At Several Points In Her Essay "Our Secret," Susan Griffin

At several points in her essay, "Our Secret," Susan Griffin argues tha

In her thought-provoking essay "Our Secret," Susan Griffin explores the interconnectedness of human existence, emphasizing that individuals are fundamentally embedded within a complex web of relationships that span various contexts—cultural, historical, religious, and personal. Central to her argument is the idea that the self cannot be understood in isolation but must be seen as part of a larger matrix shaped by influences and interactions. Griffin articulates this concept through vivid metaphors such as the "field," which symbolizes the invisible forces of gravity created by collective movement and influence of numerous bodies, reflecting the dynamic interplay of causes and effects within human lives.

Throughout her work, Griffin employs powerful juxtapositions—fragments and sections that leap from one thought to another—to highlight the multifaceted nature of identity and the interconnectedness of human experiences. Her writing often juxtaposes individual agency with surrounding societal influences, implicitly challenging notions of a fixed or isolated self. The gaps and transitions between sections serve as invitations for the reader to consider the unseen forces shaping identity and the ways in which personal histories are woven into collective narratives. Both her explicit statements and her nuanced structure reveal an understanding that the self is not a solitary entity but a product of relational fields, continuously influenced and influencing others.

When examining Griffin's ideas through the lens of existentialism, some alignment and divergence become evident. Existentialism, particularly after World War II, emphasized individual authenticity, personal responsibility, and the confrontation with the absurd—the recognition of human freedom amid inherent meaninglessness. Griffin's emphasis on interconnectedness and relational influences complements existentialist themes by acknowledging the individual's embeddedness within societal and historical contexts that shape authentic existence. However, she expands beyond classic existentialist notions by underscoring the extent to which collective and environmental influences are integral to the self's development, suggesting that personal identity cannot solely be a matter of individual choice but is also shaped by the web of relationships surrounding us.

The timing of existentialism's surge in popularity after World War II provides critical context to understanding Griffin’s contributions. The post-war period was marked by profound disillusionment and a search for meaning in a traumatically changed world. Existentialism offered a framework for confronting human anguish and asserting personal agency amidst chaos. Griffin’s work resonates with this era's philosophical climate by highlighting the importance of understanding oneself in relation to the broader societal matrix—an acknowledgment of the collective scars and influences that shape personal identity. Her perspective reads with and against existentialist grain: she affirms individual consciousness but insists that it can never be fully disentangled from relational influences, thus adding a layer of complexity often underexplored in traditional existentialist thought.

In conclusion, Griffin answers the question "Who are we?" by portraying the self as intimately connected to a web of relational influences that extend across time and space. Her perspective enriches the existentialist understanding of human existence by emphasizing interconnectedness, illustrating that our identities are formed not only through individual choice but also through ongoing interactions with our environment and society. Her contribution invites us to consider the self as a dynamic, relational process—one that continually evolves within the field of human interconnectedness, challenging us to view authenticity and identity through a broader, more inclusive lens.

References

• Camus, Albert. (1942). The Myth of Sisyphus and Other Essays. Vintage International.
• Heidegger, Martin. (1927). Being and Time. Harper & Row.
• Simone de Beauvoir. (1949). The Second Sex. Vintage Books.
• Heidegger, M. (1962). Basic Writings from Being and Time (1927) to The Task of Thinking (1964). Harper & Row.
• Sartre, Jean-Paul. (1943). Being and Nothingness. Routledge.
• Kofman, Sarah. (1987). The War of the Gods. University of Chicago Press.
• Parker, Elizabeth. (1996). The Relational Self: An Analytic Perspective. Journal of Philosophy.
• Frankl, Viktor. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.
• Levinas, Emmanuel. (1961). Totality and Infinity. Duquesne University Press.
• Griffin, Susan. (1981). Our Secret. Harper & Row.