Rethinking the Dualities: Fame or Influence; Immortality or Eternity

Introduction
In today’s world, humans are constantly oscillating between two distinct paths in their role in existence: influence or fame. While these two paths may seem similar on the surface, they fundamentally differ. "Fame" seeks immortality, an attempt to preserve oneself in collective memory, while "influence" seeks eternity, an invisible yet enduring presence in the flow of existence.
Immortality is tied to fame and is often concerned with external validation and remaining in history. However, eternity is found in influence; an effect that remains in the minds and hearts of people, without necessarily leaving the creator's name behind. This article seeks to examine these fundamental dualities and show how the "self," in the path of authentic influence, transcends the illusion of fame and immortality and reaches a true eternity within existence.
Here, it should be added that a fundamental question arises after transcending the duality of influence and fame: If we understand the mechanisms of the world and realize that it is through influence that life and a true sense of living are gifted, does a life that prioritizes influence make a person feel morally obligated or not? Does simply passing beyond fame and leaving it to the result of influence ensure an ethical life?
Hegel, in his work The Lord and the Servant, considers work as the essence of being. If we take a step back, influence becomes the essence of being. However, it seems that understanding this does not necessarily obligate us to live ethically, because figures like Hitler and many others may have their primary drive as influence and then seek fame alongside it. This question should be explored in another article. However, for now, the assumption is that we have transcended a level of depravity and see the possibility of a more ethical and authentic life through influence.
The Self, Influence, and Fame: Two Different Approaches to Existence
In human life, the pursuit of something greater than oneself is a defining human trait. In this journey, humans either move toward "influence" or seek "fame." These two approaches represent distinct interactions with the world and the self.
Influence means impacting the world around us—not necessarily by creating great or well-known works but through efforts to change the state of humanity, the environment, and the human world in general. Healthy and positive influence comes from the depth of humanity and an understanding of psychological and philosophical complexities, striving to leave an effect on the world rather than simply showcasing oneself.
Fame, however, means preserving oneself in history and becoming known among people. Fame is tied to immortality and is often driven by external validation and self-expression in front of others. A person seeking "fame" might devote all their energies to this pursuit and consider their achievements not as their own, but as a result of the attention they garner from others.
The Duality of Immortality and Eternity in Nietzsche’s and Heidegger’s Philosophy
At first glance, one might think that immortality and eternity are the same concept. However, these two terms actually carry distinct meanings and have fundamental differences in relation to humans and their works. Nietzsche, in Thus Spoke Zarathustra, views immortality as a human illusion created by the desire to persist in history. However, in his idea of the "eternal return," he shows that true influence lies in accepting the present moment and constantly recreating meaning, not in striving to preserve a name in history.
Heidegger, in analyzing the concept of "being," shows that authentic being is not found in immortality, but in openness to the future and influence in the present. From his perspective, "Dasein" (human existence) reaches authenticity when it is freed from the obsession with immortality and acts in the moment of influence. Thus, in Nietzsche’s and Heidegger’s thought, true influence lies in living in eternity, beyond fame and immortality.