Instructions
The first two chapters
of this book contain about 100 questions,
which are intended to help you evaluate your
own growth toward Authenticity.
Of course, questions, which must necessarily
ask about facts of your life,
cannot get to the real core of Authenticity,
which is reasons and motives.
Also, questions can only sample your
life at random.
If you smoke (Question #4), this behavior
stands of hundreds of other 'choices'
you have made because of peer pressure rather
than personal autonomy.
And giving up smoking will not make you a
more Authentic person
unless it is part of a much broader change
toward deciding for yourself.
Changing your behavior simply because of
a question in the Authenticity Test
is no more valid than claiming to be an educated
person
because you knew the exam questions in advance
and studied only for them.
The 23 contrasts
on page 4 might better be seen as 23 growth scales.
Thus, instead of merely giving yourselves
a numerical score,
you might decide to write a paragraph of
self-examination
for each dimension of growth that seems meaningful
to you.
Such writing might become the beginning of
your Authenticity journal (p. 31).
If you plan to take
the Authenticity Test, number a large sheet of paper
in four columns as follows: 1-28, 30-43,
50-73, 80-95 or use the score sheet.
If you might be tempted
to distort your score one way or another,
you might decide to take the test (which
appears in boxes)
before you read the text explaining
each form of growth toward Authenticity.
Of if you are reading this book with someone
who knows you well,
you might discuss your ratings with each
other.
When a question cannot
easily be answered yes or no,
feel free to interpret and give yourself
fractional points. For instance:
Put today's date
on your score sheet and keep it in this book.
In the future you may want to re-take the
test or re-read your self-examination
to see how much progress you may have made
toward becoming more Authentic.
Even if the Authenticity
Test is not helpful in other ways,
at least the specific questions can open
some areas for possible growth.
And, of course, you may add your own growth
goals to the 23 explored here.
A DEFINITION OF AUTHENTIC EXISTENCE by JAMES PARK 7
If you would like to take the whole Authenticity
Test,
you will find it spread thru-out the text
of the first two chapters of
Becoming More Authentic: The Positive Side of Existentialism
Go to the publisher's website: existentialbooks.com
or write to the author for more information:
James Park: e-mail: PARKx032@TC.UMN.EDU
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An
Existential Philosopher's Museum.