Granì (Aug 2016)
Person identity problem: imitation or authenticity (in the context of philosophical anthropology)
Abstract
Today the problem of person is of current importance, but not simply the problem of person’s realization or creativity, but the problem of person identity. Person identity problem is the key one for philosophical anthropology. Identity is a category of social and human Sciences, (philosophical anthropology, psychology, social philosophy, cultural anthropology, social psychology, etc.), applied to describe individuals and groups as rather steady, «identical to themselves» integrities. We should pay attention to the definition «identical to themselves» integrities. E. Erikson distinguishes between the concepts of «identity» and «identification». Identification is a psychological mechanism, and identity is the result of the process of likening. Post-modernist anthropology poses one more problem, and this is «crisis of identification». Identification as a process of constant location of oneself can be viewed on as the way of existence on one’s breaking point, as self-manifestation, where the signifier completely coincides with the signified, a kind of writing of oneself (Jean-Luc Nancy). A person identifies oneself with what one is at the moment. A person needs to become authentic and correspond to their deep essence, the internal ideal. We are obliged to give our creative answer to our Creator (N. Berdyaev). Only integral person can give their creative answer. It is very important to restore its true image, but not to be content with any simulacra. Simulacrum is the copy, i.e. lack of authenticity, compliance to some standard. Postmodernist Jean Baudrillard, defines simulacrum (from Latin «simelo», «pretend», «pretend to be») as a «copy» which doesn’t have the original in reality. It is obvious that person’s authenticity is firmly connected with values. It makes the problem of «revaluation of values» actual. All values are somehow centered around personality, they are related to its biological, social and spiritual nature. Individual’s world, one’s world outlook and disposition are based on values, on everything valuable for the person. Moral values possess such properties as objectivity, transcendence, allness, unity, uniqueness, hierarchy, intentionality. All these qualities promote person’s authenticity restoration, coming from the depths of one’s inner world. The unity, or integrity means that all elements are in constitutional interrelation, and person’s integral world can be only real. There is no place in integrity for imitation, falseness, masks, any simulacra. Thus, developing and forming the world of values, person gains authenticity that corresponds to a certain standard, eidetic similarity (Plato). In its development personality experiences catharsis, that is sublimation from all alluvial and false, illusory. Through authenticity we come to the world of values, and what’s the most important – to person’s integrity which contains all unity of variety.
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