Becoming more Authentic means organizing our lives
around whatever we choose as our central meanings and purposes.
Even if we cannot overcome ultimate absurdity and meaninglessness,
we can always choose to live what we regard as worthy human lives.

     The chart below outlines a definition of Authentic Existence.
We all begin adulthood as products of our cultures (left column),
but we can grow toward greater Authenticity (right column).
(Part I of Becoming More Authentic is built around this definition:
Ch. 1 explains # 1-8 of the chart; Ch. 2 explains # 9-23.)
We always live somewhere between original existence and Authenticity.
 

Original Existence	Authentic Existence
Conformity	Autonomy
1. Accept (even defend) our given culture or sub-culture.	1. Transcend enculturation.
2. Governed by cultural patterns; victims of circumstance.	2. Invent our own patterns; rise above circumstances.
3. Culturally-defined types.	3. Unique, self-defining, self-creating.
4. 'Pursue' culturally-provided meanings and goals.	4. Create our own  meanings and goals.
5. Role- and game-playing; elaborate social games and rituals.	5. No roles or games from the culture.
6. Directed by others.	6. Directed by ourselves.
7. Believe what others believe.	7. Believe what we know  from experience.
8. Lost in the immediate present; pulled from one moment to the next.	8. Gather the past, present,  and future into the wholeness  of our resolute selves.
Structure of Our Selves, Identity
9. Deny our Existential Predicament.	9. Embrace our Existential Predicament.
10. Fragmented.	10. Unified.
11. Unfocused.	11. Focused.
12. Unowned (or owned by the 'they').	12. Owned by ourselves.
13. Diffuse, hazy.	13. Solid, organized.
14. Unintegrated.	14. Integrated.
15. Uncentered.	15. Centered.
16. Lost in superficial details.	16. Governed by larger,  deeper patterns.
17. Double-minded.	17. Single-minded;  willing one thing.
18. Complex, tangled.	18. Simple, direct.
19. Indecisive.	19. Decisive.
20. Self-indulgent.	20. Self-creating.
21. Seeking equilibrium, homeostasis.	21. Seeking meaning, purpose.
22. Bad faith—trying to be a thing, role, temperament, or type.	22. Always free and responsible  for inventing ourselves.
23. Many competing concerns; no structure or organization.	23. Having an ultimate concern.

    4  BECOMING MORE AUTHENTIC: THE POSITIVE SIDE OF EXISTENTIALISM by JAMES PARK

    If you would like to own the book upon which this chart is based, 
go to the publisher's website: existentialbooks.com
or write to the author for more information:
James Park: e-mail: PARKx032@TC.UMN.EDU

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.