A Reflection on

“Charles Taylor on Self-Interpretation: Understanding Interpreter and Interpreted.”

We, human beings, regarded as the highest form of creature on this humane milieu, need to
understand one’s self. There are different views stated in the article which can be of assistance in
our search for the understanding one’s self. These views present different ways on interpreting
the subject (one’s self). And these ways can be truly applied to each individual regarding the
factors each self considers.
As a human being, and as one who wants to interpret one’s self, I want to share some points
on how I understand Self-interpretation. Charles Taylor really opens our minds in this topic. For
me, as how I desire to understand myself, I figured out things as I read this article. We search
meanings by the means of our experiences, knowledge, purpose, understanding, and
responsibility. But either way can be acceptable. It is a matter of making explicit what seems to
be implicit. Questions like “What do I value in life?” can be an aid to make explicit what is
implicit in orientation in life. This can serve as a gateway to one’s understanding and articulating
one’s self in any ways one is capable and comfortable of. It can either be by the language we
spoke, the crafts we made, or the activities which serves as our outlets – which are explicit to our
milieu.
Emotions are valuable to human beings and can be a qualitative criterion in the interpretation
and articulation/expression of one’s self. The concept I am trying to imply is that emotions and
intellect go together. This produces veracity. And this results to a strong and valid string in
making things explicit. We can hold on to this string as our basis and proof for understanding
ourselves or interpreting one’s self as Taylor Charles says.
Living with this searching act leads us to understanding ourselves which is a way to
understanding how to behave and react to things accordingly. Life indeed brings us many
options, but as much as these choices were presented, we can be able to achieve what we are
intended for to this world, to our family, to others, and especially to ourselves.
Don Jayric V. Depalobos, BSN 4