Mittelbarkeit

Mittelbarkeit is a term from German philosophy and epistemology that denotes the state or quality of being mediated rather than immediate. It refers to how perception, judgment, or knowledge claims depend on intermediate mediators—such as sensory input, cognitive concepts, or social practices—that stand between the subject and the object. The concept is commonly contrasted with Unmittelbarkeit (immediacy or directness).

In classical German philosophy, especially in Kantian terms, all knowledge of objects of experience is considered mediated. The mind contributes the forms of sensibility, such as space and time, and applies categories to organize phenomena. Consequently, objects as we know them are appearances mediated by our cognitive faculties, and not things in themselves revealed directly. The degree and character of Mittelbarkeit are central to discussions about the limits of knowledge, the status of synthetic a priori judgments, and the conditions under which experience is possible.

Beyond Kant, Mittelbarkeit appears in phenomenology, hermeneutics, and media theory to describe how interpretation and experience are shaped by mediation through language, signs, or technological media. In aesthetics and art theory, it can refer to how meaning, value, or impact is conveyed through representation and form. In social theory, it may denote the mediation of social reality by institutions, discourses, or infrastructures.

In short, Mittelbarkeit captures the idea that contact with the object is mediated by intermediate factors rather than direct, unmediated access. See also Unmittelbarkeit, Mediation, Erkenntnistheorie.