Otherness of the self in Paul Ricoeur

Abstract

In Paul Ricoeur, the self is a reflective and practical subject, identified through language and recognized by its capacities, without denying its fallibilities. The identity of this subject is an achievement that takes into account its relational field. In this sense, the theme of otherness in Paul Ricoeur is not a discourse in favor of otherness in a primary, revendicative sense. Rather, it is a claim for singularity (of the self) amidst multiplicity. For our author, otherness has a polysemic character, and can be expressed in various ways, such as: one’s own body or flesh, the stranger or that which is different from the self, and conscience or inner forum. The otherness of the self is the subject of this article, as an unfolding of the theme of self-identity. Our aim is to further broaden the horizon of the theme of self-identity, including pointing toward the continuation of this reflection.