Außenwelt

Außenwelt is a German noun meaning the external world, i.e., everything outside one's own mind, body, or private sphere. It denotes the objectively given environment as opposed to the Innenwelt, the inner world of thoughts, feelings, and subjective experiences. In everyday language it can refer to the physical world beyond a room or house, as well as to social and cultural surroundings outside a person’s immediate life.

In philosophy and the theory of perception the distinction between Innenwelt and Außenwelt is common. The term emphasizes the outward aspect of reality accessible to perception or measurement, while many theories question how such an external world is known or whether it can be separated from the perceiving subject. Related notions include Umwelt (surrounding environment) and broader discussions of worldhood in phenomenology and epistemology. In literature and media, Außenwelt is often used to frame themes of alienation, contact with reality, or the contrast between private and public spaces.

Etymology: Außenwelt combines Außen (outer, external) with Welt (world). It appears in modern German from the early modern period onward and remains a standard expression for the world beyond the private or interior sphere.