Who we are, what we are?

Have you ever thought about your own identity? What you want to be and how people view you as at school? Let me start with explaining the differences in between the two.

Utilitarianism, which is a type of naturalism, the laws of nature. It is when one's identity or self-interest is rightly understood. It creates the idea that there should be some idea of the common good.

Expressionism, on the other hand, emphasises on the "authentic self". The way to be in the world (standards), rather than tradition, obligation and commitment. The aim is ‘self-fulfilment through ‘knowing’ yourself – there is no such thing as a moral consensus.

What is the problem here then? Imagine a classroom full of students who want to search for their "authentic self identity". It will probably look like this... or worse...

"Free Spirit" in classrooms 

Rieff suggested in Sociology on Culture that “Traditional moral authorities such as the churches and parents no longer have (or, in many cases, want) the power make rules and enforce them.  There is a sense in which, compared to other eras, almost anything goes”. (p.25) It is scary when you think about it, like the image that is shown above, now we are just "free spirits". (Like how my high school teacher would put it)

Schools are "traditional moral authorities". We know when to listen and obey certain rules. We are aware that the teachers are the ones who have more authorities over us, thus we know that we need to quiet when they are talking. However, as humans, we seek to identify ourselves. We desire to learn who we really are, we seek for opportunities and freedom to do so. This sense of "SELF", the word "I" is itself rebellious, is Desire to go against society, to strive for freedom against the constraints of social institutions and relationships with others. And that was the reason why we've always had labels of people around at my high school, for example, FOBs, niggas, rock n' rolls, etc. Despite the fact that they don't actually wanted to be called like that. It was simply a cultural thing to do. it is interesting that sometimes they call themselves by "tags" to fit into this particular culture. I was called to be a FOB, and I certainly agree because I do have an accent in some sort... But I would only allow certain groups of people to call me by that "tag" to make myself feel better about myself. And I do that because I know it would make myself look humorous and I would fit into my own "Asian group" easier. As students, we know when and where to allow our "free spirits" to go around. This is an act of expressing our "authentic self", without morals. Obviously, we won't call anyone a FOB, nigga or something even worse in front of a teacher. Because we know that we will get into trouble if we did. There are, of course, girls who do that...and you know the consequences...

My point is that, identity politics has challenged the idea of ‘universal man’. In some sense, it has broken the idea of moral and tradition. On the other hand, here is always a balance in between Utilitarianism and Expressionism simply because morals and traditions do exist and have authority to a certain extend in our educational fields.


Reference:

Handbook of Sociological Theory -  edited by Jonathan H. Turner

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalism_(philosophy)

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Textbook: Sociology on Culture