The Ethics of Authenticity

Charles Taylor focuses on three malaises of modernity in this short book. The first is individualism, which comprises a set of liberties and beliefs having to do with the privilege of the individual to determine his or her course of life. Taylor thinks individualism has removed us from concerns originating outside the self; the result is a narrowing and flattening of our lives. The second malaise is the primacy of instrumental reason. Cost-benefit analyses and means-to-an-end rationality have cost us our genuine respect and concern for human beings. In effect, humanity takes a back seat to the bottom line. Morality is pushed out of ethics, since what we should do depends on what we can get and what we need to get it, and not on what is right or good, praiseworthy or blameworthy, virtuous or vicious. Finally, the third malaise of the modern era has to do with the implications of individualism and instrumental reason for political, social, and economic institutions. Here Taylor's analysis is brief and weak. He basically laments what he sees as a lack of a sense of civic duty among the inhabitants of politically developed nations. The progress of technology and the organizational structure of bureaucracies have weakened our democratic initiative. We are in danger of becoming willing victims of a "soft" despotic government. The only way out of our current situation is to develop and adhere to an ethic of authenticity that makes concerns beyond the self a necessary precondition of self-concern. Furthermore, if we are to fly out of the "iron cage" of modernity, we must acknowledge various modes of reasoning and chose those that preserve our moral integrity. Although Taylor does not offer us detailed solutions to the proposed malaises, he at least turns our heads toward some of the possible paths we may take.

Lately I'd been reading various critiques of modernity- Leo Strauss and Alan Bloom, the "neoconservatives", and conservatives in general, who see nothing but a great moral and intellectual decay in modern society, beset by postmodern relativism and an intellectual trap that can't be escaped short of "noble" (read: blatant) lies. While I found many of their arguments quite convincing, something just didn't quite sit right with me. Taylor explained exactly what's wrong with such critiques- they ignore the fact that "relativism" is merely a perversion of a powerful moral standard that these conservatives ignore- the ethic of authenticity, of being true to one's self and to the rights of others, a liberal standard of the enlightenment that conservatives threaten to destroy along with the excesses of postmodern nihilism. Taylor then goes on a quest to take down both the "boosters" and "knockers" of modernity- and points out where they're right and wrong. For anyone wrestling with the liberal and conservative debates in this country today, I recommend this little volume heartily, along with Taylor's (much larger) "Sources of the Self" and Ken Wilber's "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality: The Spirit of Evolution", which takes on the same issues from multiple perspectives.

This is a short and powerful book. The frequent references to Taylor's "Sources of the Self" may indicate that it is a mere introduction to the longer work, but I feel that it stands well alone. Taylor, a Canadian, observes the conservative-liberal debate in America from an outsider's position. He is able to distance himself from the rhetoric, vocabulary, and narrow categories of this debate. I found his insights well worth consideration.In essence, Taylor attempts to redefine the debate. His concerns are threefold. First, radical individualism has disavowed most moral absolutes, eroded the meaningfulness of life, and resulted in a centripetal self-orientation that denigrates relational connectiveness. Secondly, Taylor is concerned that modern thought has become dominated by a reason that finds the highest good in the economic maximizing of ends. This "instrumental reason" demeans others as mere means to an end, disregards important perspectives that are not integral to the cost/benefit equation, and creates a technological supremacy that may cost us our humanity. Thirdly, Taylor is concerned that institutions have embraced instrumental reason as supreme and creating a power-base that may stand in the way of reform.Most of this book deals exclusively with Taylor's thoughts on the first of these concerns. Conservatives will be upset that Taylor does not call for a return to older values and older worldviews. Instead, he accepts the modern emphasis on individualism and the corollaries of self-fulfillment and self-actualization. He parts with these liberal ideals by arguing that the centripetal self-focus can only find meaning outside of the self. Discovery of my originality and uniqueness is a dialogical process (with others, values, or deity) that demands an objective "horizon."Hence, my definition of Taylor's authenticity is the dialogical discovery of my "being." Others are not used to complete my project, but are collaborators and partners. Together we work to throw off the shackles of psychological, institutional, and familial pressures to conform. Freedom from these shackles is not license to abuse, but becomes ground to assume responsibility for self without excuse. Radical individualism escapes meaninglessness only in dialogic connectedness and assumption of personal responsibility. In my view, the ethics of authenticity are much needed. I hope this book finds many receptive readers.

This short book concerns what has been called "authenticity," namely the idea that values are only important to the extent that they are chosen by the individual. Particularly in America, there is a heavy emphasis on self-fulfilment. We are told that you have to be happy, have self-esteem, and be fulfilled as a person. As Taylor writes, "In adopting the ideal, people in the culture of authenticity, as I want to call it, give support to a certain kind of liberalism, which has been espoused by others as well. . . . The good life is what each individual seeks, in his or her own way, and government would be lacking for all citizens, if it took sides on this question." [pp. 17-8.] Taylor diagnoses this tendency from a variety of perspectives, neither dismissing it out of hand nor giving it unconditional praise. This a serious, but easy to read, book.Those seeking a lengthier discussion of these issues might profitably consult the author's larger, Sources of the Self, which deals with these matters from a historical perspective.

being a political science major I have been required to read A LOT of books about ethics. I was never impressed or impacted with any of thoes the way I was with this. Charles Taylor simplifies what is wrong with society today. He makes his readers open their eyes to the moral declines that are associated with individualism. I throughly enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to ANYONE!!!!