ABSTRACT
The two concepts of authenticity and responsibility each pose difficulties. Is ‘authenticity’ a helpful term in the contemporary world? In a liquid world, aren’t we obliged to take on different personas such that there is no self to which to be true so as to be authentic? On the other hand, ‘responsibility’ implies an allegiance to some larger cause or calling beyond oneself, but what might this be in the modern world? Isn’t the whole thrust of postmodernism and relativism precisely a set of claims to the effect that no one set of claims can snare us in this way? ‘Responsibility’ implies obligation, but there being any principle on which an obligation might be founded is in doubt. The foundations of ‘responsibility’ seem to be crumbling.
