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How unusual having been born is! Is that as if the best metaphor, better than e.g. 'happiness'?

Does that legitimate 'authenticity' at all or is the fact that I was born enough to not be concerned with ways of thinking that may make it appear I was not?

User Frozenkoi
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Final answer:

The question delves into a philosophical debate about the nature of authenticity and identity stemming from the fact of being born. It references Martin Heidegger's phenomenological approach to being and explores the complexities of existence and the acknowledgment of one’s own self amidst external opinions and societal structures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's query touches upon a profound philosophical issue regarding the significance of being born and its relationship to concepts like authenticity and selfhood. The excerpts provided draw from various sources, each exploring the nuances of existence, identity, and the impact of being regarded as different or 'other' in society. These reflections span from existential musings to experiences of being an outcast and comment on the role of nature and the concept of being in the philosophical sense.

Martin Heidegger's philosophy, for example, is central to understanding the role of being as it occurs in the world, suggesting that true insight into the nature of being arises from our encounters with the world, rather than abstract ideas. The student's question parallels this philosophical exploration, proposing whether the mere fact of birth - a unique and arguably random event - provides enough foundation for one's authenticity without having to subscribe to external validations or notions that may challenge this intrinsic sense of self.

Another quote from the excerpts hints at the duality of belief, expressing that a statement or idea might be perceived as both 'silly' and 'strong' depending on interpretation and self-seriousness. This tension reflects the student's puzzlement over the metaphorical significance of being born when compared to other life experiences, such as happiness.

User Neil Knight
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