The ethics of authenticity

In 'The Ethics of Authenticity,' Charles Taylor delves into the concept of authenticity as a central virtue in modern moral thinking.

He argues that authenticity involves both the creation and construction of one's self, as well as openness to horizons of significance and self-definition in dialogue with others.

Taylor discusses three malaises of modernity: individualism, the primacy of instrumental reasoning, and the soft despotism of modern systems.

He emphasizes the need to balance individual expression with a sense of community and shared moral responsibility, highlighting the tension between these aspects and the potential for authenticity to become tyrannical if not recognized by others.