The existentialists view the world in this way: "finding ourselves in a
non-purposive universe, living non-purposive lives, we are completely
free to choose and act. This makes us totally responsible for our
lives. . . " (Barry, 55). What do you make of that? Do you agree or
not? Does that view help you make sense of the world, terrify or just
bewilder you?
Are you living authentically? Explain. Give an example of behavior
(yours or another's) which is inauthentic. Do you think that is a good
way to live? Why or why not? (reference Barry, p. 58)
I think that I would have to agree with the existentialist view that since we are free to choose and act on those choices we are completely responsible for our lives and the way we live. This both terrifies me and helps me make sense of the world. It terrifies me because knowing that I am the only person who can answer for my actions seems like an incredible burden to carry every day, and also I think I can speak for many people when I say that being held as the sole person responsible for something with no one whom you can share the blame is a terrifying thought. However at the same time i think it helps explain the world to me and a little bit about human nature too, because I think it is uniquely human behavior to claim responsibility when everything that happens is good and we are recognized by others for our good character, but when we behave in a way that is not admirable we tend to want that attention to shift to someone else so that we can "share the blame".
ReplyDeleteI believe that I am living authentically because I strive to be self aware of my own decisions hold myself responsible to a high moral standard. I believe that any behavior that is manipulative or hypocritical is inauthentic. In that it continues to fester and build up hostility and anxiety to the world around you eventually bringing you to Kiekegaard's "shut-upness". This is not a good way to live, because it will ultimately make you afraid and unwilling to try new things and develop relationships with others. Resulting in a fear of experiencing anything outside of what you already know.
Jacob, I agree with you when you say that living inauthentic isn't a good way to live. I believe that those who aren't true to themselves and are trying to "pull the wool" over others eyes are eventually going to have to face reality and the consequences of their actions. I like how you said that it will make one afraid and unwilling to try new things and develop relationships with others. I think nobody will be able to trust such a person nor want to have any sort of relationship with someone who is constantly inauthentic.
DeletePart of me agrees with the existential approach to life but the other part of me does not. I agree that in today’s world we make our lives and we are free to act how we want to, to a certain extent. Of course there are laws and regulations in modern society that most people follow, but then again there are plenty that do not. People today are also influenced by those around them and the standards and expectations society sets for them. This could affect the free will aspect that existentialists promote. The part of the quote that I do not agree with is when it insinuates that we live in a world without purpose. I believe that everyone lives with a purpose, whether it be big or small. I do believe that I live an authentic life. I try and stay committed to the things I love like my family, friends and sports as well as focusing on school. An example of an inauthentic life would be someone who promotes a specific social cause to the public but then in his or her private life completely go against this, or the other way around. I would disagree with an unauthentic life just as the existentialists would because I believe it is better to commit to one or a few things in life than to simply do many things. Shut-upness as developed by Kiekegaard may drive people to an inauthentic life because as I stated before people may spread themselves thin by trying to do too many things instead of fully committing to a few of the important ones.
ReplyDeleteIn reading this quote, I partially believe what is being said, as I think that everyone has some sort of purpose here on earth, whether it be to make someone happy or realize certain mistakes have or are being made. I believe that everyone is here for a reason, and that certain people cross paths with those which they are supposed to cross paths at a certain point in time for whatever reason it may be. As for the rest of the quote, I believe that to a certain degree we are completely free to choose and act as we want. We are individually responsible for the decisions we make in our lives and the way in which we choose to live. Yes there are certain laws, and rules, which must be followed in society as a whole, but there aren’t rules on how each person can or cannot live their life. Years ago, and maybe some days now I wish that I didn’t have to make such big decisions and that someone else could make them for me as I am afraid to make the wrong decision, as I have made a few bad ones over the years. But I think those decisions that I made me a better person today, and I definitely wouldn’t want to change that, and I can’t blame anyone for those decisions. In the last few years I have begun to look at life differently and don’t want to have any regrets with decisions going forward, so I am glad that I am able to make those decisions on my own.
ReplyDeleteAs for living authentically, I believe that I do live this way on a daily because I like to be my own person and believe that I am true and sincere to myself and those around me. I believe in being kind and respectful to others, and I don’t have much patience for those who aren’t and for those who think they are always right or that they made the best decisions and others should follow. I think that living this way is a good thing, and those who aren’t genuine or sincere karma will get them eventually. A behaviour that I believe to be inauthentic is when people are fake, and put on a show for others, and act like they are the greatest person alive for doing something to help others in some way, but then openly admitting that they just did it to look good and don’t really care about the ones they were helping. They just want to make themselves look better to everyone else, when in fact they aren’t genuine people to begin with.
I would agree and also disagree. I agree in that we are free to chose how we live our lives because of where we live. In America we have certain rights which govern how we decide to live and that we are responsible for our actions. I disagree in that in other countries the people do not have that freedom, and have a determined role in society. This terrifies me in the fact that things do change, and that this could be one of those things. If we think about communism and if it took hold, how would we live our lives, and change the way we live.
ReplyDeleteI feel that I do live authentically, that I am me, and I do the things I want to do, and that I do not follow what someone else wants me to be. Inauthentic behaviors are those who do everything the are told, and do not have a say. It's as if they do not have an opinion, or a voice for themselves. I do not think living an inauthentic way is a good way to live because you lose your "voice" and you do not learn how to function for yourself.
Personally, I think that our existence does have a purpose outside of our religion. in the individual sense, regardless of what you believe in, you have the ability to make an impact on another person's life that can change who they are and shape who you may become. I can understand how someone who can only place faith in somethings physical existence would feel that there's no point or purpose for our own existence, but it simply goes against my ethics to allow myself to believe that as well. It would be a little unsettling to me if that were the case.
ReplyDeleteI believe that i live authentically. I usually listen to what I feel or think is right instead of allowing others to dictate my beliefs and actions. If I let someone else decide what i should do and think, then that would make me an artificial man, but I'm a REAL MAN!! -chucks a boulder in a random direction cause I'm a man-
I agree with David because the ability to make an impact in another persons life stems from the accumulation of all the experiences both physically and mentally. This can contain the potential to either turn a persons life around for the better or worse. This is completely dependent on whether you are dedicated to helping that person strive to be better, but they must first be willingly to help themselves before you can make any real progress.
DeleteI agree that we are "responsible for our own lives." The way we conduct ourselves is truly our own choice. Of course, there will be many outside influences that attempt to alter our nature and our goals, but we are the final decision makers and, thus, should be accountable for our own actions. Because we "have no one to blame but ourselves" our decisions can be masked by feelings of guilt and despair as well.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, I believe I live an authentic life. I pride myself in making independent choices and face the consequences when they are the incorrect choice. I like to stay true to my values and beliefs, and try to hold myself to the same ot higher standards that I would set for nobody else. However, this does not mean it is easy or I make don't make questionable choices at times. Sometimes it is just easier to cave in and side with somebody else's thoughts. I don't necessarily think this is "being unauthentic" because sometimes avoiding unnecessary conflict is the more responsible thing to do.
I think I would both agree and disagree. We have the freedom to choose many different things in life and are responsible for our own lives. I, however, do not agree that we are 100% responsible for our own lives. Our actions impact the lives of everyone around us and the actions of others impact our lives. I, like Abby, disagree with the part of the quote that implies we live in a world without purpose. Growing up, I have always been taught I am on this Earth for a reason and I still believe that 100%. The thought others are free to act, just as I am, terrifies me. Sometimes, others do not take responsibility for their actions and their actions may negatively impact the lives of my family and friends.
ReplyDeleteI believe I live an authentic life. I hold moral standards for myself and follow them. I am also committed to the things I love and focus a lot on things that are important to me, such as academics. An example of inauthentic behavior would be someone who goes to church regularly and is an example of "an ideal Christian" when around family or other church members but who does drugs, sleeps around, lies, and steals. This is not the way to live because you are lying to yourself. At the end of the day, if you live in-authentically, you are probably unhappy. Kierkegaard would say that we live authentically when we face the anxiety of human existence which allows us to become self-aware, grow, and be responsible for our actions.
I agree with Alexis that we have the freedom to choose how we live our lives and are indeed responsible for our own lives. I also agree that we are not 100% responsible for our lives because things happen sometime that are completely out of our control. The actions we make today affect what happens to not only those around us it also shapes our own personal growth and moral development throughout our lives. We as individuals are taught to grow up and learn as much as possible so that we can contribute something positive to society.
DeleteI would have to agree with that as well. Since we are completely free to choose how we act and i agree that we have every right to be held liable for the consequences of those said actions. Coming to the realization that i am being held accountable for each and every decision i make is terrifying to say the least. Especially when it comes to growing up into a well rounded individual life throws you so many curve balls that your bound to make a couple mistakes along your journey through life, but hey thats how we learn if we didn't not make mistake almost no progress could be made. Society does indeed set up laws that restrict us to certain extents, but we have the means to live life however we see fit it just laws are set in place to keep order and peace around us. Growing up i have seen many people conform to how society thinks they should act which i believe goes the against the existentialist view. Being true to yourself and your own values while keeping an open mind is an amazing way to live free.
ReplyDeleteI believe i live an authentic life because i do what i feel is right besides allowing others to tell me otherwise. If i would always do what others told me to do i would not have learned everything i have so far and be in the position that i am now which is being a successful student in college and trying to make something of my life. When we make mistakes in our lives this causes us to become even more aware of what is actually going on in the world, this results us to grow as an individual who is not easily swayed by what others think of he or she. It allows us to think on our own feet and gives us a reason as to why we have been put on this earth in the first place.
I agree with the existentialist viewpoint in regards to the idea of having a universe that is non-purposive, along with lives that are non-purposive. However, I do not interpret this definition as suggesting that purpose does not exist. Rather, purpose in the existentialist viewpoint, as far as I can see it, is not completely removed, but rather goes from being an inherent property of all things, to a created property, one that we assign to ourselves and the world around us.
ReplyDeleteThe terrifying, freeing part of that statement is that there is no "inherent" purpose with which one would go against as an individual. Our decisions are our own to determine. However, this doesn't suggest that our actions in themselves need be purposeless, simply that rather than having an inherent direction related to our nature and who we are, we choose a direction, and can guide our actions based on where we wish to go with that. This is why, rather than remove responsibility for our actions from us, a purposeless universe and life instead gives maximum responsibility to ourselves, because it is now up to us not just to make moral decisions, but also decide what moral decisions are.
As for living an authentic life, I cannot say that I necessarily follow one. Too often I ignore my moral judgment in areas where the effects of betraying that judgment are difficult to notice, such as supporting businesses I find unethical, yet take no personal action to avoid transactions with such places, or warn others of what I find questionable behavior.
I normally consider myself someone that follows what I believe is right, and moral, but even I am not ignorant of how I've let how I'm raised and my preferences of living I've developed influence my decisions, often in ways which overpower my moral sense of how I should behave.
Love your point about purpose here. I, too, agree that purpose doesn't evaporate for an existentialist. What purpose is merely throws off any preconceived notions about said purpose. Even if it is something as simple as one's purpose being to make authentic choices and encourage others to do the same. Sartre, specifically, rejected the idea of God, who is traditionally thought to possess all the power and purpose over humans. But if God doesn't exist, then where does that power and purpose go? Back to the individual... which creates anxiety... which is eliminated by living authentically.... with purpose.
DeleteI would agree with the existentialist viewpoint. I do agree with the thought that we are free to choose and act for ourselves in order to determine our purpose in life. The decision that I make on the daily basis are my choices and it makes me realize that I am responsible for the path that I set out for in life. This is both terrifying and calming. Its terrifying because of the responsibility that comes with being responsible for every action you perform and every word that you say. Its also calming in the thought that you have the power to make your own decision not someone else. You can choose the life you want to live and the attitude that you live with.
ReplyDeleteI believe I live an authentic life. I just be myself everyday and speak the truth when asked. I strive to be completely honest with people. I also dont let other people influence my decision I know what my morals are and will not change them for someone else. I believe an example of living inauthentic would be telling someone to do something that you wouldn't. If you feel like it is a bad idea why would you want to persuade someone who is vulnerable to do it.
I would have to agree with the existential thought as well to an extent. I completely agree with the part about how we make our own decisions and that we make our own choices and no one does for us. At least for the most part. The part that I don't share the same belief on is about the idea that there is no purpose in life. I don't like this because to me, almost everyone lives their lives with purpose. Whether its for their own sake or for the one around them and this is what i believe influences our decisions that we are free to make. When making a decision, it is important to know what the results of that decision is and this is sometimes very hard to except. Just thinking about how you are held accountable for every time that you make a decision is an extremely terrifying situation. At the same time it is important to understand our lucky that we are to have the ability to shape our lives and the people your surround yourself with.
ReplyDeleteI believe that i am living authentically because i do hold myself to a very high standard. I am very big on respect and being polite to everyone. There is no reason to be rude to anyone and there is no reason to believe that you are better than someone else. An example of inauthentic behavior is when you fail to do what you preach. When you encourage someone that this is how they should being living their life and you don't even follow the same concept.