Abstract: This essay tries to reflect on some structural characteristics of homo capax as it has been explicitly thought by Ricoeur from his 1990 work, Soi-même comme un autre. Thus, what we will question are not the capacities that Ricoeur analyzes from 1990, being able to act, say, narrate and narrate oneself, and consider themselves attributable to the consequences of their actions, but the being capable itself. What does it mean to be able? Is it, as Ricoeur himself affirms, an essential character of man's humanity? Is it a priori therefore? The thesis that we would like to defend is, firstly, that the background of capacity is its being in relation and passibility, and secondly, that only in the encounter with the other does the capable being stylize its powers with which it will open up to the world.
Keywords: Ricoeur, homo capax, being in relation, patience, affirmation.
Abstract: This essay aims to reflect on some structural characteristics of the homo capax as it has been explicitly conceived by Ricoeur since his 1990 work, Soi-même comme un autre. What we examine are not the capabilities that Ricoeur analyzes starting in 1990, to be able to act, speak, narrate, and be narrated, and to be regarded as attributable to the consequences of one's actions, but rather the capable human being itself. What does it mean to be capable? Is it, as Ricoeur himself says, part of the essential nature of man's humanity? Is it therefore a priori? The thesis that we would like to defend is that, first, the background of capability is man's being in relation and passibility, and second, only in encounters with the other does the capable human being stylize the powers with which it opens the world.
Keywords: Ricoeur, homo capax, being in relation, patience, affirmation.