According to Gawande, Harvard philosopher Josiah Royce argued that loyalty to a cause beyond ourselves is an intrinsic human need.As Gawande puts it, “human beings need loyalty. It does not necessarily produce happiness, and can even be painful, but we all require devotion to something more than ourselves for our lives to be endurable. Without it, we have only our desires to guide us, and they are fleeting, capricious, and insatiable. They provide, ultimately, only torment” (126).
More recently, Gawande points out, psychologists like Abraham Maslow, have argued that “self-actualization” is the highest human need.
Do you think Royce’s theory, which puts loyalty or “transcendence” above “self-actualization,” offers an accurate account of human behavior or is it an example of wishful thinking?
Are those who seek “transcendence” through “devotion to something more than ourselves” more developed than those who merely seek self-actualization or the full realization of their gifts and abilities?
Do you think Royce’s theory, which puts loyalty or “transcendence” above “self-actualization,” offers an accurate account of human behavior or is it an example of wishful thinking?
Are those who seek “transcendence” through “devotion to something more than ourselves” more developed than those who merely seek self-actualization or the full realization of their gifts and abilities?
Click here for another response to Maslow's hierarchy.
Click here to see a path from Maslow to "The Social Animal."See the videos below to hear from Maslow himself.
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ReplyDeleteWhile I believe that Royce's theory has some level of truth to it, the conclusion is somewhat misguided. I don't think that transcendence is necessarily the primary driving force of human behavior. Rather, "transcendence" is only a sort of ingredient to total self-actualization. One's self image is often closely correlated to the beliefs and causes they devote themselves to. Take religion, for instance. If one devotes themselves to the Christian faith they say, "I am a Christian." Thus, the person gains an identity from a force beyond oneself.
ReplyDeleteGawande submits that without loyalty, humanity would be nothing more than slaves to our own fleeting whims. Although I agree with this, I also believe that this very loyalty is merely a tool that teaches us to prioritize and focus on certain hopes and desires in a way that proves productive for both the self and society as a whole. In this process, we achieve a better understanding of our own talents and gain depth to our self-image. This shows that while those who seek transcendence are certainly better-developed individuals than those who focus on self-actualization. However, this is only because devotion to something beyond oneself is crucial to the full realization of one’s potential.
--Tyler Rhoades
I would have to disagree with you on this one Tyler. I see where you are coming from though. Self-realization is the combination of who one thinks they are, attributes/ traits, social skills and other self qualities. But transcendence is not at the same level with this. The reason is that the devotion to something that is "greater" than you sort of does not come from the self. Yes we develop sense of worth from this but in reality we become reliant and dependent upon this "source" or thing or whatever you want to call it. Either it be a neural activity going on or a some sort of cognitive processes going on it separates your self-understanding and transcendence (devotion to something beyond you). I am not trying to get into a religious debate, just letting you know. :)
DeleteRoyce's theory is accurate in my opinion. Our society values people who emphasize transcendence above those who do not. Some of life's greatest fulfillment comes from putting one's self below another.
ReplyDeletee.g. Once a couple becomes parents, their entire being is drawn from their child. They become what the child needs, whether that is a counselor, coach, chauffeur, or friend - the parents abandon self-actualization in favor of transcendence.
As for the development side of the question, here's my take on it. When I was in middle school, I wanted many things (like turquoise hair) to which my mother (THANKFULLY) said no. At that time I was pursuing self-actualization, but in the long run it did not fulfill me or give a sense of satisfaction. My mother, however, had an idea that I could use my energy to serve at the Jesus House in OKC. That gave me ultimate fulfillment and is an experience I hold near to my heart to this day. The point of this story isn't to point out my middle-school fashion mistakes (we all had them), but instead to illustrate that as we grow older we tend to realize some things matter less than others and become more mature in what we understand to be important.
I agree with Royce's theory that transcendence is above self-actualization. Earlier in the book, Gawande explains how someone's goals change as they near the end of their lives, whether it be from old age or illness. As people become more aware of their mortality, they start to focus less on fulfilling their talents and potential and more on their loyalties such as family, close friends, and their relationship with god. My grandfather, who suffered severe brain damage years ago, told me that his injury has made it difficult for him to do any of the things he used to love. The injury even damaged his brain to the point that he feels no emotion, and this has made it incredibly difficult for him to be motivated to do anything. So I asked him what it was that kept him determined to keep trying, and he told me that it was loyalty. He had an obligation to his friends and family to keep trying to spend time with them and keep being present in their lives, to keep being a good husband by helping my grandmother, and to keep being a good person because of his loyalty to god. 'Once everything else starts to fade,' he told me, 'loyalty is all you have left.'
ReplyDeleteIt appears to me as though most human beings reach self-actualization through transcendence. I find it hard to believe that an individual could become aware of his or her maximum capabilities without being devoted to something beyond the self. It is my experience that working with others to accomplish an outward goal forces a certain level of self-actualization. In any form of commitment, be it community service, religion, or a romantic relationship, individuals cannot help but be shown who they really are through the reactions of others. For this reason, I do believe that those who seek transcendence will be more developed than those who solely seek self-actualization. I believe that someone who seeks to find their own potential without an external cause will only be disappointed by the incomplete result.
ReplyDeleteI really like what Dillon said here abut not being able to reach our maximum capacity as humans on our own. We like to believe that we can "be the best that we can be" on our own, independent of any assistance. It's incredibly easy to become self-satisfied and to delude ourselves that we've progressed as much as we need to. The hard truth is that sometimes we need something to push us from the outside make us realize that we can always improve. Humans by nature don't like going out of their comfort zones, and once we are comfortable we tend to lose the desire to push ourselves further. That's where the outside force, Royce's "cause" comes in. It pushes us where we don't want to push ourselves.
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