Heidegger talks about the Authentic Self, which he believes is unique to every person. In class, Abernathy tried to explain how that worked. She used the example of having never been born, but someone else was born in our place that was like us in every way, but not us at the same time. The first thought that popped into my head was, Alternate Universe.
A lot of television shows I enjoy incorporate alternate universes into their storylines. Doctor Who is a prime example of this. In one episode the Doctor and his companions end up falling into an alternate universe where they find people they know, but they aren’t exactly the same. It seems that alternate universes, while maybe not exactly what Heidegger was talking about, fit into the schema he was trying to present.
I could be wrong about all of this, I’ve been stuck in bed all day with a bad back and I feel like I’m going a little crazy. But at the same time, I think I might be on to something.
Until next time
~Meghan
P.S. – I commented on Jamie’s post, Baffled
When Dr. Abernathy asked the question about our existence a lot got going in my mind. I whispered to Rachel, “You mean an athletic, math major, mean girl in my body?” Yes, the physiology of me does not make who I am. I believe that. Now, what about a girl who had, not only the same physiology, but also the same environment I grew up in? Who would she be like? Would she be like me? Would she be similar? One example I thought about was, what if I had been raised in a different environment. Let’s say my parents encouraged me to be athletic and they were athletic themselves. Would I be athletic (which I am far from). I doubt it! So all in all I don’t know how to answer Dr. Abernathy’s question. Am I a product of my environment or a product of the essence of who I am? Or, am I a mixture of the two?
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