Episode #239 ... Authenticity and the history of the self. (Charles Taylor)

In this episode of Philosophize This!, Stephen West introduces Charles Taylor's concept of authenticity as the moral ideal of the modern world and explores its historical roots. West traces the evolution of the self from ancient Athens, where identity was defined by one's role in a larger order, through the influence of St. Augustine and the Protestant Reformation, which emphasized individual faith. The discussion moves to the Enlightenment and thinkers like Descartes and Locke, who introduced concepts of disengaged reason and the "tabula rasa," leading to personal responsibility for moral choices. West then examines David Hume's focus on feelings and Rousseau's emphasis on the inner self, culminating in the romantic ideal of expressing one's unique perspective. Ultimately, West explains Taylor's view on authenticity, emphasizing the importance of understanding shared "horizons of significance" and engaging in dialogue to calibrate values, while cautioning against the dominance of any single view of the self.