Part 7/9:

Means to an End: The Erosion of Self-Love

The heart of Han’s critique lies in examining how we increasingly treat ourselves as means to achieve specific productive ends. Where once personal fulfillment or happiness may have shaped our pursuits, these have been overshadowed by a relentless focus on productivity and achievement.

This shift not only undermines our self-worth but also warps our understanding of relationships with others. If we become accustomed to valuing ourselves solely by our productivity metrics, how can we truly love or appreciate ourselves? Han reflects on the Buddhist notion that being dear to oneself inherently means recognizing one’s individual importance. In a culture that equates self-worth solely with achievement, this notion risks being entirely forgotten.