This discussion paper aims to address the difference between witnessing, on the one hand, and observation, judgment and examination, on the other hand. Through consideration of a social context, these conceptual frameworks will be contrasted in terms of their purpose, the knowledge gained when applied to the social world and social beings as well as the potential implications of their implementation. Conclusions will be drawn from the evidence as to whether these conceptual lenses aid in understanding the social world and, therefore, the nature of the human condition. Arthur W. Frank's The Wounded Story Teller and Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish illustrate the opposing situations of testimony and observation, judgment and examination, through which the underlying social assumptions that enable the application of these instruments are also on display. Frank defines the process of testimony as accepting “the responsibility to tell the story of what happened.” The witness offers testimony to a truth that is generally unrecognized or suppressed” (Reference) whereby “testimony calls its witness to become what none of us yet are, communicative bodies” (Reference). From an interpretive point of view, to bear witness is to recognize otherness in its most natural form, communion, through which one is able to share the experience of emotionally difficult situations in order to lighten the burden of testimony . Michel Foucault as part of his in-depth exploration of the system of discipline and punishment states that “the success of disciplinary power undoubtedly arises from the use of simple instruments; hierarchical observation, standardization of judgment and their combination in a procedure of its own, examination" (Reference), hen...... middle of paper ......After considering the witness d On the one hand, and observation, On the other hand, judgment and examination, in terms of purpose, knowledge acquired and the implications of their application, it is clear that testimony must be the only tool used for the analysis of human beings and as a conceptual framework for human interaction. Testimony as a conceptual lens provides a foundation that enhances our current understanding of the social world and, therefore, the nature of the human condition through the recognition of otherness. Observation, judgment and examination have merit in their ability to create a sense of belonging from the process of normalization and judgment by beginning to value difference. However, they do not help our understanding of the social world because of their corrective focus which eliminates individuality and individuality. anomalies in the human condition.