Authenticity In Italo Calvino's The Dinosaurs

Authenticity is the cause of diversity. It is the self-authorship that guides each soul in a different direction, developing individual identities. Charles Taylor, a philosopher of social sciences, claims, “The moral ideal of authenticity is that each of us find our own way of being in the world.” We find that way through undergoing life’s disappointments and achievements directly, not from handed down stories. In “The Dinosaurs”, Italo Calvino explores the concept of what it means to actively pursue an authentic persona in light of constant stories that challenge his character’s personal beliefs and opinions. Several prominent philosophers name authenticity as “the degree to which one is true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character, despite external pressures.” Based on this widely accepted definition of authenticity, Qfwfq lives more authentically than Fern-flower because he derives his own opinions based on his experiences while Fern-flower merely recycles time old Dinosaur lore, neglecting to critically evaluate its merit. …show more content…
His experiences collected over several million years have allowed him to develop his own opinions; therefore, he has no need to base his notions on the distorted stories that the New Ones tell him. However, Fern-flower, the kid sister of Zahn, a prominent figure in the village, relies on the tales that are shared at community bonfires to support her ever-changing beliefs of the world that she has not yet experienced. Drawing only from the understandings of the New Ones in her community, Fern-flower creates an inauthentic version of what she believes Dinosaurs are