Paul Vitz describes the modern self this way: “The modern self is characterized by such things as freedom and autonomy, by a strong will, and by the presumption that the self is self-created by the will, operating freely in its construction. The self is assumed to be strong, capable, and above all coherent; it is also largely conscious and heavenly indebted to reason or at least to reasonableness.”
Among the criticisms that have been lodged against this self are: “the modern self commonly leads to social alienation or isolation or loneliness because this self emphasizes separation”; “the modern self decomposes society into isolated individuals and destroys social solidarity, neighborhoods, civic concern, and relationships of all kinds”; “this idea of the self simply fails to understand how we, as selves or persons, are created by our personal relationships, our culture, and our language.”
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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