Today’s obsession with authenticity isn’t new – being true to yourself has troubled philosophers for centuries

Contemporary culture seems obsessed with authenticity – but the question of how to be ‘sincere’ in modern society has troubled philosophers for centuries.

By: Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 6, 2026

Words: 1,099

Last Updated: 3 days, 20 hours ago

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By Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, Hamilton College

Today’s youth cherish “authenticity,” but is it a virtue? According to a report from Ernst & Young, more than 9 in 10 Gen Z respondents indicated that being authentic and true to yourself is extremely or very important. In fact, most of them claimed authenticity is more important than any other personal value.

This finding is not all that surprising: All of us live in an age where …

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