The Elusive Self: Is Authenticity a Modern Myth?

• Sciaria
• Philosophy
• Oct 06, 2025
• 0 Comments

In an age saturated with curated social media feeds, personal branding, and the constant pressure to present our 'best selves,' the concept of authenticity often feels like a precious, yet increasingly elusive, ideal. We're urged to 'be ourselves,' to 'find our truth,' but in a world that incentivizes performance and conformity, one has to wonder: is authenticity still a tangible goal, or has it become a modern myth, a romanticized notion we aspire to but can never truly grasp?

Philosophically, the quest for authenticity has deep roots. Thinkers from Rousseau, with his emphasis on the 'natural' self uncorrupted by society, to the existentialists like Kierkegaard, Sartre, and Heidegger, who championed the individual's responsibility to define their own meaning and live in accordance with their freely chosen values, have wrestled with what it means to be 'true' to oneself. For them, authenticity wasn't about pleasing others or conforming to societal roles, but about a radical congruence between one's inner being and outer actions, a fierce commitment to self-creation.

However, the landscape of the 21st century presents unprecedented challenges to this existential ideal. Our lives are increasingly lived online, where identity is often a performance art. We carefully select photos, craft witty captions, and present a polished version of ourselves, blurring the lines between who we are and who we want to be perceived as. Consumer culture, too, plays a role, offering a myriad of products and experiences designed to help us 'express' our unique selves, ironically often leading to a homogenization of identity rather than genuine self-discovery. Is it possible to find an 'authentic' self when external forces constantly shape and redefine our internal narratives?

Perhaps authenticity isn't a static state to be discovered, but an ongoing, fluid process of self-reflection and courage. It might involve acknowledging the roles we play and the masks we wear, and then consciously choosing when and how to shed them. In this light, the 'myth' isn't that authenticity is impossible, but that it's a fixed, inherent core waiting to be uncovered. Instead, it could be a dynamic commitment to living in alignment with our evolving values, even when it's uncomfortable or unpopular. It's about the continuous, often messy, journey of asking ourselves: 'Who am I, really, and am I living that truth?'