Becoming - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Becoming: a potent word, pregnant with possibility, hinting not at a static state but at a continuous, often enigmatic, process of transformation. Is it merely change, or does it imply a deeper, more purposeful evolution?
The notion of Becoming can be traced back to ancient philosophy, specifically to Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 500 BCE), whose fragments suggest a universe in perpetual flux, epitomized by the famous saying, "No man ever steps in the same river twice." The icons of history relevant to Becoming include figures like Friedrich Nietzsche, who explored the will to power as a driving force for self-overcoming. His ideas, though influential, have undergone intense scrutiny, especially about the ethics of power and its historical misinterpretations. Ancient Greek traditions also saw Heraclitus as an icon: the philosopher that saw time a flowing river, a constant transition in and out of being.
Over time, interpretations of Becoming have diversified, influencing existentialism and other philosophical currents. In existentialist thought, Becoming is intertwined with the burden and freedom of self-definition, where individuals are condemned to choose and create their own essence. Simone de Beauvoir’s "The Second Sex" (1949) provides a powerful analysis of how women are not born, but become, highlighting the socio-cultural forces shaping identity. But what are the limits of free will, and to what extent are external forces shaping our Becoming? This is where determinism and compatibilism enter the philosophical conversation, challenging the very notion of agency and responsibility linked to Becoming. Further ethical implications emerge considering moral luck, or how external circumstances and influences affect moral responsibility. Moral luck might call for a fundamental reassessment of our judgments about praise and blame in society.
Today, the concept of Becoming resonates particularly strongly in discussions surrounding identity, technology, and ethics. We see it in the debates over artificial intelligence, questioning whether machines can "become" conscious or moral agents. Ethics in AI poses new challenges for what it means to Be-come when we apply this concept to non-organic beings. This continuing mystique invites us to look deeper into the ethical implications of defining the future and prompts profound questions about free will, self-determination, and the nature of existence itself. What does it truly mean to Be, and is our constant Becoming a journey toward a fixed destination or an endless cycle of reinvention?