2min snip

Every Square Inch Podcast cover image

Defeater Ethics: Sexuality, Part 2

Every Square Inch Podcast

NOTE

The Revolution of Identity

In a thought-provoking analysis, borrowing from the ideas of various intellectuals, Carl Truman and Charles Taylor emphasize the historical shift from external to internal identity. Truman argues that this transformation began before the sexual revolution, with the revolutionary concept of individualism. The philosophy of Rousseau played a significant role in this change, challenging the traditional view of identity defined by external markers. Truman highlights the dangers of hyper-individualism, stressing the risk of losing our true selves. He portrays external realities as a potential threat to our identity, reframing them as chains that restrict our autonomy and freedom.

00:00
Speaker 1
I'm borrowing from the thoughts and research of several other people smarter than me, but Carl Truman and Charles Taylor most specifically just wanted to give them credit here for intellectual honesty. So Truman argues this all began way before the sexual revolution with a much more significant revolution of identity. And the first key development that had to take place was the internalizing of that identity. What does that mean? Historically, the answer to the question, who are you, was answered externally? I am the son of my parents. I am a member of this tribe. I am a farmer or whatever my trade may be. And of course, the most common answer historically is I am what my religion says I am. We define ourselves by external identity markers. But in the 18th century, the answer, who are you? Started turning inward. Truman specifically focuses on the philosophy of Rousseau. Now other philosophers take it back further ironically to the Protestant Reformation, which represented a revolutionary change in the way we view ourselves. We are now individuals and not helplessly beholden to institutional authority and power. And individualism is a good thing, but hyper-individualism gone awry is a dangerous thing. And Truman focuses on the hyper-individualism of Rousseau and his famous line, quote, man is born free and is everywhere in chains. The idea is that our truest self is a free, autonomous, self-determining individual, but that individualism has been chained by external realities. So he reframes these externals that used to define our identity as now a threat to our identity.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode