Authentic Orange

Submitted by: Benjamin Herzog

“What does it mean to Be Orange?” is a relatively easy question to answer. Anybody who attends Oregon State University, works for OSU, or is involved with OSU in anyway shape or form can ‘Be Orange’. However, what does it mean to be authentically ‘Be Orange’? This is a harder question to answer, as it could mean one hundred different things to one hundred different people. According to Sartre, authenticity “isn’t just being honest to others about your feelings. It is being honest to yourself about your own desires and the reasons behind your actions” (Lecture, 5-26-15). But what does this have to with being orange? Sartre’s definition of authenticity is something we should expect from everybody, not just people that are orange. This also plays into Sartre’s viewpoint on ethics where he explains that when choosing for one’s self, one chooses for all humans (Lecture, 5-21-15). Being a part of the OSU community, it is important to follow this belief as, your own actions will have a profound effect on others around you.

Perhaps the most difficult task when trying to authentically be orange is standing out in a crowd. With over 24,000 active students it can be hard to be seen as an individual. This also brings up the issue of people actively trying to blend in with the crowd or becoming a part of the “herd”, as Nietzsche describes it. As Nietzsche describes, being a part of a large herd we are seen as a single person and lose our individuality (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 130). In doing so we give up our authenticity and adopt morals and traits that may not be our own (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 116-119). Avoiding this can be difficult for many people, as it is only natural to desire to be accepted by your peers. Sometimes for many people this is obtained easiest by becoming a part of their herd and adopting their morals, traits, like and dislikes. This ties into Sartre’s definition of authenticity where one must be true to oneself and to others; being a part of a herd breaks both of these rules.

Kierkegaard agrees with this point, stating that the crowd is “untruth, and makes the individual irresponsible” (Lecture, 5-5-15) When one is part of a herd it is easy to pass off one’s responsibilities onto somebody else, further diminishing their authenticity. Being a part of a herd also may make somebody do something they normally wouldn’t do. This can be a big deal when some of these actions are unethical. This also ties into Sartre’s definition of authenticity where in order for one to be authentic they must be honest with themselves and others. “since the individual is defined only by his relationship to the world and to other individuals; he exists only by transcending himself, and his freedom can be achieved only through the freedom of others” (Simone de Beauvoir, The Ethics of Ambiguity). Beauvoir believes that freedom can only be achieved through the freedom of others. If freedom is being authentic, and to be authentic one must be honest with oneself and others, then true freedom and authenticity can only be achieved when everybody is honest with others.

Obviously something like that probably isn’t going to happen anytime soon. However, in the time being we can still try to be authentic as possible. Treat others the way you want to be treated, be honest with yourself and to others and don’t get stuck in the crowd. Being a part of a group itself is fine, but don’t let the group change who you are or affect any decisions you make. You are a result of your actions so don’t let other people make decisions for you (Lecture, 5-12-15). All in all, being authentically orange is to be a beaver and everything being a beaver involves, but also being yourself, being an individual not defined by the people they associate themselves with and making their own decisions that aren’t influenced by others. Go Beavs!