Read Appiah from The Lies That Bind 6-20 (handout) and write a Heilker dialogue, focusing on the 3 things identities share. Give your own example for each. Share in a blog post.
Appiah; “The first obvious identity comes with labels, so understanding identities required first that you have some idea about how to apply them”
Camryn; If you are going to label someone then you need to understand what you are giving them. If someone is an athlete then they play a lot or a little sports but you need to understand that those labels mean they play a sport and not just running or exercising.
Appiah; “That because of the second important thing identities share: they matter to people. And they matter, first, because having an identity can give you a sense of how you fit into the social world… But a further crucial aspect of what identities offer is that they give you reasons for doing things.
Camryn; Having an identity is basically saying who we are as people. Without identities then we really don’t know who we are and are just a lost soul. I have an identity of being a musician which means that I do fit in the social world and maybe I get along better with other musicians but that is how I find I fit into the world and that is apart of my identity.
Appiah; Our further reason that is true is the third feature all identities share: not only does your identity give you reasons to do things, it can give others reason to do things to you.”
Camryn; I think when someone knows how you identify in life they will treat you differently based on that aspect. People normally will act different based on who they are with and everyone gets a different perspective of someone they are with. That I feel is because of how those two identities react with one another. I think about two people who one may have an identity of being a “nerd” or really smart and someone may identify as being an athlete which are two different identities. But they both get along with one another because a common ground could be they both really like watching an activity or going out and doing something they both consider fun.
Appiah; They’re saying that the identity matters for practical life: for their emotions and their deeds. And one of the commonest ways in which it matters is that they feel some sort of solidarity with other members of the group. Their common identity gives them reason, they think, to car about and help one another.”
Camryn; I like this idea that with an identity it makes life practical and gives us reasons for they our emotions about things are the way they are and that is how we live life day to day and why we do certain tasks. Then identity matters because without it we can feel left out or outcasted from groups where we don’t fit in. As humans we want to be accepted by others and our identities is how we find we fit in with certain groups.
Appiah; “Once identities exist, people tend to form a picture of a typical member of the group. Stereotypes form.”
Camryn; Now this is where the idea of identities need to change. Just because you are with a group doesn’t mean there is a set picture. Really someone could fit in with the smart kids but maybe looks like a jock. Just because groups are forming due to identites doesn’t mean people have to look a certain way to be accepted. I know stereotypes have been around for awhile but I think the mold for them needs to change and be more inclusive or get rid of them all together. People are able to talk with whoever they want even if they are in a different “stereotyped” group.
