Identity as the Rudimentary Essence of Discrimination

This paper brings into question the ethical implications of identity, and argues the point that the root of discriminatory acts is identity; rather than arbitrary selection, instilled prejudices that stem from how humans typically identify themselves in relation to others cause such behavior. I maintain that not only is the practice of self-identifying with a particular social, political, or religious ideology a form of intellectual self-imprisonment, but that it actually alienates an individual more from those outside the group than it includes those within it. Prejudice is derived by ascribing the identity of a group to an individual. This I argue is the result of our habits of self-identification, whether it is on the individual level of subscribing to a religious or political ideology, or at a much larger social level where we self identify by our nationality, race, or gender. By identifying oneself as a member of a particular race, while grouping you with those who also share that race, it simultaneously omits you from everyone else, as if they were of a different species. Therefore, even though we are all humans, this inevitably creates a notion of us versus them. Another argument is that of sentimentality, and that we are all not actually that different. If individuals of one group focused on identifying and seeing themselves as having the same aspirations as individuals from another group – although their underlying ideology may be different – perhaps there would be a significant decrease in animosity between such groups, as they would have a unified identity. This would require sentimentality training where we are taught to look beyond one’s self-interested views and towards caring for the totality of humanity, as if it was just important as our own. Without having a unified collective identity, truly understanding the issues, and thinking conceptually and acting pragmatically, it will not be possible to truly realize a fair and just world absent of discrimination. What is important to remember with regards to realizing a discrimination- and prejudice-free society is that such a society will not arise immediately. In order to fix a form of inequality persistent in society, it is imperative that we truly understand the nature of the issue. It is important to note that even in conceptualizing a world where all laws and rights are in place and enforced such that everyone has equal protection under the law, this will not necessarily eradicate the issue of inequality as it pertains to people living a life of quality and respect. Only when we achieve such a collective global identity will we ever truly realize a fair and just world absent of discrimination. Key words: identity, self-identification, prejudice, discrimination, sentimentalit