Exploring Authenticity Through Existential Philosophy
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Chapter 1: The Journey of Becoming
In this week's edition of The PATH, we delve into age-old wisdom regarding the pursuit of authenticity—focusing on the themes of becoming, responsibility, and fulfillment.
Søren Kierkegaard, a philosopher from the nineteenth century, famously remarked, “The most common form of despair is not being who you are.” While this may seem perplexing, it resonates with the existential belief that one must strive for authenticity.
In her insightful book, How to Be Authentic, Skye Cleary examines the thoughts of Simone de Beauvoir on existentialism, authenticity, and the search for fulfillment. Cleary highlights that de Beauvoir viewed authenticity as a crucial aspect of life's meaning. However, her interpretation diverges from the typical clichés about being true to one's self. According to de Beauvoir, there is no immutable essence to our identity; we are perpetually evolving beyond our current selves. Her famous phrase, “existence precedes essence,” suggests that we exist first and then spend our lives shaping who we truly are.
De Beauvoir’s perspective is incredibly motivating. We do not simply uncover our identities; we actively create them. As Cleary points out, “Crafting our identity is an art—an intentional choice of who we will become.”
Section 1.1: Embracing Responsibility
A fundamental aspect of becoming one's authentic self is embracing responsibility. However, this idea isn't exclusive to existentialist thought. Many philosophical traditions emphasize the significance of responsibility. St. Augustine of Hippo remarked, “God provides the wind, but you must raise the sails.” Meanwhile, the Buddha advised, “We must walk the path ourselves.”
For de Beauvoir, authenticity is intricately linked to taking charge of our lives, claiming our freedom, and enabling the freedom of others. In her seminal work, The Ethics of Ambiguity, she articulated that “To will freedom is to will the revelation of existence in the joy of being; for liberation to hold tangible meaning, the joy of existence must be asserted within each individual, at every moment…”
De Beauvoir’s teachings guide us to navigate and become authentic within a complex and unpredictable world. Cleary emphasizes, “Each moment brims with possibilities for understanding our situation, crafting our identities, and forming genuine connections with others as authentic companions.”
Subsection 1.1.1: The Art of Creating Connections
Section 1.2: The Meaning of Fulfillment
What does it truly mean to live a fulfilled life? Fyodor Dostoevsky, the renowned Russian novelist, believed that the enigma of human existence lies in the act of living and discovering a purpose. For existentialists, authenticity, fulfillment, and meaning are deeply interconnected.
However, as de Beauvoir highlights, we lack a fixed essence, indicating that we are always in a state of becoming. Each moment—or decision—provides a chance (and responsibility) to pursue fulfillment. As Jean-Paul Sartre, a close associate of de Beauvoir, articulated, “We are our choices.”
In How to Be Authentic, Cleary writes, “De Beauvoir proposed that authentic happiness represents a unique kind of flourishing achieved by living harmoniously within the world. This harmony does not imply passivity; rather, it involves embracing our freedom, taking responsibility, seeking truth, and forming genuine connections with the world and others.”
We hold the freedom and accountability to embark on the journey towards a fulfilled life. De Beauvoir urged us not to postpone our actions regarding the future; we must act decisively in the present. “To be oneself, simply oneself, is such a remarkable and utterly unique experience that it’s challenging to convince oneself that such singularity occurs for everyone,” she expressed in her autobiography, Prime of Life.
Chapter 2: Insights from Existential Thought
Explore the significance of authenticity through the lens of existential philosophy in this enlightening video.
In this video, titled "How To Be Authentic - Friedrich Nietzsche (Existentialism)," we gain a deeper understanding of authenticity from a philosophical perspective.
The second video, "Loving Like an Existentialist," further explores the themes of love and connection through existential thought.
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