Self-Interpretation And The Good

This paper studies on Charles Taylor’s theory about identity ethic, which isanalyzed form three levels: ontology, methodology and theory of value. Through theturning of the modern self-identity and its moral origin, this paper would analyze thevalue origin of the crisis about the modern identity. On the basis of the analysis, themodern identity is traced from the construction of utilitarianism, rational theologyidentity and the expressionism. In this sense, solutions to modern identity is exploredin Taylor’s deep thought. In the perspective of ontology, Taylor regards human as beingof language, community and the social Imaginaries. In the perspective of methodology,Taylor integrates philosophy of language and hermeneutics into the understandings ofhuman, in the process of which the philosophical anthropology could come to be in thesense of hermeneutics. From the perspective of theory of value, Two core valuesconstitute Taylor’s ethic thoughts: goodness and freedom. Goodness, as the essentialconditions of human existence, plays a constructive role for the people and providesthe spiritual situation for the meaning and value. Freedom in situation, containing adeep moral origin, is the key point to forming the modern identity and securing thecharacteristics of individual. Most importance attached to solving the crisis of modernidentity should be how to relate the modern self to its moral origin and how toreconstruct the spiritual dimension once lost in the existence of modern people. Taylorhas analyzed the transformation of the inner self and its moral roots. From theperspective of the fusion of horizons, through the reinterpretation of self expression,Taylor gives the Catholic the moral strength in the sense of superior goodness,reconstructing the modern identity and providing the Eden Garden for the modern self.