Questions tagged [self]
The self tag has no usage guidance.
3
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0answers
48 views
What is the strongest link made in the philosophical literature between privacy and civil liberties?
What is the strongest link made in the philosophical literature between privacy and civil liberties? In particular, an analysis which eschews 'democracy', or separates out democracy from 'civil ...
2
votes
2answers
52 views
What are some good English translations of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
I have acquired a desire to read Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, but I do not read Sanskrit and I do not know which translations should be trusted. What are high quality translations of the Brihadaranyaka ...
4
votes
2answers
113 views
Why do I doubt my logical reasoning?
I have been wondering for several years why I just can't trust my own proofs in math or when giving some logical arguments. I keep thinking I might be making a mistake at some step of the proof and ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
Is there no basis for differentiating a personal from a historical narrative?
Is there no basis for differentiating a personal from a historical narrative? My narrative is a mess, so I'd like to get to grips with the question, ideally as it links to literature. Who in ...
2
votes
4answers
203 views
Why does Descartes think that we know our mind better than we know our body?
According to Descartes we know our own mind better than we know bodies. Why does he think so? How can this view be criticized?
1
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0answers
23 views
How would you reconcile your ambitions if your strongest will/dreams are forged? [closed]
Most of us would think that 'intention' or 'want' is an integral part of 'self'. However, during open brain surgeries, scientists have used electric stimulation on certain parts of the patients' brain ...
1
vote
0answers
64 views
What Are Some Recurring Questions/Themes That Are Explored or Argued for in Renaissance Philosophy?
I suppose this is not necessarily a question, rather I'm looking for inspiration for writing a research paper.
I have been assigned with the task of: "Submit a research paper, using at least 3 ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
Is there the creator overseeing us all. How does He do that? [closed]
Is there the creator overseeing us all. How does He do that?
Is that possible due to His omnipresence and being independent of 3+1D (x, y, z, ct) limitations?
My previous question and related to ...
-1
votes
3answers
107 views
Can we look forward to being dead? [closed]
Can we look forward to being dead, self annihilation? Seems like we should be able to, but I'm not sure that we can without confusing ourselves about selfhood. Does anyone say we can't?
14
votes
9answers
867 views
Why am I this particular human being?
Some philosophers dismiss this as a question about a tautology: when Alice asks "Why am I Alice?", this is equivalent to her asking "Why is Alice Alice?", which is not an interesting question. But ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Where does the sense of self come from?
We human beings experience a sense of identity, an inner personality. I assume Machines and computers do not. Animals also seem to possess consciousness and some sort of sense of self.
Where does ...
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Conundrum of the self?
I've been thinking about this topic in relation to artificial consciousness. Specifically self-awareness.
(I can define terms precisely if requested, but usually prefer to be as general as possible:)...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Collective Being
If, as a Collective of embodied selves (eSelves) we voted for ideas instead of individual eSelves - the objective being to construct a Reality that resonates with Existence itself - what would that ...
4
votes
1answer
175 views
What does Ortega y Gasset mean by “art is dehumanizing”?
In "Man and People", Ortega discusses the dehumanization of art, which is made confusing from his repeated switching between speaking literally and speaking philosophically, and by virtue of his work ...
0
votes
2answers
65 views
To whom are people talking when they talk to (in) themselves? [closed]
It's commonly said that one is talking to (in) his- or himself. Does that mean there are two of the person in question: the one who's talking and the one who's listening?
2
votes
1answer
81 views
How do I find a philosophy to define my current beliefs?
I recently went from Christianity to Agnosticism. I already know what I do and don't believe:
I don't believe in fate. I believe that people should respect each other because life is short. I don't ...
5
votes
2answers
91 views
What is the term for the belief that everyone acts entirely selfishly
There is a term I heard someone use to describe the idea that no none acts selflessly.
So under this belief, a mother giving some food to her child, and going hungry herself, only does so because the ...
1
vote
1answer
148 views
What areas within philosophy look at continuity of personality and self-hood?
I'm sure these kinds of questions fall within some fairly central fields of philosophy: what makes "me now" and "me 10 seconds, months, or decades ago", the same person? In what sense are these "the ...
8
votes
2answers
303 views
How does Kant rule out permanent soul in his argument for the existence of external world?
I have been studying Stephan Körner's intro to Kant's philosophy. I'm not sure if in the following excerpt I make sense of the reasoning quoted from Kant.
In fact, I wonder how the permanence must be ...
-1
votes
1answer
97 views
What's the purpose of listening/share other people/own music?
For psychology and physics motivations, I'll never get the whole idea about a piece of music made by other peoples (it won't translate from his mind to my mind; even because what I'll listening, even ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Is it a good idea to write a Philosophical essay when you know the conclusion will not be satisfying? [closed]
Is it a good idea to write a philosophical essay when you know the conclusion will not be satisfying?
I have a dilemma (pun intended). I am asked to write an essay of just 1 page. Well, easy peasy ...
7
votes
3answers
558 views
Gender roles - do they matter?
This may well be too broad (spreading over into psychology too), I'll try to narrow it down as I outline my thinking but any advice is welcome.
I began by thinking about how its unfair if you ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
Why does Nagasena reject Attributes + Dependence on Constituents Parts, as a Substance?
Source: p 362 Top. Introducing Philosophy for Canadians: A Text with Integrated Readings (2011 1 ed).
Nagasena's point? As it is with 'chariot', so it is with 'person'. Like 'chariot', 'person' ...
1
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1answer
42 views
Who are the leading thinkers, both past and present, on the subject of self-deception?
I'm interested more in the philosophical perspective, rather than the evolutionary aspect like Robert Trivers presents.
0
votes
1answer
110 views
Do alternative theories of self eventually dissolve into either the substance theory or the bundle theory?
It seems upon first glance that attitudes towards the existence of the self must either be defending the notion that it exists in its own right as a real thing imbued with sensible and rational power (...
2
votes
4answers
132 views
Can you argue that you are not selfish?
Psychological egoism, can anyone provide an everyday action which a healthy human mind would carry out which doesn't have the motive of preservation of the individuals own life at heart?
For example, ...
6
votes
1answer
457 views
Does materialism presuppose that a self is a bundle of mental states and perceptions?
The physicalist/materialist (going forward I'll use the two interchangeably) position on the mind body problem is the following:
Nothing exits besides the physical and therefore the mind is just a ...
1
vote
2answers
385 views
How can you imagine yourself in another state, without mentally transporting yourself to that imagined state?
Preface: I capitalised all italics; the book only italicised.
Source: pp 141-142 , Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (1 ed, 1999) by Simon Blackburn
But suppose instead I am not ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
When 'I' is used as a subject, why do we disuse 'I' and so create an illusion?
Caution: I probably quoted overmuch; please feel free to omit the first few paragraphs and advise what can be omitted.
Source: pp 137-138 , Think: A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy (1 ed, 1999) ...
0
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2answers
193 views
How does mind discovers its own existence?
By mind I mean the observer, the self, something that perceive. I hope that you understand because I can't find the right word.
So, your mind can observe the external existence, and can observe its ...
4
votes
6answers
289 views
How can we let go of one (the Self) and not the other (Free Will)? [duplicate]
I am under the impression that in western culture, it is quite common to conceive the Self as an illusion — probably as an import from eastern religions, and in particular from Buddhism, and in ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
According to Humean analysis, if self-identity is but a stream of impressions, than what allows for imagination and associations to begin with?
Imagination is the recollection of certain impressions. But it seems necessary to believe that there is a difference between the recollection of certain impressions and the actual experience of ...
5
votes
3answers
779 views
What are some good books about existential philosophy?
I recently have gained a lot of interest in philosophy and have especially taken to Nietzsche's work and ideas. I am reading philosophy to understand on a more personal level to lead a more fulfilled ...
2
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1answer
1k views
Aristotle and Charles Taylor's view of the self
I watched the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with Jim Carrey, and was asked:
Do you think think erasing another from one's memory, as in the film, is a form of erasing oneself? Answer ...
2
votes
1answer
715 views
What is the philosophical definition of a person? [closed]
What defines us as people? as individuals?
Names? I don't really think so, I mean even if I change my name, I'm still the same person.
Memories? so if I lose my memory, then I'll become another ...
2
votes
2answers
152 views
Philosophy describing a deeper reasoning for how to act toward others than feelings or personal gain?
Utilitarianism seems to be based on personal gain or positive / negative emotion.
Why help others? It makes you feel good, or it makes the world a better place which may benefit you with good ...
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votes
3answers
296 views
What is the best philosophical expression for the “mutual containment” of mind and body?
The old "ouroboros" of mind and body reappears in various forms. Basically, the world is formed within consciousness; consciousness is formed within the brain; the brain is formed within the world.
...
1
vote
2answers
115 views
How to find a purpose at life [closed]
Just watched the How to Know Your Life Purpose in 5 Minutes: Adam Leipzig at TEDxMalibu
He talks about 3 questions.
Who you are ?(%90)
What do you love to do "X" ? (%80)
Who do you do "X" for ? ( ...
0
votes
0answers
29 views
What are you? Does teleportation work? [duplicate]
Scenario Teleportation (Cloning)
There are 2 rooms. You enter one. Its all white with a big A on one wall. You look at it and then close your eyes. Now you get cloned, your atoms are measured and in ...
3
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6answers
1k views
Can you exist in two places at once?
One idea in H+ is that a person's consciousness can be digitized to outlive its human body. I think the assumption is that everything that you consciously are is just the emergent configuration of ...
-3
votes
3answers
113 views
Can a person's 'sense of self' be transported across spacetime?
Let us assume that transportation of human beings (and other objects) is possible (maybe in the future), and we have the technology to do so. (Please don't debate the scientific plausibility of this.)
...
1
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4answers
196 views
If the atoms of a person's body change every x number of years, should the person be prosecuted today for a crime that he/she committed x years ago?
I saw this question somewhere in the Internet(I forgot the source) and I think this forum is a good place to ask it.
According to what I know, the atoms in a persons body are replaced every certain ...
4
votes
5answers
561 views
Buddhism self, no-self and the middle path. [closed]
I have come across several articles attempting to define the concept of no-self, not-self and self. These articles include
http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/if-there-is-no-self
http://www....
0
votes
4answers
1k views
Would a clone of myself be a different person than myself? [closed]
don't know if anyone will read this, but just a random thought I had:
Try to imagine the following: you wake up in a hospital bed, with no recollection of how you got there. You look over at the bed ...
4
votes
4answers
138 views
Is the word “I” a dangling linguistic pointer with no actual referent?
Is the word "I" a dangling linguistic pointer with no actual referent? Otherwise, what exactly is this slippery referent? Could it be possible the phrase "I am" is meaningless due to a lack of an ...
1
vote
1answer
364 views
What is the concept of knowing one's own abilities?
For example, I know that I am strong enough to pick up a feather, but that I am
unable to lift up a car.
I'm unsure if this is self-awareness, because it does not cover the conscious knowledge of ...
5
votes
3answers
354 views
Does the existence of colors give evidence against materialism?
It seems to me the only thing about colors that can be understood rationally is that they are distinct. We interact with other people who for the most part label my red as their red, my green as their ...
-1
votes
1answer
132 views
the self as agency is a brain function or a kind of solid entity, a soul? [duplicate]
Blockquote
Sense of agency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The "sense of agency" (SA) refers to the subjective awareness that one is initiating, executing, and controlling one's own volitional ...
6
votes
6answers
409 views
Why does the eastern teaching of no-self be so difficult to accept, as an actuality and not as a weird claim, by western thought?
In West, self is seen as a precious concept, central to everyday life decisions.
On the opposite, Western stretches the illusory nature of a permanent entity. It seems to be there such an huge ...
8
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6answers
2k views
Are there any Western philosophies that present views similar to the No-self view of Buddhism?
Can similarities be found in western philosophy with the eastern concept of self (no-self) in Buddhism?
In Buddhism the no-self is called anatman. Buddha spoke about the emptiness of the form, in the ...
