The Concept of Recognition and the Construction of Self-Identity in ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād’s Poetry

Abstract

        It has long been customary among poets to direct their speech toward others—whether in praise, flirtation, satire, or description. Yet, this tendency did not prevent some poets from turning inward, addressing themselves and expressing, in many instances, the emotions stirring within their souls and the moral dispositions shaping their inner being.

       Honneth, in his endeavor to establish a new social philosophy, sought to define a number of key concepts, foremost among them the notion of recognition. He argues that mutual recognition is sufficient to resolve social conflicts grounded in domination, control, and injustice, thereby enabling individuals to achieve positive self-realization. Honneth further articulates recognition in three distinct forms: recognition in love, recognition in rights, and recognition in social solidarity.