Do We Need Other People
to understand ourselves?
Prompt
"A better understanding of other people contributes to the development of moral virtues. We shall be both kinder and fairer in our treatment of others if we understand then better. Understanding ourselves and understanding others are connected, since as human beings we all have things in common." Adapted from Anne Sheppard, Aesthetics: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art
Do we need other people in order to understand ourselves? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Do we need other people in order to understand ourselves? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
Thesis
Humans by nature are social animals who learn from others, so in order to fully understand ourselves we must understand others.
I. Genie the Wild Child
-Genie the Wild Child is an example of how social interactions shape who we are from an early age. Genie was locked in a room by her father and wasn't allowed social interactions. -Due to this when Genie was rescued by social services she didn't know how to talk let alone express herself, since this is something learned from others.
II. "We accept the love we think we deserve"
-This quote from Perks of Being a Wallflower illustrates how people will only get into relationships they think they deserve
-If a person is surrounded by people who build them up, their self worth will be higher
-If a person is surrounded by people who build them up, their self worth will be higher
III. Definition by others
-We define ourselves with how we treat people
-ex: I am a loyal person because I would go to the end of the world for my friends
-Couples define each other as "their better half"
-People are a part of who we are
-ex: I am a loyal person because I would go to the end of the world for my friends
-Couples define each other as "their better half"
-People are a part of who we are