World Philosophy Day discussion at GCU

LAHORE

A panel discussion on the topic “Self-Actualisation and Authenticity” was held at the Government College University (GCU) in connection with the World Philosophy Day on Thursday.

Prof Dr Mirza Ather Baig, eminent philosopher and writer of famous novel Ghulam Bagh (The Garden of Slaves), chaired the panel discussion organised by Lahore Philosophy Department and Brett Philosophical Society. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah and philosopher poet Dr Alwin Vincent Murad spoke.

The speakers said the ideals of self-actualisation and authenticity could not be achieved without hard work and struggle.

GCU Philosophy Department Chairperson Dr Sobia Tahir said self-actualisation and authenticity had remained the longstanding ideals and goals of human life, and man had been perusing these since immemorial times using numerous means i.e. religion, spirituality, philosophy, art or literature. However, Dr Sobia believed these ideals were not only unachievable without hard work and struggle but also empty and insignificant.

Prof Dr Mirza Ather Baig pointed out how the movement towards and away from the “self” has impacted various vistas of thought in the western philosophy from René Descartes (1596--1650) to post modernism. He shared with the participants his experiences as fiction writer, and paradoxes of the identity of the “self” in his novels. 

Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah agreed with the philosophers that without hard work, dedication, determination and perseverance, the being “self” was never authentic no matter how intellectual and scholarly he/she was.  Dr Alwin Murad told the participants about the different theories of self-actualisation and authenticity, and significance of the World Philosophy Day.