The Ideal Self: Reflections on the Aesthetic Project of the Self

By Antônio Carlos

Contemporary life is shaped by the imperative of the perfect form. It is not limited to physical appearance, but extends to a continuous project of symbolic self-construction, where gestures, emotions, and choices are shaped to meet an unattainable standard. Between discipline and simulacrum, the individual becomes trapped in the forced coherence of an ideal narrative, regulated by diffuse gazes and the constant curation of one's presence.

This is a philosophical reflection on the almost ritual need to appear legitimate, exploring the transformation of identity into a showcase, the aestheticization of conduct, and the existential cost of living under an unblinking gaze.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FMN7Z91W
• ISBN13: 9798298264853
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.21 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.0" x 8.0"