In countless self-help books and conversations, we’re encouraged to "be ourselves". But what if our pursuit of "authenticity" rests on shaky assumptions like the belief that we each have a true, benevolent core self just waiting to be expressed?
What if that core self isn’t so nice? And even if such a self exists, can we truly know it, or is it always hidden behind our ever-shifting thoughts and desires?
Let's challenge the usual veneration of authenticity (sometimes aptly called the "Californian cult of the self") and explore the possibility that it might not even be a thing. We shall consider questions like:
- Does having a "true essential self" imply that being ourselves is always good?
- If your "real you" would rather shower once a month, does showering daily make you inauthentic?
- Even if a true self exists, how can we know it, and can we choose to embody it?
- What is the difference between "being yourself" and "thinking for yourself"?
- One of the common regrets of dying people is "not living a life true to myself". But what if this regret is just a slavish tribute to contemporary "cult of the self", and those dying people can't think for themselves even on their deathbed?
- Is authenticity, after all, just a fake thing that Frank Sinatra made up to sell more records of "My Way"?
No prior philosophical background is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to question one of our culture’s cherished ideals.