This is the identity of the "who," characterized by the capacity to act, to promise, and to remain responsible even as circumstances and character change. Unlike idem , ipse implies no permanent core and is deeply tied to agency and ethics. Narrative Identity: The "Third Way"
The PDF explores how these capacities are constituted through recognition by the other. paul ricoeur oneself as another pdf
This is the most influential section. Ricoeur argues that human beings are "homo narrans" (storytelling beings). This is the identity of the "who," characterized
Ricoeur replaces the absolute "I think" with —a type of self-assurance or trust. It is the "I can" of the acting self. While this belief is always vulnerable to suspicion, it provides the only stable ground for moral responsibility. This is the most influential section
"Oneself as Another" has received widespread critical acclaim for its nuanced exploration of self and identity. Reviewers have praised Ricoeur's masterful synthesis of philosophical traditions and his insightful analysis of narrative and identity.