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The Call to be True to Yourself in Woke and Corporate TimesExploring Charles Taylor The Ethics of Authenticity
Charles Taylor’s The Ethics of Authenticity (1991) addresses the popular concept of authenticity, the pursuit of living a life true to oneself. It criticizes how this ideal has often been distorted into a form of relativism and self-centered individualism.
The course provided by Dr David Vella in 3 sessions ( commencing from 12 February 2025 every Wednesday up to 26 February 2025) aims to provide a practical understanding of Taylor’s critique of our culture and his proposal to rethink authenticity as an ideal that would integrate individual self-expression with a recognition of our social bonds and responsibilities. In a time where there is often tension between personal freedom and social unity, Taylor’s study provides insight and guidance on how to achieve a genuine sense of self that also considers the importance of community and shared values. It also encourages a critical reflection on our own personal lives and the cultural and political forces that shape our perceptions and values.
Session 1: The Modern Quest for Authenticity | Wednesday, 12 February 2025, 6 pm
- Overview of Taylor’s background and philosophical contributions
- The evolution of the concept of authenticity from the Enlightenment to the present
- Taylor’s critique of our society’s obsession with individualism and self-fulfillment
Session 2: The Distortion of Authenticity in Our Times | Wednesday, 19 February 2025, 6pm
- How the pursuit of authenticity can be misunderstood as narcissism and relativism
- Moral relativism and its impact on woke society
- How true authenticity is different from self-centered individualism
Session 3: Reclaiming Authenticity | Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 6pm
- How authenticity can be integrated with ethical responsibilities | Wednesday,
- The importance of social bonds and shared values in achieving true authenticity
- How to apply Taylor’s insights to everyday life on a personal and societal level
About the Lecturer
David Vella studied for his doctorate degree in Critical and Cultural Theory with Cardiff University. He has taught English at the University of Aix-Marseille in France and is currently living in Malta where he lectures modern and contemporary English literature and critical theory at the University of Malta and philosophy at Junior College, Msida. College. His research interests range from mysticism and ethics to contemporary dystopian fiction, existential phenomenology, the sociology of late modernity, and identity studies. He has written essays on Michel Houellebecq, mainstream consumerist identities, and conscience. He is the author of Refiguring Identity in Corporate Times: Or Rediscovering Oneself in a Consumer Culture and When her Time Comes.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, Voluntary Centre, 181, Melita Street,,Valletta, Malta
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