The idea of recognition as an acceptance or rejection of (some part of) someone's humanity, worth, or social standing is very thought-provoking.

But with my scientist hat on--it's very hard for me to take off--I immediately have to ask: but is it true? Or, more precisely, is this a good model of the situation?

Do we know? Has anyone bothered to try to create falsifiable tests of it? Or is it all rhetorical in nature?