What agency do we have?

    This week's readings were diverse in content but were similar in the concept being explored. The idea of agency is one that most people have similar definitions of. In general, people think of agency as being synonymous with autonomy. Agency supposedly means the ability to makes decisions and choices off of one's own accord rather than by someone else's decisions. However, the article Rhetorical Agency as Emergent and Enacted states that "we have for a long time understood an agent as one who through conscious intention or free will causes changes in the world. But I suggest that neither conscious intention nor free will—at least as we commonly think of them—is involved in acting or bringing about change..." (Cooper, 421). Cooper goes on to explain her thought process and essentially explains that no man or woman is an island; everyone makes their decisions and forms their opinions using data from the real world, which often comes in form of their friend's and family's thoughts. The way someone was raised by their parents, their elementary school teachers' values, and the conversations people have with their social circle all alter how people think and thus make decisions. People inherently cannot fully make decisions without having some influence from an outside source, and thus are less autonomous than they might think. 

    While in general, I've always considered myself someone to have a solid head on my shoulders and am relatively aware I am seeking advice and thus removing some of my own agency. After reading this article by Cooper I realize how right she is in many ways. For example, I have recently contemplated getting a dog. The idea was not one I had considered fully, I've always loved dogs and wanted one badly, but I've never really been in a position to have one. Now that I am in a position to have a dog the thought became a little more plausible, while still not likely. At dinner, with my family, I brought it up in passing and the mild conversation turned into a full discussion. By the end of the night, I had more opinions than I knew what to do with. Initially, I planned to only listen to my own opinion, but their thoughts had been planted in my head. I couldn't ignore my family's thoughts. While I would still be making a decision by myself the decision would be influenced by those who gave their opinions no matter what I did. Cooper's argument that agency doesn't really exist in the way we expect it to is correct. While getting a dog or not is a big decision it is small when it's compared to real-life matters like career choice, political stances, and other important things. People cannot operate without others being involved to at least some small degree, and thus agency isn't quite as simple as it sounds.