Knowing a Person Completely
This is an excerpt from the paper...
The question of whether we can ever truly know someone other than ourselves is an intriguing one, because there are so many people who believe that they do know another person completely. In fact, at first glance the evidence seems to support their belief. Husbands and wives who can finish each otherÆs sentences and predict what their spouse will do, for example, give the impression that they know each other through and through. Parents, lovers, and even close friends may have such a long and intimate history with one another that they feel they know each other totally. However, knowing someoneÆs history and habits is not the same as knowing the inner workings of that personÆs mind. Being familiar with peopleÆs usual patterns of behavior does not necessarily ensure that one has penetrated the inner sanctum of their soul. Habits and patterns of behavior are merely the circumstantial evidence of relationships; in a court of law, they would only be given limited credence. In truth, we cannot ever be completely sure that we know someone, even if it feels as though we do. There are innumerable instances where people thought they knew someone thoroughly, only to find that they didnÆt at all. A teenager who appears to have everything going for him suddenly commits suicide, and everyone says, ôIf only weÆd known; he seemed so happy.ö A man whose friends and acquaintances all describe him as gentle and sensitive turns out to be a serial killer. A husband passes away, and
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
, feel comfortable, people feel, patterns behavior, person completely,
Approximate Word count = 968
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Knowing a Person Completely
|