We have the Modern Dilemma. This subject forms the major thematic focus for virtually all of the Modern Society. What is it? It’s the fear on the part of many that each of us, as individuals, are condemned to a life of alienation and isolation wherein we can never come to know another fellow human being fully and completely. That’s the problem: how to escape such a fate.
Nineteenth century German philosophers like Kant and Nietzsche held forth the idea that each person has a unique perception of reality—that we each see things in subtly different manners. The next part of the puzzle involves depth of self knowledge. Exactly how well do we know ourselves? Pretty well, I think most of us would say, but not completely, for we don’t know how we would react in any given unexpected situation until it’s over. That speaks volumes about the lack of depth that we have regarding self knowledge. So, this fact begs another question: if we don’t know ourselves completely, which we don’t, how can we ever know another person completely who, admittedly, doesn’t know him or herself completely? Voila—the Modern Dilemma!
Maybe we’re each a prisoner of our own unique and limited consciousnesses, so we should never expect to break out of our isolation and come to know another person fully. Most likely, it’s not going to happen. At least, for me it isn't.
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