Thick Desires, Political Atheism, and Living an Anti-Mimetic Life
The Art of Manliness
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Agency vs Autonomy in Modern Life
In the modern world, there is a prevalent feeling of a loss of personal agency due to factors like AI and algorithms. Kierkegaard's concept emphasizes the importance of realizing one's power to take intentional action rather than reacting to external stimuli. Matthew Crawford differentiates between agency and autonomy, stating that autonomy only offers the freedom to choose, while agency involves constructing choices. The abundance of choices in modern life may give the illusion of autonomy but can actually diminish true agency as individuals are presented with predetermined options, akin to how a parent offers a child limited choices.
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