Really interesting. I wonder if the western drive for authenticity is just a reflection of cultural and other related differences between population groups ie eastern collectivism v western individually. Whatever the cause I think all the approaches probably have some truth to them. I personally like the Buddhist perspective that we need to Water the flowers and not the weeds. Seems to say it all! Thanks again Brittany for a very interesting and thoughtful piece that challenges my often arrogant ingrained beliefs!
Thank you, Tim! Yes, I think the contemporary emphasis on authenticity is cultural and is related to desire to stand out as an individual. I think every culture has to find some balance between individual autonomy and group needs, and different societies do this in different ways. There are pros and cons to each approach--there's no such thing as a perfect culture.
Thank you for the article and the reminder that the attainment of individual virtue is necessarily bound up not just in ourselves, but to the wider cosmopolis of which we are a part. The work we do on ourselves is deeply personal, but the goal of achieving a virtuous life is all-encompassing.
The idea of "being your authentic self" encourages people to explore and express their true identities, which can include sexual orientation or gender identity. This cultural shift likely contributes to more individuals openly identifying as LGBTQ, as it creates a safer, more accepting environment for self-discovery and coming out. Data from Gallup (2024) shows 7.1% of U.S. adults now identify as LGBTQ, up from 3.5% in 2012, with younger generations like Gen Z reporting higher rates (19.7%). Social acceptance and visibility probably play a more significant role than the concept alone, though—it’s less about "causing" more LGBTQ people and more about people feeling free to be open.
Really interesting. I wonder if the western drive for authenticity is just a reflection of cultural and other related differences between population groups ie eastern collectivism v western individually. Whatever the cause I think all the approaches probably have some truth to them. I personally like the Buddhist perspective that we need to Water the flowers and not the weeds. Seems to say it all! Thanks again Brittany for a very interesting and thoughtful piece that challenges my often arrogant ingrained beliefs!
Thank you, Tim! Yes, I think the contemporary emphasis on authenticity is cultural and is related to desire to stand out as an individual. I think every culture has to find some balance between individual autonomy and group needs, and different societies do this in different ways. There are pros and cons to each approach--there's no such thing as a perfect culture.
Thank you for the article and the reminder that the attainment of individual virtue is necessarily bound up not just in ourselves, but to the wider cosmopolis of which we are a part. The work we do on ourselves is deeply personal, but the goal of achieving a virtuous life is all-encompassing.
Thank you, John!
The idea of "being your authentic self" encourages people to explore and express their true identities, which can include sexual orientation or gender identity. This cultural shift likely contributes to more individuals openly identifying as LGBTQ, as it creates a safer, more accepting environment for self-discovery and coming out. Data from Gallup (2024) shows 7.1% of U.S. adults now identify as LGBTQ, up from 3.5% in 2012, with younger generations like Gen Z reporting higher rates (19.7%). Social acceptance and visibility probably play a more significant role than the concept alone, though—it’s less about "causing" more LGBTQ people and more about people feeling free to be open.
Terrific post- thank you Brittany… a very subtle path toward true authenticity!…makes me think of the “narrow gate” that the gospels speak of
Thanks, Tim! "Subtle" is a very good way to describe it...I will reflect on that for a while...
Yes, very true! The parallels are very striking.