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The title Oneself as Another is the key to the entire book. Ricœur proposes a startling dialectic:
In the final, tenth study, Ricoeur addresses the ontological status of the self. If the self is not a fixed substance, what is it? Ricoeur concludes that the self exists as a mode of "attestation."
"Oneself as Another" (French title: "Soi-même comme un autre") is a philosophical work by Paul Ricoeur, a French philosopher known for his contributions to hermeneutics, phenomenology, and narrative theory. The book, published in 1990, is the culmination of Ricoeur's long-term project to explore the concept of self and identity.
Ricoeur introduces the concept of "narrative identity" (identité narrative), which posits that our sense of self is constructed through the stories we tell about ourselves and our lives. He draws on the ideas of philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Hannah Arendt, as well as literary theorists like Northrop Frye and Gérard Genette. Ricoeur argues that our narrative identity is constantly evolving, as we reinterpret our past experiences and reconfigure our sense of self. paul ricoeur oneself as another pdf
The PDF explores how these capacities are constituted through recognition by the other.
If you are looking to download or read the , look for authorized academic repositories, university libraries, or digital editions published by the University of Chicago Press to ensure you are getting Kathleen Blamey’s definitive English translation. If you'd like to explore this text further, let me know:
In conclusion, Paul Ricoeur's "Oneself as Another" is a rich and complex philosophical work that explores the concept of self and identity. Ricoeur's dialectical approach, which emphasizes the interplay between sameness and selfhood, provides a nuanced understanding of the human condition. His ideas on narrative identity, the role of others, and the concept of "oneself as another" continue to inspire philosophical debates and interdisciplinary research. The title Oneself as Another is the key to the entire book
The absolute, self-assured certainty of the self (e.g., René Descartes’ "I think, therefore I am").
True happiness is not solitary. It involves flourishing as an individual. With and For Others
Idem refers to numerical and qualitative sameness. It answers the question This is the aspect of identity that remains constant over time due to structure or repetition. Ricoeur concludes that the self exists as a
By exploring Ricoeur's philosophy, particularly "Oneself as Another," readers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of self and identity. Ricoeur's work continues to inspire philosophical reflection, interdisciplinary research, and critical thinking about the human condition.
Furthermore, in clinical psychology, directly cites Ricoeur. In legal theory, his work on "the capable human being" informs disability rights. In political science, the phrase "just institutions" is a cornerstone of communitarian liberalism.
Ricoeur argues that the selfhood (ipseity) is not a solipsistic fortress. Instead, the self is disclosed only through the detour of the other—other people, other cultures, and crucially, the otherness within oneself. This is not a theory of alienation but one of attestation : the assurance of existing as a self amid vulnerability and difference.
Oneself as Another fundamentally reshaped contemporary ethics and narrative psychology. It provides a vital framework for medical ethics, legal theory, and identity politics today. By proving that "selfhood implies otherness to such an intimate degree that one cannot be thought of without the other," Ricoeur offers a deeply compassionate, rigorously intellectual antidote to the hyper-individualism of the modern era.
