canto iv
01-26-2009, 12:59 PM
Kierkegaard described that there are three kinds of people.
1. The Socialized Man - This is a person who is very much bound by the societal norms dictated by culture. This is a person very much defined by and limited to a certain worldview. Some may refer to this kind of person as a "pawn of society," entirely a product of his or her environment, and does not question anything beyond the worldview in which they subscribe.
2. The Introvert - The Introvert is ostensibly the same as the Socialized Man -- enjoys many of the same activities, clothing, lifestyle, etc. However, what makes this type of individual different is that he or she is aware there is more beyond that one particular worldview. Just, for whatever reason, perhaps family responsibilities, monetary limitation, or even a lack of motivation, he or she never decided to break away and explore their own interests. From what I understand, people like this are often dissatisfied with their lives and full of regret.
3. The Self-Realized Man - This is a person not bound by any one particular worldview, who desires to create their own place in the world while not defined in whole by the arbitrary. To quote Kierkegaard himsef, the Self-Realized Man is "a man that will not merely be the pawn of others, of society; he will not be a passive sufferer and secret dreamer."
What I'd like to know is, how accurate do you think these categories are? Do you feel people can fit nicely into them, that there is such a clear dichotomy?
Personally, I think it works well as a guideline, but not as an exact science. One's role in society, and, therein definition of oneself, exists on a continuum. I feel it's a matter of education and exposure to broader thought that would at least give a person a chance of becoming a more self-aware individual. It's far too elitist to assume only a select few will ever reach this state of "self-realized." Anyone can, it's mostly just a matter of aspiration and desire once that possibility has been discovered.
1. The Socialized Man - This is a person who is very much bound by the societal norms dictated by culture. This is a person very much defined by and limited to a certain worldview. Some may refer to this kind of person as a "pawn of society," entirely a product of his or her environment, and does not question anything beyond the worldview in which they subscribe.
2. The Introvert - The Introvert is ostensibly the same as the Socialized Man -- enjoys many of the same activities, clothing, lifestyle, etc. However, what makes this type of individual different is that he or she is aware there is more beyond that one particular worldview. Just, for whatever reason, perhaps family responsibilities, monetary limitation, or even a lack of motivation, he or she never decided to break away and explore their own interests. From what I understand, people like this are often dissatisfied with their lives and full of regret.
3. The Self-Realized Man - This is a person not bound by any one particular worldview, who desires to create their own place in the world while not defined in whole by the arbitrary. To quote Kierkegaard himsef, the Self-Realized Man is "a man that will not merely be the pawn of others, of society; he will not be a passive sufferer and secret dreamer."
What I'd like to know is, how accurate do you think these categories are? Do you feel people can fit nicely into them, that there is such a clear dichotomy?
Personally, I think it works well as a guideline, but not as an exact science. One's role in society, and, therein definition of oneself, exists on a continuum. I feel it's a matter of education and exposure to broader thought that would at least give a person a chance of becoming a more self-aware individual. It's far too elitist to assume only a select few will ever reach this state of "self-realized." Anyone can, it's mostly just a matter of aspiration and desire once that possibility has been discovered.