Perhaps the most famous contribution of Oneself as Another is its conceptual distinction between two Latin terms for identity: idem and ipse . This distinction is the key to unlocking the book’s central problem: how can a person remain the same person throughout all the changes of a lifetime?
The foundational premise of Oneself as Another relies on a linguistic distinction regarding identity that is often lost in the single English word "same." Ricœur splits identity into two distinct concepts:
In French, the title plays on the phrase soi-même comme un autre , but it also evokes the Latin legal maxim alter ipse (another oneself). Ricoeur argues that to truly understand who we are, we must recognize that the "self" is not a solitary, transparent entity locked inside our heads. Instead, we only come to know ourselves through language, through our actions, through our moral obligations, and through the eyes of others. paul ricoeur oneself as another pdf
The foundational desire for personal happiness, self-esteem, and flourishing. Solicitude Dialogical
The best, safest, and most ethical approach is to use the legitimate methods described above. Accessing the text properly ensures that you are supporting the publisher and the continued availability of this vital philosophical work. Perhaps the most famous contribution of Oneself as
“Selfhood of oneself implies otherness to such an intimate degree that one cannot be thought of without the other.”
This public link is valid for 7 days and shares a thread, including any personal information you added. This link or copies made by others cannot be deleted. If you share with third parties, their policies apply. Can’t copy the link right now. Try again later. Ricoeur argues that to truly understand who we
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The book's ethical and political dimensions, explored in its final three studies, are where its practical implications become most clear. Ricoeur argues that self-esteem—an appropriate, non-narcissistic regard for one's own capacity to act—is the ethical aim of the self. But the pursuit of this aim cannot be carried out in isolation. It inevitably leads to , an ethical concern for the other person. Furthermore, the act of narrating one's life is an inherently dialogical act, performed for and in relation to an audience of others. Selfhood is realized in the space of recognition between people, a space that is then extended by institutions into the sphere of justice , where each individual counts as one.
Heavily influenced by Aristotle, Ricoeur focuses on teleological ethics—the pursuit of happiness, self-esteem, and living well with friends and neighbors.