From Public Citizens to Therapeutic Selves — The Hidden History of Modern Identity

When you scroll through social media feeds today, you’ll find countless posts about “living your truth” and “being authentic.” These ideas feel so natural to us now that we rarely stop to ask where they came from or what they really mean. The concept of identity — how we understand ourselves — has undergone a radical transformation over the centuries. What once was defined primarily by external markers like family, profession, and community has shifted dramatically toward inner feelings, desires, and psychological experiences. Today on the show, Carl Trueman unpacks this profound change and how we got to the lens through which we view ourselves today. Carl is a professor, theologian, and the author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. Throughout our conversation, he explores the insights of three key thinkers — Charles Taylor, Philip Rieff, and Alasdair MacIntyre — who have mapped the historical and cultural shifts that have transformed our ideas of identity. We discuss how this transformation has reshaped politics, education, and religion, while considering whether we’ve lost something essential in moving from a shared understanding of human nature to an increasingly individualized conception of self.Resources Related to the PodcastThe Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith After Freud by Philip RieffSources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity by Charles TaylorAfter Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory by Alasdair MacIntyreThe Abolition of Man by C.S. LewisAoM Podcast #723: Men Without ChestsAoM Article: 3 Essential Books for Understanding Our Disorienting Modern WorldAoM Article: Why Are Modern Debates on Morality So Shrill?Carl’s writing at First ThingsConnect With Carl TruemanCarl’s faculty page