On diffidence: the moral psychology of self-belief

Smith, R.D.

Abstract

The language of self-belief, including terms like shyness and diffidence, is complex and puzzling. The idea of self-esteem in particular, which has been given fresh currency by recent interest in 'personalised learning', continues to create problems. I argue first that we need a 'thicker' and more subtle moral psychology of self-belief; and, secondly, that there is a radical instability in the ideas and concepts in this area, an instability to which justice needs to be done. I suggest that aspects of deconstruction are helpful here, and offer a deconstructive reading of Kipling's poem, If—, in order to illustrate the power of literature and a certain kind of philosophy to destabilise and resist closure.

Citation

Smith, R. (2006). On diffidence: the moral psychology of self-belief. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 40(1), 51-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9752.2006.00498.x

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2006-02
• Deposit Date: Jul 7, 2008
• Journal: Journal of Philosophy of Education
• Print ISSN: 0309-8249
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-9752
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 51-62
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9752.2006.00498.x
• Keywords: Self-esteem, Shyness.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1588136