Authenticity

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorCollege, Undergraduate November 2001

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When authenticity is defined, it refers to a genuineness and a self-identity for each individual. Each individual lives their own life and has a clear sense of who they are. Morality plays a role in authenticity, forcing you to decide what is right or wrong. Being an authentic person, doesn't mean being good. Furthermore, authenticity is not a necessary condition of happiness, self-respect and psychological health. Each of these notions are central values in our culture and standards that we use to evaluate the success of a person's existence. Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. When an individual has self-respect, they have a regard for one's own standing or position. Moral goodness is intrinsic goodness grounded in the nature of acts and independent of our subjective satisfaction. Being prosperous and mentally healthy means being psychologically healthy.

One would argue, in today's society, if one is to be truly happy, one does not have to be authentic.

This is evident by our society which is a materialistic one. An individual that has a lot of money, material items, a beautiful home, fancy cars and lives a luxurious life, is measured to be successful. The means of -1- which these individuals obtain their wealth may not be truly authentic and one would question their true inner happiness, self-respect, moral goodness and psychological well being.

This could be evident by an aggressive stock broker who earns his living on commissions when stocks are bought and sold. The unscrupulous stock broker does not concern himself with his clients' financial objectives. His true interests are to earn high commissions by buying and selling clients' investments. The sole reason he is doing this is to earn more money for himself. He is not being truly authentic because he lacks the concerns of his...