Reference no: EM133528266

Ethics is a reciprocal relationship between the self and others in the context of vulnerability, benevolence, and self-esteem (definitions of each of these terms are provided below in the Lesson).

Vulnerability is the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. (Oxford Languages)

Benevolence is the disposition to do good, the desire to promote the happiness of others, kindness, generosity, and charitable feeling (as a general state or disposition towards humankind at large). (OED)

Self-esteem is having a good opinion of oneself, high self-regard, and confidence in one's own worth or abilities. (OED)

Reciprocity is the quality, state, or condition of being felt or shared mutually by oneself and others.

2. Self-esteem," he writes, "is said to arise from a primitive reciprocity of spontaneous, benevolent feelings, feelings which one is also capable of directing toward oneself, but only through the benevolence of others." ("Paul Ricoeur," Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, hereafter Ricoeur, IEP).

Let's break this sentence down. It has two parts:

"Self-esteem is said to arise from a primitive reciprocity of spontaneous, benevolent feelings..."

Here, primitive means a thing from which something else is derived; a foundation, a basis; not developed or derived from anything else; archetypal; essential, fundamental. (OED)

The phrase primitive reciprocity implies that feeling or sharing together with others is a foundation of human experience.

Spontaneous means arising or proceeding entirely from natural impulse, without any external stimulus or constraint; voluntary and of one's own accord. (OED)

This is all to say that self-esteem arises from a fundamental condition and impulse of being human that is expressed as a mutual desire to do good and to promote happiness.

"...feelings which one is also capable of directing toward oneself, but only through the benevolence of others."

While we are capable of directing these benevolent feelings - that is, capable of doing good and promoting our own happiness - our benevolent feelings toward ourselves ultimately depend on the benevolence that others show us.

This is to say that because self-esteem is a function of the benevolence of others, self-esteem arises out of a fundamental and mutual vulnerability.
Self-esteem is generated in our interactions with others: "Each of us is tied up with the fate of others." (Ricoeur, IEP) Given this, we begin to see what is at stake, and, indeed, we begin to see that the stakes are very high:

"Because selfhood is something that must be achieved and something dependent upon the regard, words, and actions of others, as well as chancy material conditions, one can fail to achieve selfhood, or one's sense of who one is can fall apart. The narrative coherence of one's life can be lost, and with that loss comes the inability to regard oneself as the worthy subject of a good life; in other words, the loss of self- esteem." (Ricoeur, IEP)

Considering the message on selfhood, what is relationship between self-discovery and self-esteem? Use information above in answer.