Existentialism
Existentialism in simplest definition refers to the search for the true sense or personal meaning in one’s life (Sartre, 2012). The philosophy of existentialism has enabled me to relate to with my personality in a manner that is fascinating. The philosophy of existentialism sounds to me much of an introverted personality for which I am. In many analysis of existentialism, I can see a lot of familiar traits that relate to my introverted personality.
As an international student of Chinese origin, the existentialism philosophy has ceased to be the gloomy thought that I mostly perceived it to be. My readings in the course have opened my understanding into the positive features of this philosophy. As a philosophy centered on the existence and how individuals have found themselves existing in the world, Existentialism has enabled me find my own truth and deciding how to make my own life more meaningful. My existentialism has enabled me, through will, choice, and responsibility, to find my true meaning of life and act without fear. Often, the difference in race or originality can be an issue that others may use to judge me. As such, some individuals under such a condition as mine may fear to be themselves and act with free will. Having understood the philosophy of existentialism, I am able to freely do that which I feel like without fear of being judged.
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I am an introverted individual. Often in school, I would act differently from other extroverts. Existentialism has enabled me to understand that being an introvert does not mean that someone is shy. Most existentialism protest when someone or society attempts to impose or demand that their beliefs, principles or values be steadfastly accredited and obeyed. Existentialists acknowledge that this limits freedoms and makes a human change into whatever the general population in power desires thus they are dehumanized and diminished to being am a mere object of conformity. I do feel that the world's systems, directs to us how we ought to live and act which I strongly object. I do not want to live this way. Obviously, keeping in mind the end goal to be free ourselves, we should appreciate other people’s freedoms.
The rationality of existentialism as a philosophy is that human life is never perfect. Humans find themselves existing in a world with laws and regulations that they have to conform. Individuals find themselves in a world, not of their own. However, even though the life we leave is never satisfying, it does have a meaning. Within the philosophy of existentialism, there are no universally set standards of how individuals should live. The free will and choice with the acknowledgment that indeed the human choices are not without stresses enable me as a person to enjoy my freedoms and act without fear. In the story “The Things They Carried” by Obrien, the narrator feels a sense of betrayal from the community he grew up in. he believes that the misguided thoughts, uninformed beliefs of the community made them send him to war rather than let him live by his will ( O'brien, 1990) .
Social Justice
Social justice refers promoting of Justice through challenging injustice and valuing diversity. The philosophy of social justice is that all people are of a common humanity and thus have a right to be treated equally. As such, individuals are not to be discriminated against and their welfare not constrained on the based on their gender, race, nationality or social class. In a society, social justice ensures that individuals are treated with equality (Thompson, 2016).
As an international student, I am definitely of a different racial and cultural background from those with whom I am learning. Social justice enables understanding of other people and appreciating their culture so that they are not subjected to discrimination. To be just is to ensure equality prevails. Social justice will ensure that my rights are respected and that my fundamental freedoms are not denied based on my nationality or race. Social justice leads to non-exclusions. In a school set up where various ethnicities are found, to be just will provide an excellent learning environment. However, discriminatory treatment with prejudice and opprobrium directed to an individual due to their race will affect their learning outcomes. For instance, if I am subjected to discrimination by my classmates due to my race, I am treated to social injustice. This may affect my self-esteem making me feel less of a person. The overall effect may also translate to my academic performance.
Social justice ensures that the rights of an individual are protected regardless of their ethnicity, race, color, disability or social class. Individuals should not be subjected to social injustice. When one is subjected to types of social injustices like racial hate, there are associated emotional and physical impacts. In the “Story the Things They Carried” by O’Brien, when the men are exposed to the horrors of social injustice, their notions of rights and wrong shifted and bended. For instance, after the death of Ted Lavender, Cross is filled with anger and desire to avenge and evens the score. He later deals with his guilt by setting fire on the entire village of Than Ke ( O'brien, 1990) .
The philosophy of social justice is that every individual is free and equal. To be just would demand that one has a sense of justice as well as the conception of good. In the “Story the Things They Carried” there is morality in war. The concept of justice enables them to both understand and act from the public conception of justice. As such, one acts in a manner that others in the society can endorse and make them feel the need to corporate as members of that society. However, when treated to injustice they similarly act with the same.
Personal identity
Personal identity refers to the concept that one develops about themselves as they evolve over their lives (Martin and Barresi, 2013). They may also include aspects of an individual’s life that they may not have control over. Such are like the color of one’s skin, where they grew up, and what one believes in or the kinds of choices they make in life. Through how one interacts with people and carry out themselves as well as how they dress reveal their personal identity.
According to Martin and Barresi, (2013), Personal identity has got the element of persistence where an individual is able to believe that they have been themselves through their growth from childhood. The manner of self-endures through a person’s growth and thus enables them to experience themselves across different stages of their growth. For instance, I am the very Chinese person I was as a small child despite having grown and become an international student outside, my home country. Personal identity can grow over time and take different shapes depending on every individual’s direction of life. Every individual has a selfish sense in their own future. This makes them their own person different from other persons. Personal identity is therefore what makes one believe that they are who they are.
Personal identity is a notion of psychological continuity. Personal identity has enabled me transit from the state as a child with same souls into adulthood. As such, it enables, me to relate to the things I did as a young child. Personal identity has also enabled me reflect and relate to the things I learned as a young man and experience the persistence and continuity of the person in me. In the story “The Things They Carried” by Obrien, personal identity plays out when O’Brien the narrator, a deeply affected individual is searching for an emotional home; Obrien regrets his loss of innocence across his growth ( O'brien, 1990) . Personal identity made O’Brien be consistent in the nature of his soul and being. O’Brien yearns for a feeling he only had in childhood and never experienced again. It is what makes him able to feel like himself across his life from childhood not feeling like somebody else and having such a feeling carried on with him into the future and thus he could remember it from the past.
Personal identity further makes one appreciate themselves as persons that understand their psychological continuity views. In the story “The Things They Carried” by O’Brien, the narrator is able to see himself as that future being that inherits their beliefs, concepts, preferences and memories from the person in me. Owing to this, O’Brien is disturbed and seeks to find himself in the post-Vietnam war ( O'brien, 1990) . Personal identity enables O’Brien to seek a resolution through memory. His introspective and reflective thoughts leads directly to his use of memory as he incorporates his life experiences into his present life to write his story.
Conclusion
As a reflection, existentialism has enabled me to understand myself as an introverted in an individual with my personal characteristics not desiring to be like someone else but enjoyed my free will of thought and freedoms in the world. Similarly it plays a role in transition and restoration of O’Brien in his life both in pre- and post-Vietnam war. Social justice on the other end has been critical in understanding how the society should relate with one another in ensuring equality regardless of one's gender, race, color, among other classifications that may exist. Finally, personal identity enables me to understand the person in me appreciating who I am based on the thoughts I inherit from my future. It also enables O’Brien to memorize and tell a story of his war experience.
References
Martin, R., & Barresi, J. (2013). The rise and fall of soul and self: An intellectual history of personal identity . Columbia University Press.
Thompson, N. (2016). Anti-discriminatory practice: Equality, diversity and social justice . London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Sartre, J. P. (2012). The Philosophy of Existentialism: Selected Essays . New York, NY: Open Road Media.
O'brien, T. (1990). The things they carried . Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
