On Feb. 26, 2020, the , in partnership with the and the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program, hosted Dr. Eli Gottlieb for a presentation on Identity in the Digital Age. Dr. Gottlieb, currently a visiting associate professor at George Washington University, previously ran the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem and is an expert in both philosophy and the psychology of religion.
Contrasting self-definition prior to, and in, the current digital age, Dr. Gottliebs talk drew from the research of William James writings in the 1890s on empirical selves, Erik Eriksons concepts of identity crisis and identity formation and Kenneth Gergens critique of Eriksons belief in a stable identity.
Offering a definition of identity as who you are, as opposed to New York Times ethicist Kwame Anthony Appiahs definition of what you are, Dr. Gottlieb demonstrated how unprecedented tensions within the realm of authenticity and individuality have arisen, with a particular focus on the effect of digital media and our phones (a portal that is ever-beckoning) on ones ability to fully be in one place at one time.
Sharing research on loneliness, civic engagement, happiness and friendship, Dr. Gottlieb encouraged the audience to maximize offline time in a meaningful way and utilize the resources and camaraderie of religious communities to counter the social disconnection caused by our connected devices.
Dr. Eli Gottlieb
Dr. Eli Gottlieb
