Observation is Relative – Structured by Standard Terminology

1. Epistemology (Philosophy of Knowledge)

• Subject (epistemic agent):
  
  A self-aware entity capable of cognition, perception, and intentionality.

• Object (epistemic content):
  
  That which is known, perceived, or thought about by the subject.

• Subject–Object Relation:
  
  A directed relation where knowledge flows from subject → object.

Principle: The same entity may act as subject or object, depending on who observes whom.

2. Phenomenology (Philosophical Analysis of Experience)

• First-Person Perspective:
  
  The self is always the subject of its own conscious experience.

• Other Minds Problem:
  
  Other entities are objects of perception unless we attribute subjectivity to them.

• Intentionality:
  
  All consciousness is about something (i.e., directed toward an object).

Conclusion: Consciousness structures the world as subject–object.

3. Logic and Type Theory

• Observer Function:
  
  observe : Subject × Object → Perception

• Predicate Logic Representation:
  
  Observes(S, O) where S is the subject and O is the object.

• Type Signature (in type theory):
  
  observe : Agent → Entity → Boolean

An agent can be a term in both subject and object positions depending on the formula.

4. Cognitive Science

• Self-Model (Autonoetic Consciousness):
  
  The system represents itself as a subject.

• Theory of Mind:
  
  Representing others as subjects with independent mental states.

• Perspective-Taking:
  
  Switching frames between self-as-subject and other-as-subject.

A cognitive agent treats itself as subject but must model others both as objects and potential subjects.

5. AI and Multi-Agent Systems

• Agent (Subject):
  
  An entity capable of acting, perceiving, and maintaining internal state.

• Environment (Object):
  
  The context or other agents as perceived by the agent.

• Perception Function:
  
  perceive(agent, stimulus) → internal state

Agents can observe each other: Agent A sees Agent B as an object; Agent B may also be an agent-observer.

Unified Statement (Across Disciplines)

An entity E is a subject from its own frame of reference, but can be treated as an object in the cognitive, perceptual, or logical frame of another entity.

Thus, observation is inherently relative and depends on perspective, agency, and modeling level.