On the emotional scaffolding of the self, or how the dynamics of
temperament fluctuate with social context. We’ve previously
explored what it means to be human and what defines a “person.”
Much of our understanding of personhood hinges on what we call
“character” — but what, exactly, is it? Here is an omnibus of
definitions and insights from notable cross-disciplinary
thinkers, from philosophy to neuroscience to literature,
underpinning which is a shared sentiment that “character” is
fluid and responsive to context, rather than a static and
unflinching set of traits. A person’s authentic nature is a
series of shifting, variegated planes that establish themselves
as he relates to different people; it is created by and appears
within the framework of his interpersonal relationships.
Biological anthropologist Helen Fisher in This Will Make You
Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking:
Personality is composed of two fundamentally different types of
traits: those of ‘character;’ and those of ‘temp