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Single Idea 20453

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 6. Authentic Self ]

Full Idea

Heidegger says you must choose your hero; either you choose 'das Man', the inauthentic life, or you choose yourself - the point being that you have to choose yourself as your hero in order to be authentic.

Gist of Idea

Heidegger says we must either choose an inauthentic hero, or choose yourself as hero

Source

report of Martin Heidegger (Being and Time [1927]) by Simon Critchley - Impossible Objects: interviews 5

Book Ref

Critchley,Simon: 'Impossible Objects: interviews' [Politty 2012], p.88


A Reaction

If Nietzsche's 'Ecce Homo' is the model for choosing yourself as hero, I am not too sure about this idea. Needing a hero seems awfully German and romantic. Ein Heldenleben. Be your own anit-hero (like a standup comedian)?