The Human Construct

[Paulclem]

I was thinking the other day - not a regular occurrence - about what there could be about a person that is actually unique or:

• self generated
  
  • not reliant upon the influence of others
  • not influenced culturally
  • not influenced by tradition or religion
  • not a function of this time and place where we live

I couldn't think of anything in particular, and this raised the question about how individual we really are. We live in the expectation that we are a unique person, a one and only - which seems obvious as there's only one of each of us, but when you look at it, how does that individuality manifest - if at all?

I considered art - but that can be seen as a function or reflection of economy in Warhol's work, or society, or myth. Literature is the same, and poetry. Are we living under a delusion that we actually have an individual existence beyond our cultural and social place and time?

[Thomas Novosel]

Holy Cow your right!!! the only thing that i could think of would be the combination of interests but that too could be considered influenced... the only way someone could be seen as original would be if they lived alone. And you are right all of our characteristics are generally influenced. But the outcasts of a school, college, group... they obviously are themselves or are differant but are original. My little brother is autistic and due to his autism he is himself... I can honestly guarentee that there is no one person that is like him. He is original in all of his discussions and even though he has difficulty speaking always points out views that I almost never stumble across in typical life during the day. His inability to reflect within himself the outside world, creates an original. So I guess the only way to be original would to speak without thought, and be yourself consistantly... of course some people will hold similar interests... but maybe the combination of attributes i spoke of in the begginning is true? That the combination of everything you find to express your emotions is what makes you original? Otherwise...we are all alike in some way... at least in our influences.

[Jair]

What's so bad about not being unique? There are plenty of people of whom I would love to be a carbon copy.