One never gains concrete intuition of one’s own character as judged by the Other

Evidence

But masochism is and must be itself a failure. In order to cause myself to be fascinated by my self-as-object, I should necessarily have to be able to realize the intuitive apprehension of this object such as it is for the Other, a thing which is on principle impossible. Thus I am far from being able to be fascinated by this alienated Me, which remains on principle inapprehensible. It is useless for the masochist to get down on his knees, to show himself in ridiculous positions, to cause himself to be used as a simple lifeless instrument. It is for the Other that he will be obscene or simply passive, for the Other that he will undergo these postures; for himself he is forever condemned to give them to himself. It is in and through his transcendence that he disposes of himself as a being to be transcended. The more he tries to taste his objectivity, the more he will be submerged by the consciousness of his subjectivity—hence his anguish. — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 963 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Objectivating empirical knowledge, which presently surpasses the Illness suffered toward the stomach named, is the knowing of a certain objective nature possessed by the stomach. I know that it has the shape of a bagpipe, that is is a sack, that it produces juices, and enzymes, that it is inclosed by a muscular tunica with smooth fibres, etc. I can also know—because a physician has told me—that the stomach has an ulcer, and again I can more or less clearly picture the ulcer to myself. I can imagine it as a redness, a slight internal putrescence; I can conceive of it by means of analogy with abscesses, fever blisters, pus, canker sores, etc. All this on principle stems from bits of knowledge which I have acquired from Others or from such knowledge as Others have of me. In any case all this can constitute my Illness, not as I enjoy possession of it, but as it escapes me. The stomach and the ulcer become directions of flight, perspectives of alienation from the object which I possess. — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 919 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: One is never identical with any of one’s own attitudes or actions — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 300; Masochism fails on principle because one can never apprehend one’s own objectivity — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 963; All empirical knowledge of one’s own body derives from the Other and alienates it — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness: An Essay on…, 919 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Masochism fails on principle because one can never apprehend one’s own objectivity #corroborates (0.95) — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 963
• All empirical knowledge of one’s own body derives from the Other and alienates it #expands (0.82) — Jean-Paul Sartre, Being and Nothingness, 919
• Repeated exposure to others’ judgments inevitably shapes a person’s character #complicates (0.72)