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Monday, April 08, 2002 The Inner Horizon A week or so ago I wrote about how people at their core want to be know and be known--apparently I'm not the only one that has that idea. My Shakespeare prof gave us a handout today that contained a pharaphrased quote from philosopher Charles Taylor: The modern person says: "I am a natural being. I am characterized by a set of inner drives, or goals, or desires and aspirations. Knowing what I am really about is getting clear about these. If I enquire after my identity, ask seriously who I am, it is here that I have to look for an answer. The horizon of identity is an inner horizon." Taylor makes the case that we (want to) define ourselves by who we are inside--thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, etc.--and to understand another person is to understand that "inner horizon." Ditto for understanding ourselves. So why are we often so content to know people on the surface? At college, you're defined by your major, your year in school, your hometown (those and "What's your name?" are the most common questions to ask someone unfamiliar around here). I imagine that when you graduate you're defined by your job. Aren't we more than that? ^ Top | 3:39 PM | | | 
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