Single Idea 20314

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

Full Idea

Everything must attach itself so as to be part of some movement; men are determined to lose themselves in the totality of things, in world-history, fascinated and deceived by a magic witchery; no one wants to be an individual human being.

Gist of Idea

People want to lose themselves in movements and history, instead of being individuals

Source

Søren Kierkegaard (Concluding Unscientific Postscript [1846])

Book Reference

'Existentialism', ed/tr. Solomon,Robert C. [Modern Library 1974], p.23


A Reaction

[Bk 711] I presume 'world-history' refers to the exhilerating ideas of Hegel. Right now [2017] I would say we have far too much of people only wanting to be individuals, with insufficient attention to our social nature.