<p>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 them 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</p>
<p>Assignment: 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. </p>
<p>Essay:
Oftentimes, it is not possible for us to develop a full, accurate understanding of ourselves without help from family, close friends or even just acquaintances. This is illustrated in the examples below.</p>
<p>In Shakespeares play Much Ado About Nothing, Benedict continually denigrates Beatrice and mocks everything she does. His friends notice this and presume correctly that he has feelings for Beatrice. However, when confronted, he denies this and vehemently expresses his distaste for her. It is only when Benedicks friends concoct a plan to trick him into believing that Beatrice likes him that Benedick comes to terms with the fact that his teasing is actually a cover-up for his romantic feelings for her. Here, Benedick alone had no idea that he was falling for Beatrice; he needed the help of his friends for him to realize this. </p>
<p>Another example of us requiring others input to understand ourselves can be seen in the character of Lily in the novel The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. All along, Lily conjured up an image of her deceased mother as the perfect, immaculate woman. She chastised herself for being a terrible daughter and for making her mother leave. It was only when she ran away from home and was enlightened by the Boatwright sisters that she realized it wasnt her fault. Without the love and care the Boatwright sisters gave to Lily, she would have misunderstood herself and hence would have continued to be self-depreciative.</p>
<p>Lastly, that we alone cannot completely understand ourselves can be adhered to in the contemporary movie, Life Again. In the movie, Alana was homeschooled till she was in high school, and because of this developed the perception that she is an ingenious, hard-working student. However, when she enrolled in a large public high school, she learned that this was not the case. She came to realize that there were hundreds of students her age who were much more diligent and creative than she ever imagined them to be. Alana needed her intelligent peers for her to deflate her egoistical view of herself and to find out that she, in fact, is far from being the best. </p>
<p>In conclusion, we see ourselves differently from how others perceive us. Hence, it is absolutely true to say that it is necessary for others to help us understand ourselves. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
Any graders?</p>