ABSTRACT
In this chapter I explore the importance-or lack thereof-of sincerity and authenticity for self and society. I begin with reflective fragments from a Garfinkelian social and personal experiment: for one entire day I sought complete sincerity and authenticity. To the best of my ability I was completely honest, refusing to lie to myself or others; I rigidly adhered to my values and portrayed myself to others as I authentically experience my own subjective definition of self. The disastrous results of my experiment oblige me to conclude with highly critical assessments of sincerity and authenticity. Indeed, dishonesty and inauthenticity are far more important-and morally virtuous-than we might think.
