Lecture 7: Selves and Identity

The inherent nature of humans, where work is seen as a craft, not just labor for survival. It involves perfecting skills and finding meaning in our work.

The loss of connection between humans and their work due to a capitalist system that prioritizes profit over fulfillment. Work becomes a mindless routine.

A state where humans feel disconnected from their surrounding world, including nature and culture. It involves a lack of understanding about the origins and connections of things.

A sense of disconnection between people, leading to a lack of understanding and shared experiences due to the impersonal nature of mass society.

The feeling of self-worth and purpose being lost when you are forced to work for someone else, lacking a sense of ownership and control over your work.

A theory by Marx that explains how people become detached from their true selves when their existence becomes alienated from their essence, meaning work becomes disconnected from what they truly want to do.

The act of transforming emotions like fulfillment and happiness into a marketable product, encouraging people to buy things to feel better rather than focusing on real happiness.

Capitalism's approach to making a profit by exploiting emotions and convincing people that the path to fulfillment lies in consuming products, which is ultimately fleeting and unsustainable.

A state where our actions feel disconnected from our inner values and purpose. It can be a result of unhealthy lifestyles, societal pressures, or a lack of understanding of ourselves.

The idea that losing yourself can be a way to find a higher purpose or spiritual enlightenment. This often involves detaching from material possessions and worldly concerns.

The feeling of being anonymous in a large, impersonal urban environment. It can offer freedom from judgment but also lead to a sense of isolation and detachment.

The concept that sacrificing oneself for a greater cause can lead to a fulfilling sense of purpose. This can involve actions like martyrdom or giving up personal goals for the benefit of others.

A type of freedom experienced in urban environments where individuals can live relatively unnoticed, escaping scrutiny and expectations.

The loss of a sense of belonging and shared cultural identity in a society characterized by individualization and fragmentation.

The idea that strong communities, while promoting belonging, may inadvertently hinder individual self-discovery. This can be contrasted with urban environments where individualism is more readily encouraged.

A state of selflessness where one's actions are motivated by a deep sense of responsibility and duty towards others, often exemplified by parental sacrifices.

The feeling of being disconnected from one's true self, often caused by societal forces that prioritize conformity and collective needs over individual fulfillment. This can lead to a loss of individual identity and agency.

While seeking to regain a sense of self, individuals might prioritize community needs over their own desires, sacrificing personal goals for the perceived benefit of the group. This can lead to a situation where individuality is suppressed and individual needs are disregarded.

The performance of actions and roles, often influenced by cultural expectations, shapes a person's perception of self. This includes how we act, work, and engage with the world. It's not just what we think, but how we behave and interact with the world around us.

Our identity and sense of self are deeply influenced by the interactions we have with others. The relationships we build and the environments we inhabit contribute to how we understand ourselves. This means we are not just individuals but members of communities and societies.

Our sense of self is often rooted in feelings and emotions rather than solely based on rational thought processes. It's about how we experience the world and our place in it. This can range from joy and contentment to sorrow and anxiety.

Our understanding of 'self' is often shaped by societal norms and expectations about how life should be. These expectations, often passed down through generations, can influence our choices, aspirations, and understanding of the world.

The process of 'losing' oneself in activities like meditation or prayer can be a way of connecting with a deeper sense of self. This can be a way to escape the pressures of daily life and find a sense of calmness and clarity.

Self-sacrifice, even in extreme cases like martyrdom, can be motivated by a desire to create change or stand up for a cause. This can be a way of promoting a valued ideal and serving something greater than individual desire.

In modern society, the complex mix of different cultures creates unique situations where the concept of "Self" and "Other" becomes blurred and cannot be defined by simple differences. For example, the cultural diversity of large cities leads to a complexity that challenges traditional notions of national identity.

Within the context of cities, the concept of "Other" arises from creating a sense of "Self" that is often specific to a particular cultural group or nation. This leads to potentially harmful consequences like discrimination and violence.

The feeling of being an outsider, not fitting in. It arises directly from the negative experience of being labeled as "Other" by a dominant group, leading to confusion and a sense of not belonging.

Our understanding of ourselves as "Self" or "Other" is shaped by how we are perceived by those around us. Interactions with diverse others influence our identity.

The ongoing experience of being excluded or labeled as "Other" can have a profound influence on an individual's sense of identity and reality.

The idea that "Otherness" can become a weapon or tool for social or political change. By embracing and celebrating shared experiences of being an outsider, marginalized groups can counter exclusion.

The act of understanding another culture involves overcoming barriers and seeing the world from a different perspective. It requires effort and a genuine desire to learn.

The possibility of limitations or barriers to fully understanding another culture, even with the best intentions. Cultural differences can create misunderstandings that are difficult to bridge completely.

The idea that cultures are distinct life worlds, with unique values, beliefs, and practices. Understanding another culture requires acknowledging these differences.

The process of making sense of a culture different from your own. It involves moving beyond surface-level observations to understand the deeper meanings and motivations.

The act of translating something from one culture to another, recognizing the possibility of misinterpretations due to cultural differences in meaning, values, and experiences.

The idea that disability is not an objective condition, but a social construct shaped by historical, cultural, and societal factors. This means that what defines disability varies across time and place.

The inherent opportunities and benefits that a society provides (or denies) to individuals with disabilities based on cultural beliefs and norms.

The potential for exploitation of individuals with disabilities. This can be seen in historical examples where individuals with disabilities were exploited by entertainment industries or scientific research.

The potential for individuals with disabilities to turn their experiences of objectification into opportunities. This emphasizes the role of personal agency and resilience in navigating societal challenges.

A situation where an individual's capabilities are determined by how their environment perceives them. For example, a person might be considered 'disabled' in one context but 'able-bodied' in another.

The ways in which our culture shapes and influences how we understand and experience disability. This includes how disability is represented in the arts, education, and law.

The act of playing a disabled character by an able-bodied actor. This is often criticized as disrespectful and inaccurate.

A shared set of beliefs, customs, and practices that define a group. In the context of disability, culture can influence how we perceive and interact with individuals with disabilities.

The ability of a concept or idea to be transferred or applied across different contexts. For example, cultural norms regarding disability can be transferred through the arts, education, or laws.

A form of representation that emphasizes the subjective and emotional aspects of an experience, rather than objective facts.

The idea that normality is not fixed or objective, but rather a subjective and emotional category that is influenced by individual experiences and cultural values.

The practice of using tropes and stereotypes to represent animals in a way that attributes human qualities to them, or to portray humans with animalistic characteristics.