Identity is the psychological and cultural situation in which an individual recognizes themselves and is recognized as possessing their own unique, unrepeatable, and respectable personality.

The dimensions of this certainty of identity are therefore:

• The personal perception of one’s own identity,
• The recognition of identity by the surrounding world,
• The recognition of the right to equal dignity.

The implications of this concept of identity are endless, but at least some of them deserve attention.

Identity and Otherness: Dual Value It must be stated that identity exists insofar as “otherness” exists. A single individual in the universe would not have an “identity” in the sense that there would be no terms of comparison, and the word itself would lose much or all of its meaning. The unique individual would have a self, an own lived experience, which however does not identify them because there is no need to distinguish them. Otherness is not an autonomous value but rather an implicit observation in identity. It is the vision of plurality, like biodiversity, which is a value and does not annul the distinction between a mammal and a reptile, as imagined by those who thunder against identity. Thus, the problem arises of how compatible Identity is with the multiplicity of individuals.

The Orchestra The theme can be constructively addressed using the allegory of an orchestral ensemble, which is par excellence the place where the distinct precise identities of the performers contribute to a real and positive collective result. The fact remains that the single orchestral performer, even a soloist, must be trained and prepared in two directions:

• High capacity to use the instrument in an identifiable way,
• High capacity to connect with others. These are two components that require an active and long training process, often arduous, but aimed at achieving something positive. In particular, the ability to connect with others is an essential value, inseparable from the correct concept of identity.

Recognition of One’s Own and Others’ Dignity The single orchestral performer lacks identity and professionalism if they do not share a sense of profound respect for the other performers and if they do not understand that even the simplest among their colleagues brings a precious and essential value to the overall performance. The tinkle of the triangle enriches the atmosphere of the single musical passage with a depth that enhances even the majestic solos of the violins.

Without this, the world would transform into a confused tide of individualists, solipsists, homogeneous, indistinguishable, undifferentiated, lacking the drive to improve their own performance (identity) and lacking the ability to act for the benefit of the community (prosociality).