THE UNDERSTANDING OF SELF

The Understanding of Self

[Date of Submission]

The Understanding of Self

Introduction

Since the self is conscious of what is other than itself, therefore, self-consciousness has otherness within itself in so far. But self-consciousness is unessential to this 'other'. When conscious of both otherness and sameness, self-consciousness becomes contradictory. This leads to 'unhappy consciousness', which is the divided mode of consciousness and this term, is originated by Hegel. The self is in conflict with itself, when unity is absent between dependent and independent self-consciousness. Not being able to reconcile itself with the 'other' and being divided, this 'unhappy consciousness' is conscious of itself. Unity is brought to the 'other' and the self by the dual self-consciousness, which is the undivided consciousness, on the other hand.

Discussion

The constituted self in cultural units and other phenomena, and in both a philosophical and psychological sense, defines the person's definition of the 'other'. To understand the processes of exclusion of 'others', who do not fits into the society or are subordinated by groups and societies, the concept of otherness has been used in social science (Saxe & Et.al, 2004, pp. 87). As people construct roles for themselves in relation to an 'other' as part of a process of reaction which is not necessarily related to condemnation or stigmatization, the comprehending of a person is also central to the concept of 'otherness'.

Where national character and boundaries can be sustained, and practices of segregation and admittance can be formed, in such case, 'othering' are imperative to national identities. The ability to distinguish between certain or the uncertain, away and home is helped by 'othering'. The 'othering' exploit the 'inferior' others and justifies attempts to civilize and often involves the dehumanization and demonization of groups.

The contrary of the determination, in which the essence of self-consciousness is established, the double-sensedness of being boundless or infinite lies in the essence of self-consciousness. The movement of acknowledging is represented by the laying-apart of the notion of this divine harmony in its replication. The another self-consciousness for self-consciousness has been emerged and hold a two-hold significance, first, for it see itself in the other, rather than the other as the essential being and therefore has done away with the other, and second, as self-consciousness finds itself as another being, therefore, it has lost itself.

The otherness occupied by the self-consciousness, must be considered by it. It is itself a second double-sense as it is the doing away with that of the first double-sense. First, for this other being is itself, it must sets out to do away with itself, and second, in order to become certain of itself as the essential being, it must set out to do away with the other independent being.

According to Hegel, the relationship between slave and master or bondage and lordship, is like the relationship between dependent and independent self-consciousness. Determined by an 'other', the master is independent, whereas, the slave is dependent (Hegel, 1998, pp. 111). For dependent self-consciousness, the consciousness of the 'other' is a determining ...