Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the text—and the reason the title remains iconic—is the final turn in Ricoeur's argument. He posits that one cannot truly be a "self" without an "other."

Ricoeur’s most famous contribution in this work is the distinction between two types of identity:

"Oneself as Another" has had a significant impact on various fields, including philosophy, literary theory, and theology. Ricoeur's work has influenced thinkers such as Jean-Luc Marion, Michel Henry, and Dan Stiver, among others.

In the digital age, this resonates deeply. We define ourselves by who we follow, who we block, and who we interact with. Ricoeur argues that this is ontological, not just technological. We are constituted by our relationships. The "Other" is not an obstacle to the self, but the condition of its possibility.

paul ricoeur oneself as another pdf