey its intangible nature through color and form, rather than representing a concrete object. The challenge lay in translating the subjective experience into something visually understandable, connecting with the viewer's internal understanding.
• Many religious traditions posit a supersensible realm inhabited by deities or spirits, arguing that these beings interact with the physical world through miracles and divine intervention, demonstrating forces beyond the bounds of natural law, a concept that faith relies upon for believers.
• Philosophers grapple with the nature of consciousness and the mind-body problem, often venturing into supersensible territory to understand how subjective experiences arise from physical processes, searching for explanations beyond purely neurological functions, to grasp human sentience.
• The concept of justice, a supersensible ideal, guides the legal system, attempting to apply abstract principles to concrete situations, often creating debates on fairness and equality. Enforcing law aims to achieve a higher order even when the outcome is difficult.