Individuality and The Influence of Others on a Person’s Decision Making

The image of the boat sailing away into the sunset stating the quote, “Follow your heart. Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires” is the picture that really stuck out to me. This image is strong in encouraging individuality, but it also does not bring attention to how we make our decision on what path we take to follow our dreams. For this particular image, I believe the boat gliding through the water is a sign of navigation and is showing that you are the only one who controls where your life goes, which in this image is steering your own ship. Nevertheless, the majority of the decisions we make, we consider how others may feel or what they think. In this situation I believe that Charles Taylor would not agree with the overall message that is in this image.

In Charles Taylor’s Ethics of Authenticity, he insinuates numerous different philosophers and authors on the theme of individuality and making an "authentic moral code". He states, as indicated by philosophers like Rousseau individuals lose their "voice of nature" when we begin count on others to settle on choices for us. Taylor questions the degree to which independence really makes us a person. With a specific end goal to comprehend the profundity of the human personality, he sets the dialect of expression and the manner in which we obtain it is a substantial part in the way we discover our individuality. As indicated by George Herbert Mead, people are dialogical and not monological in the creation of how we think and process information. This is the situation since individuals pick and choose from the population they encircle themselves. Which appears to undermine the meaning of "individual". As per Taylor, “defining myself means finding what is significant in my difference from others.” This is vital when understanding the need of independence and how it identifies with our meaning of ourselves. He references to contemporary culture and its meaning of genuineness as it corresponds to soft relativism. In doing so, this places a subjective definition on value in today’s culture because people place significance on thing based on what other people place value.

When setting a spotlight on the best way to define individuality, one should also center around how they decide on their own decisions. In the event that somebody settles on a choice with regarding their future by requesting opinions from others, what are they following? Taylor talks about the clashing thoughts of Descartes and John Locke when they examine self-duty in connection to social commitment. This gets twisted when individuals consider the impression or effect the way they are viewed within our society. If something with so many different voices impacts the morality of people in a culture, then how can anyone argue for authenticity? The subjection of ethical quality masks itself, deceiving us into wondering if there are inward inner depths as a person, when in reality the internal depths are shared among a large number of individuals and their thoughts. In deciding, numerous individuals make it about self-acknowledgment. The contemporary meaning of validness lies in the importance of the person's self-satisfaction. Numerous individuals ponder over the assessment of other individuals, yet they will only do this after seeing how this will benefit themselves. This assigns priority on specific things over others; like the attitude of "you can't take everything with you when you leave… " it welcomes the possibility of "outside valuations".

Genuineness is an advanced idea concentrating on a model for society as opposed to the opportunities of the person, which touches on the aspect of how moral standards consider a societal contract. Society regularly puts significance on every individual having the privilege to act naturally and underscoring associations with others. So as to accomplish self-satisfaction. As per Taylor, you should think over your own qualities and in addition the individuals who you share deep relationships with. While considering the photo and its relationship to what Taylor preaches, it is vital to perceive how the photo is organized.

The photo demonstrates a darker and a lighter side; the darker side being the one the vessel is nearer to, and the lighter side being the place the boat will venture out to. This opens up the way to accept there is a feeling of hopefulness later on in the future. The words are composed in white, capital letters where the boat is traveling. The words are white and eye-popping so you can perceive what they are stating, and the placement is the most essential. The words were placed carefully in the area where the vessel will demonstrate the connection of the announcement to the individual's future dreams or wants. The manner in which the words are composed are additionally vital on because the top column of words, "follow your heart," are the biggest. The second line of words, "don't waste your life," are little smaller, but greater than the third line expressing, "fulfilling someone else's."

Finally, the fourth line is nearly the same size as the second column. This is essential to note while dissecting in light of the fact that it is a physical portrayal of the belittlement of other individuals in deciding your fantasies and wants. When contrasting the photo with Taylor's considerations, I trust he would argue the photo portrays the wrong message. In light of how Taylor argued for uniqueness in decision making, regardless he makes it a point to perceive the job associations with other individuals play in specific choices. The photo entirely puts down other individuals when choosing the destiny of a man's fantasies and wants. Taylor perceives outside components as imperative to the settling on choices and really achieving self-satisfaction. Numerous choices we make affect other individuals and that can discourage or fortify our connection with those individuals. In the wake of perceiving the significance of those connections, somebody would then be able to settle on choices for themselves. Taylor tries to express the connections come after the individual, yet it is still a vital factor.

While considering the disagreements made by Taylor and taking a look at and examining the photo, I concur with Charles Taylor's thoughts. There is a sure level of significance other individuals have in the choices you make, yet it doesn't ruin what your unique wants are. He exhibits a counterargument of uniqueness being a lie if everybody depends on someone else to decide, at that point conveys to the pursuer's consideration the vulnerable individuals need to stick to one individual's thoughts. It is difficult to live in a world where ethics are brought together and shared among everybody and have whole individuality; it is critical to perceive the individual attributes and wants of the individual, and that is the relative part, all things considered. Companions assume essential jobs in the fantasies and wants of individuals in light of the fact that regularly, individuals are more inspired in the event that they are supporting other individuals.

I do not believe to a degree that other individuals settle on your life choices and you carry on with your life for other individuals. I believe with the secondary role peers and the associations with those companions play in choices made day by day and occasionally. Having a positive outlook gives understanding in how other individuals think, yet despite everything you have the privilege and the capability to settle on your own decisions and choices required in following your fantasies and wants. This is comparable to what every individual puts a significant value on. If you listen to the advice from somebody that values physical objects over relationships, clearly that will change the view a person with the other opinion will bring.