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philosophy of life entry
self identity and self actualization
self-actualization and identity
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However, I also acknowledge that my purpose in life, may not align with that of others. As I have learned of various philosophers and their conceived notions of the purpose of life, I have attempted to apply each of those principles to my own life. Upon confronting the Vita Activa and the Vita Contemplativa, I have determined that neither of these philosophies truly applies to me, as there are instances in which I consider both to be valid beliefs. In further examination of these, Arendt’s Vita Activa remarks that you “show who you are and make your appearance by speaking and acting.” However, I believe that structuring one 's life purpose to their appearance and behavior often leads to a falsified version of himself, almost like a facade. Thus, this person is not truly whole, as they aim to become someone they are not, and therefore can never be truly satisfied.
...nyone tries, the individual must make his own decisions, and decide what type of life he or she may live, and they must try to achieve authenticity, even when the present situation is difficult, their attitude will help them achieve this purposeful life.
Susan Wolf, born in 1952, is widely considered one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th and 21st century. One of Wolf’s most renowned works is The meanings of Lives, which drew a lot of attention in the philosophical world for a number of questions that arose from it. Arguably her most widely debated and questioned assertion in The meanings of Lives is “If you care about yourself you’re living as if you’re the center of the universe, which is false.” This however I don’t not believe to be true. Every human being, no matter how successful or unsuccessful, has the right to care for them sleeves and not believe they are the center of the universe while doing so.
e. Tala - There's always a purpose to your life. You live for the same reason the way that some people die for some reasons. Where you are today is a combination of all your past actions, decisions, as well as those of the people around you and how they have affected
“ The self's struggle for authenticity and definition will never end unless it's connected to its creator -- to you and to me. And that can happen with awareness -- awareness of the reality of oneness and the projection of self-hood. For a start, we can think about all the times when we do lose ourselves.”
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson-
	Living is about making choices. The choices people make shape their lives for better or worse. Even the decision not to choose has its effects, often not wanted. But the individual who chooses to make positive choices and to act accordingly is more likely to see his or her life reflect his or her beliefs and desires. Usually the individual who chooses to take action is also willing to face the risks and obstacles that such choices involve.
In Christy Wampole’s “How to Live Without Irony” and Richard Taylor’s “The Meaning of Human Existence” both authors argue how humans ought to live a meaningful life. Wampole tackles the argument in a different way than Taylor but they both have similar positions on the meaning. I agree with both authors in some of the ways that we should dictate our lives to justify meaningfulness but I also believe that meaningfulness can differ from person to person. Life is very precious to us; since humans have had the ability to consciously think, we have always questioning our existence. No other animal on the planet has had the luxury of pondering whether or not their life is meaningful.
“I have lived every day of my life asking myself ‘is what I’m doing reflective of who I am? Or who I want to be?’ If not...”
Many people wonder: what is the meaning of life? What is the human purpose on this earth? At least one time in our lifetime, we all look at ourselves and wonder if we are living our lives the way we were meant to live them. Sadly, there is not a definite answer to the principles of human life. Every human comes from different backgrounds and different experiences throughout their existence. Each person is different, each with different emotions and reactions to their surroundings. People strive to uncover the secrets to the meaning of life. In reality, humans are given the desire to live the way we want and have a critical thinking mind, unlike animals. In the essay Living like Weasels, Annie Dillard believes we should live more carefree and instinctual as weasels, but what we were given as humans is a gift that no other creature has – free will and choice to shape our own lives.
(Crowell). Ironically the authors, directors and poets would deny that they are existentialists, because they are existentialists. (Corbett) The authors continued showing features that furthered the belief of their movement. In their eyes, people are free and must take it upon themselves to make rational decisions in a chaotic universe. Existentialists believe that there is nothing more to life since life has no purpose. (Corbett) Life is just where we are right now but we have no real impact to others or this earth. It is all the same if we were dead as if we were alive. This often comes as a realization to existentialist people and often present in existentialist literature about the “reality” of life.The question comes down to, do all human beings believe that they matter in life? This question challenges existentialist belief since life has no purpose. (Corbett) How can we matter in this life if one of the main themes in existentialism is that we have no purpose, it is quite
We are all born to live, not to simply exist. Experiences in life have taught me there is a purpose behind each individual’s existence. Discovering this purpose, has been challenging. My educational and professional background have helped shape my immediate and long term professional goals. Becoming an Occupational Therapist has become both my immediate and long-term goals in life.
“Life is a balanced system of learning, adjusting, and evolving. Whether pleasure or pain; every situation in your life serves a purpose. It is up to us to recognize what that purpose could be.” - Dr. Steve Maraboli
In Hannah Arendt’s work, The Human Condition, Arendt addresses the active life or Vita Activa and how the three major human activities are incorporated into the public and private realms. The private realm, in which finances and basic needs are met, exists within the household. The Public Realm involves politics and interaction between individuals. All interaction within the public realm requires the individual to have attained freedom. As society continues to develop, however, and the Modern Age takes over the rise of the Social Realm disrupts the hierarchy of these three human activities. Arendt writes about how this disruption damages the natural order. Each of the three human activities has it’s own place in society and by disrupting the natural order this shift towards the Social Realm causes issues for mankind.
Be yourself– we often hear that phrase as a piece of advice, whether in real life or in fictionalized accounts of human life in media such as film or books. Being one’s true self is often touted as an ideal to strive for. It is believed to be able to grant one a happy, content life, since being yourself would mean you would be free to make the right decisions in your life without complying society’s expectations – you would not need to constantly clash with your conscience. Nowadays, however, being your true self may prove a daunting task.
Recognizing who we are not is good in knowing who we are, but it is only the first step