Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Philosophy and the Authenticity of Self. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This is a 7 page paper that provides an overview of the authentic self. Concepts such as self-awareness are explored. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: K 60_KFphi007.doc
Buy This Term Paper »
Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
of philosophy in the life of the individual philosopher. A more compelling definition of philosophy that relates to the experience of the practice of philosophy lies in the conception of
many philosophers that the "central lifelong project for each" philosopher is the "development of the authentic self" (Christian, 2008). The concept of authenticity is central to philosophy, as all philosophy
necessary involves the critical examination of beliefs and values. In terms of self, authenticity refers to the degree to which one preserves ones individual identity against the competing forces of
the society and culture in which one lives. The inauthentic self, by contrast, occurs when one represses their true self to adapt to existing social and cultural norms for the
sake of ease or fitting in. Of course, in order to effectively cultivate an authentic self, one must be aware of what ones self is truly like. It may
seem like this should be obvious, but in fact, examining the self can be quite difficult. As some contemporary philosophers have stated the issue, the self is "not an object
of awareness from ones own point of view"; the insularity of the individual perspective can prevent the self from examining itself (Howell, 2010). Nevertheless, one who wishes to cultivate an
authentic self can do so by following the path of philosophical self-examination. Generally speaking, the process by which one develops inauthentic qualities is subconscious; that is to say, one in-authentically
suppresses the true self to conform to societal and cultural expectations often without even being aware of what one is doing. Therefore, the most consciously aware of ones actions and
beliefs one is, the more likely one is to reject inauthenticity. Ultimately, developing the authentic self, then, is about "persistently ask[ing] the identity question" (Christian, 2008). In addition to
...