Authenticity and the problem of recognition

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

41 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Authenticity is a central concern of modern ethical life, even though the two dominant conceptions of it: unreflective immersion in collective life, and heroic individualism, appear to be deeply problematic. Furthermore, there is a long-standing assumption that authenticity can only be undermined by a concern for social recognition. It is argued here that there is a place for authenticity in our ethical lives, understood as the concern to avoid trying to be something one is not, even if we should not allow authenticity to trump other moral and ethical concerns. The dominant models of authenticity assume that we should strive to be invulnerable to the pull of social recognition, but it is argued here that openness to recognition is essential to the pursuit of an authentic life and that, therefore, we must reconcile ourselves to the vulnerability which is a necessary feature of the recognitive subject.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe theory and practice of recognition
EditorsOnni Hirvonen, Heikki Koiskinen
PublisherRoutledge
Chapter1
Pages17-33
ISBN (Electronic)9781003259978
ISBN (Print)9781032195070
Publication statusPublished - 22 Sept 2022

Publication series

NameRoutledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Authenticity and the problem of recognition'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this