Abstract

This dissertation demonstrates how a free individual is shaped through socio-historical experience as well as committed to ethical principles. Such a view entails that ethical inquiry is socio-historically situated, though not arbitrary or unfounded. In order to comprehend the complex role that society and history play in character-formation and in ethics, and in order to balance the equally-important demands of individuality and objectivity, the dissertations shows that ethics must be founded on a theory of selfhood that includes ontology as well as psychology. ;Wilhelm Dilthey and Martin Heidegger each establish a philosophical foundation for selfhood. Despite their intentions, however, neither offers a completely satisfying theory. Dilthey does not take ontology into consideration, and Heidegger fails to understand psychology. Neither thinker's work alone adequately grounds ethics and experience. ;It is possible, however, to read these figures together, such that their ideas complement each other. The dissertation establishes a theory of selfhood based on the work of both Dilthey and Heidegger. Specifically, the dissertation constructs an ontological psychology that understands the self in light of authenticity and historicity. In so doing, it offers both a meta-ethical theory and an ethics of authenticity. ;Because of this new approach to ethics and to the self, the dissertation adopts narrative as the primary tool for understanding ethics. In contrast to many scholars, such a move leads to re-understanding rules, imperatives, and rule-following rather than abandoning them