Self and Society

Blog Assignment 2: The Search for Self

David Hume 1711-1776

Hume argued, “There are some philosophers who imagine we are at every moment intimately conscious of what we call our SELF; that we feel its existence and its continuance in existence; and are certain, beyond the evidence of a demonstration, both of its perfect identity and simplicity… Unluckily, all these positive assertations are contrary to that very experience, which is pleaded for them, nor have we any of idea of self, after the manner it is here explained. For from what impression could this idea be derived? For my part, when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception, and can never observe anything but the perception… One may, perhaps, perceive something simple and continued, which he calls himself; though I am certain there is no such principle in me.

Blog Assignment 2

(1) Write a reflection blog (minimum of 250 words) incorporating the above topic. TIP: When you think deeply about your “self”, what comes to mind? Do you have a self? Describe your “self.” How are you sure you have a self? Has your concept of self changed over time? How can you be sure you really have a self? Do you agree or disagree with Hume? NOTE: this is a reflection piece. Yet, try to incorporate any material from the course. Think of Zussman’s outline of Goffman or anything in our text book.

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66 responses to “Blog Assignment 2: The Search for Self”

  1. Suki Avatar
    Suki

    test reply

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  2. jmc02 Avatar
    jmc02

    Going back to the reading, Goffman explores the “self” through the details of individual identity, group relations, and the impact of the environment. The view of ones “self” often changes because of the external factors, however ultimately has the same underlying morals, for example I would describe my “self” as brutally honest, ambitious, empathetic, strong, resourceful, understanding, and emotional. My concept of “self” does change though, it’s a bit contradictory, moreso because I feel like we often portray ourselves differently in different situations and environments like Goffman says. My “self” at work is different than my “self”at home or at school. While I still have the same underlying characteristics that I listed above I do feel like I portray myself differently sometimes, it is something that I think everyone does. There are just some environments where you have to act more formally rather than playful, if that makes sense. I do believe that our “self” changes over time, I am constantly growing and so I do feel like my “self” from even 5 years ago is different from my “self” now. I think that is something that is just inevitable because the world is constantly changing and we are constantly changing so why shouldn’t our concept of “self” change with us. Based on Hume’s perspective of self, I would agree that the “self” is just a bundle of perceptions.I mean our “self” is something that we create in our minds based on our experiences, our environments and the way that we view the world and also in the way that others perceive ourselves. With that being said I do believe that this concept of self is truly created from our own minds.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great contrast and exploration of Goffman and Hume! I wonder if it the “I” or the “me” also has underlying morals. Or is it only the self that has this morality?

      I just posted my blog post to this question. be sure to comment/respond to my post or another post for full credit! Well done thinker! I am inspired by your analysis!

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    2. AC Avatar
      AC

      Hey there!
      I really enjoyed reading your analysis. I also find myself changing my “self” depending on my surroundings. What I think is interesting to think about in that context is how are we able to adapt this way? For me at least, I often do not realize that I am changing until after the fact. So what in our subconscious mind tells us to behave that way? Is it just nature in the sense of instinct? Or is it the multiplicity of our many “selves”?

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    3. Jars Avatar
      Jars

      Hi!
      I totally agree with what you said about how your “self” changes throughout different time periods in your life. I did mention that in my discussion also. Your post made me think about how the depiction of my “self” is definitely altered depending on who I’m with. You feel different things with different people and that can have a very strong affect on you. Nice job!

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    4. Rhino Avatar
      Rhino

      Hi, I really liked how you said that our “self” is constantly changing in different parts of our lives. I have experienced that personally and it really makes me think about how my values have changed over time.

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  3. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
    franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

    I think Hume was very close to solving the self-problem. Yet, I think it was his general theory of mind that got in the way of his analysis of self and personal identity over time. When I think deeply about my “self” I am confident I have a “self,” because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to reflect on it. The question is, who or what is engaging in the introspection? Is it my “self,” my consciousness, a soul? American pragmatists like James outline an empirical self, “the self of everyday life, the self of daily awareness that is formed in reflection upon itself” (10). In my own thinking, the “self” of everyday life is distinct from the “self” formed in reflection. In this sense, Goffman’s theory of “self” is a good example. The “self” of everyday life is an actor, reading scripts and playing parts. However, for me this “self” is not the “self” that goes to sleep and wakes up in the morning. Often, the “self” that tries to fall asleep is running away or trying to block out that silly actor because it won’t let the “self” be! Actors always want all the attention! When I enter into what I call my “self” I find myself at odds or even at war with both the “I” and “me,” for they never leave me at peace. It is almost as if they are jealous. They, the “I” and the “me” seem desperate to become the true and authentic “self.” The self that can enjoy peace, sleep, and stillness without reflection or thought. The “self” that is free to leave both the mind and body, and return to it as it pleases.

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    1. flowers222lolz Avatar
      flowers222lolz

      I would 100% agree with you professor Figueroa! I agree with you saying that Hume was very close to solving the self-problem. I think that with his wise ideas and closely relative way of thinking and acknowledging that there is a contrary side of ourselves which connects to explain how we are. We all have two sides which are good and bad so i really do agree with your comment.

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    2. jmc02 Avatar
      jmc02

      This is a very interesting way of putting it. I agree that if we didn’t have a self we wouldn’t be able to reflect on it either. The “self” is pretty difficult to understand. I like how you questioned the fact is our self our soul, or our consciousness? I feel like in a way it would be considered of sorts. Because like I said in my post our “self” is made up of our underlying morals and experiences. This was a very interesting way of putting it, thanks for sharing your thoughts prof.

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  4. flowers222lolz Avatar
    flowers222lolz

    When I deeply think about my “self”, what comes to mind would be the darkness that it has in it. Nobody really ever shows their true self in hopes of not showing what the world sees us as. There are better days then others which is why it comes down to this idea of it being dark but when it comes to good days, I can say that it isn’t as dark. My inner self lightens up. We are very much conscious of ourselves but as Hume has stated, our true thoughts that are supposed to be positive end up being negative connotations which is on the contrary side. Personally, I do like to think I have an inner self. You can say that as you grow up with a lot of unhealed trauma, it can be very hard to pass through the bad things with a good self image or an idea of ourselves being good. To describe myself, I can say I am a very happy person but there are truly days where it isn’t like that at all. Some days are dark and some days are bright, it’s just a matter of moving through it and showing you can be the best no matter what. I am sure I have a self because, although we all pretend like we don’t have darkness or as much inside of us, we are still here doing the best we can, which counts me as one of them. My concept has definitely changed over time due to meeting new people and learning more things and as you grow older, you grow wiser. I definitely agree with Hume due to him being very truthful of how we should see ourselves but contradicts it. I think that we may all have different understandings of how to view our actual selves which is the best out of all of this.

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    1. lifeisbeautiful1619 Avatar
      lifeisbeautiful1619

      I agree that we all have different understandings of how we view our actual selves. Since we all have different life experiences and perceptions, our view of “self” will be different as well. It is very interesting to think about this idea and take a deeper look into the different theories. Personally, I feel that this has opened up a new way of understanding what my “self” really is.

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    2. alj Avatar
      alj

      I agree that traumatic events can shape the way a person views the world and also how it can affect their “self”. Like you said above, some days are good and some are bad which is how we know we have a “self” because we can identify that we aren’t feeling the same as the previous days. Whether we choose to do something about it is up to our own “self”.

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    3. mommabird Avatar
      mommabird

      Hi flowers22, I love your concept on the darkness aspect of “self”, because in a way it’s true. You right about the trauma one experiences which makes it hard to pass through the bad things with a good self-imagine, but you must see it in a different light. The fact that someone is still standing after going through unhealed trauma means you a strong person and should consider your some not just a good person but a survivor which makes you AMAZING!

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    4. dominicanstar Avatar
      dominicanstar

      This was a very interesting perspective, especially regarding the darker side that may come along with one’s “Self”. There are definitely many variations in which one can exist, and the “bad” side is very much a prominent side along with the others. The concept of self can very easily develop and alter through time, especially through the relations and contact of others. This connects back to the aspect of the environment being the social life. We are not who we are without the things around us. I do hope that you continue on your healing journey and steadily rely on your inner self for that light in which it brings into your life and self.

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  5. jmc02 Avatar
    jmc02

    This is a very interesting way of putting it. I agree that if we didn’t have a self we wouldn’t be able to reflect on it either. The “self” is pretty difficult to understand. I like how you questioned the fact is our self our soul, or our consciousness? I feel like in a way it would be considered of sorts. Because like I said in my post our “self” is made up of our underlying morals and experiences. This was a very interesting way of putting it, thanks for sharing your thoughts prof.

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  6. lifeisbeautiful1619 Avatar
    lifeisbeautiful1619

    I believe that “self” is a combination of all of one’s inner aspects such as thoughts, perceptions, morals, values, and emotions that make them who they are. These are things that are not visible because they are deep within. In other words, my “self” is the real me, while my personality is what I let others see. My personality may be a mirror or a mask of my real “self”, and that all truly depends on the situation. I know that my “self” is there it just may not always be expressed. Even though my “self” is not visible, I know I have it or how else would I be able to reflect on it? My concept of “self” has changed over time due to different life experiences, meeting new people, learning more things, and simply just growing up. This is normal because the world around us is changing, and we adapt to it. As Hume said, “For my part, when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception, and never can observe anything but the perception.” Here, Hume is saying that we do not remain the same over time, but instead, we are a bundle of ever-changing impressions. I agree with this idea because the “self” that I was even just a year ago is a different “self” than what I am now. That is just because of different ideas and perceptions that have shaped me over the time frame.

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    1. alj Avatar
      alj

      I agree that our “self” is a combination of many different things such as morals, culture, values because as we grow older we become more exposed to ideas and still choose how we think and act. I also look in the mirror as proof that I have a “self” because I see a reflection and also stare deep into my own eyes to prove that I have full control over myself. We all change overtime and never fully stay the same.

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    2. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      I noticed you used the word mirror to describe your personality. What do you think of Cooley’s looking glass self and his approach to self?

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  7. alj Avatar
    alj

    When I deeply think about my “self”, I am aware that I am my own person and feel in full control of myself. By thinking about my own “self” it helps me realize how important it is to ground yourself in the present because people can get too caught up in the past or future. Part of my “self” is living in the moment since you never know when it’s going to be your last day and feel like we tend to forget that a lot. In addition, my consciousness is proof that I am my own “self” since I can think and act for myself. When I think about my “self” the first thing that comes to mind is my family and friends because they are the ones who know me the best other than myself. I am the way that I am because of the people I surround myself with and have grown up with. Then, I think about my interests and hobbies such as being a student, working out, walking my dogs, and playing soccer. I agree with Hume that emotions and sensations are always changing and don’t all happen at once because we as humans change and start viewing things differently due to past experiences. There are moments in life where we go through a love stage and then suffer from grievance and pain which shows how nothing stays the same. That is why it is important to reflect on your “self” and take in everything that’s happening to you at that moment.

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    1. love2dance Avatar
      love2dance

      I totally agree with the idea that we should be actively reflecting on ourselves because of how much can happen in our lives. It’s definitely hard to reflect on ourselves and find ways to be present in the moment. I often forget about things that happen in my everyday life even though those moments can have a great impact on who I am. I also think that it’s smart to acknowledge our consciousness and how that can be proof that we have a self, because how could we come up with thoughts and questions if they weren’t being shaped by our personalities and minds?

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  8. mommabird Avatar
    mommabird

    When I think deeply about my “self” I find myself agreeing with Hume’s ideas, in the sense that I am never really entirely certain of my “self”. I look at my past and how I have evolved in to the person I am at the moment, and then I make my own perception of “self” through my experiences, memories and surroundings. Yet, since I am constantly maturing and learning new things that help me evolve, not only through experiences but academically as well, I can never know continuously who is my “self”. I believe everyone has a “self” including me, because we all have experiences and memories that we become aware of through our senses. It is because of this that I am absolutely sure I have a “self”. Like Mead said, “The self is something which has a development: It is not initially there at birth, but arises in the process of social experience and activity, that is, develops in the given individual as a result of his relations to that process as a whole and to other individuals within the process”. Since my ‘self is in constant development through my daily social and private experiences in life, my “self” will always exist. My concept of “self” has changed over time because I grow mentally and so does the way I perceive my memories and experiences. What I thought was a harmless joke as a child, might now be seen cruel and unacceptable as an adult. So as my perception of experiences change, my “self” changes right along with it. I agree with Hume’s because like him “I never catch myself at any time without a perception, and can never observe anything but the perception”.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      a perception of self through memories. You and Locke would have great conversations! Great Mead quote!

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      1. mommabird Avatar
        mommabird

        Thank you, I find myself looking back at memories and my growth to help define my “self” at the moment. I was going to use Locke in my reply to flowers22 but I couldn’t really verbalize my thoughts properly at the moment. It would be nice to have a conversation with him, to help me in the future.

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    2. sky0605 Avatar
      sky0605

      I completely agree when you say that you can never continuously know who is your “self”, as I have matured and grown my “self” has changed too. It really does vary on what you are experiencing in particular times in your life, who you are surrounding yourself, and where you are as far as mentally and physically.

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    3. dustar23 Avatar
      dustar23

      Hello,

      I 100% agree with your ideas about your “self”. I relate a lot when you mention that you’re never really certain of your self, and when you explain that your self is constructed through your experiences. Because we are constantly having new experiences and interactions, it is difficult to “continuously” know who your self is. In your post I can see similarities to Hume, especially when he mentions that he cannot perceive the self as simple and continued. Great job!

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  9. sky0605 Avatar
    sky0605

    When I think deeply about my “self”, I am aware that I have my own individual consciousness and unique personality. My “self” is open-minded, accepting, honest with myself and others, loving, and independent. However, I am also fully aware that my “self” has developed and changed throughout time based on different experiences and lessons I have learned while growing up. My “self” also varies around the people I am surrounding myself with or my setting. Therefore, my concept of “self” has changed over time and is still changing. When I was younger and barely starting to mature, I had different values and priorities in my life. Now as I am older and getting closer to entering the “real adult world” I am way more alert, focused, and thinking about all possible aspects of my future. I feel like we can be sure that everyone has a “self” because I feel like that concept embeds a lot of things like personality, emotions, values, and the way people act towards others. I really do agree with Hume because as he states, “when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception and can never observe anything but the perception” (Hume). Hume is saying that our “self” never stays the same and can constantly change based on perception, perception being the experiences that each induvial has in their lifetimes.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great analysis on Hume’s philosophy of self. Do any of the other theories of self resonate with you?

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    2. Bugzzbunny02 Avatar
      Bugzzbunny02

      Hi Sky0605,

      You make some great points in your response. It’s valuable how you list what makes you who you are, but you also take the time to acknowledge how your sense of self has changed and continues to based on experiences and interactions that you’ve encountered and interpreted in life that’s led you here thus far. I think our concepts of self are always changing, even if we think they aren’t and there’s some type of artistry in that growth and in that journey of really diving deep into what gives us our sense of “self”. I love how we all can relate to one another, while still interpreting it differently and that just further shows how we’re all on similar journeys but are discovering life and ourselves differently and curated specifically for us.

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    3. Spring Avatar
      Spring

      Hello Sky0605,

      I completely agree with your “self” being unique and an ever-changing consciousness. When we surround ourselves with new people, our mindsets, morals, customs, opinions and other things within us can change. I think that as we grow older, we begin acknowledging that there is a drive within us that helps us decide what is wrong and what is right as well as our perceptions on the “real adult world” like you stated.

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  10. Bugzzbunny02 Avatar
    Bugzzbunny02

    When I think deeply about my “self” a lot of things come to mind. Goffman believes that the sense of self is essentially a social process, and while I can agree, I also believe that there’s character and individuality in that which is solely unique to us and who we are as individuals. On the other hand, I can relate a lot to Hume and how he says “when I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure” because it’s a testament to how we have a sense of “self” but it’s constantly changing and never once is it stagnant, no matter how much we wish it were sometimes. When I think deeply about my “self” I never question who I am because I’m constantly changing, instead I question where I am and where I want to be in the future (while also staying present in the moment). I believe I have a sense of “self” that’s deeply rooted and ingrained into my being that inhabits the foundation of who I am, like my morals, values, trauma, experiences, and so on. This is the core of my being, and the outer layers are what make up the core, and the outer layers are always changing. I’m sure about myself but I’m not sure that I know how I would describe my “Self” because, in reality, that’s a deep dive into what makes me me. Sometimes people shouldn’t know those intimate parts of you, and sometimes it just takes too long to take a ride down memory lane, which is why we often say the generic stuff like “I’m caring” or “I’m a hard worker”, we’ve all been there before. It’s because my concept of “self” has changed that’s allowed me to learn and pay attention to what makes me who I am and why. I can be sure I have a self because I’m aware of my presence and existence as an individual and in society, in addition to everything and everyone I’ve experienced and or encountered on the way. My sense of “self” may be somewhat grounded, but my knowledge of who I am as a person is still somewhat unknown to me and that’s what makes it all so fascinating because we’re learning about life while simultaneously learning about ourselves, and although difficult, it can also be extremely rewarding.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      This is a wonderful contrast between Goffman and Hume. Great detail. You make strong points. I especially enjoyed your analysis on framing the self on the now and future!

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    2. aramoto Avatar
      aramoto

      Hi Bugzzbunny02, I believe your post is very well written. I also like how you stated the part where you talk about going down memory lane because honestly, I did not think about it this way. It is easy to abbreviate what defines ourselves in simple terms rather than taking the time to digress into what truly shapes our individuality.

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    3. JS Avatar
      JS

      I found it very intriguing when you mention that sometimes people should not know the intimate parts of your self and that is why we stick to the generic stuff. It made me think about how when someone is asked about who they are and what makes them who they are, they never speak about trauma or negative experiences. At least that is not the first thing people mention. I like how you put trauma separate from experiences because trauma does play a huge part of what the self is. The self is always changing especially because of how we perceive things. When you are going through trauma especially at a young age it is hard to make sense of it, but when you grow older you learn to accept it as something that makes you who you are or how you strive to be. I also agree with the phrase of we live and we learn because they are two different things. Just like you mentioned, we live while also learning about ourselves at the same time.

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  11. aramoto Avatar
    aramoto

    When I deeply think about my “self” I honestly get pretty triggered. I say this because thinking about myself leads me to think about my childhood for some reason and how quickly time flies. During these thoughts, I get scared about the fact of if I am moving too slowly with my career or whatnot. It just leads me down a rabbit hole of really thinking about my past self and my future self. Honestly, I never thought about the question of describing my “self”. I mean, I suppose I can describe myself as a caring and determined person. My concept of self changed over time due to a variety of circumstances such as changing the way I looked from just a few years ago to now and more. There are many factors that are capable of determining one’s “self” and it isn’t always easy to figure out what those factors may be, however, these factors come to the individual over time I believe. From what I noticed in Humes’s argument, I believe that he is trying to explain that there is no simple principle to define himself. He is constantly depending on different perceptions when initiating this term. Overall, I believe that my “self” is defined by not only my past actions and experiences but my current actions as well as my future ones. What determines the definition of my personal self or one’s self is different and may change over time as well.

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    1. KKozak Avatar
      KKozak

      Hello,
      I found your response to be very interesting to read. I personally don’t like to think about the past because there is nothing you can do to go back or change it, so dwelling on the past will lead you down a rabbit hole as you said. I do also agree with your statement on how it’s hard to describe your “self” because it changes depending on the situation. I also belive that I my self change depending on where I am and who I am with.

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    2. Dori342 Avatar
      Dori342

      I can totally relate to your post. It can kind of be triggering to realize how fast life is moving. It is scary to think about how we feel we were kids just not too long ago but were already way past that entering the reality of being an adult.

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  12. JS Avatar
    JS

    When I think deeply about my “self”, I think about my values, my interests, my memories, my experiences, my thoughts and emotions, what and who I love. I think the self is the center of who we were, who we are, and who we will be. I know I have a self, but I also feel that my self is not always certain because as we grow older we gather more experiences, more memories, new interests, etc. These circumstances can change what my “self” looks like at the moment. I see the self as something that always exists, but not always made up of the same things. I would say the self is more like making a cake with different ingredients every time you make one, but it is still a cake nonetheless.I know I have a self because I can explain what my self was in the past and how it looks now. I would have to agree with Hume that our self is not always certain and it indeed changes over time. We perceive and experience things differently. As we grow older we are able to unlock certain things we did not understand in the past. We can make sense of our memories and experiences, which shape our “self”. I agree when Hume says, “One may, perhaps, perceive something simple and continued, which he calls himself; though I am certain there is no such principle in me”.I do not think that the self is something simple or continued. The self is a combination of so many things that simple would not be the word for it. It is also very uncertain as our self can become something very different based on what experiences we encounter.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great opening sentence. I find it interesting that you know you have a self because you can explain what your self was and how it looks now. Sounds a bit like Locke. Great job!

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  13. love2dance Avatar
    love2dance

    I think the self is made up of everything we go through throughout our lifetime. Because of that, that would mean that our “self” or concept of self is always changing. Every time we experience or do something new, that affects our sense of self, our opinions, and our identity. I wouldn’t say that self is solely based on a social sense as Goffman suggests, I think that part of what the self is relies on us and only us. Sure, who we interact with and society can shape our experiences and how we view ourselves, but I think the point of the self is partly that it is part of only what we think. My own concept of self is constantly changing. Every time I interact with someone, every time I go through a hardship, and every time I look at myself I can see how I am changing. I think we can know that we have a self because we all have our own personalities and quirks about us that aren’t just made up out of thin air; they come from us and are rooted in ourselves. While reflecting on this question, a part of me wondered if there is a part of our “self” that no one will ever see or know. I think we all can agree that we have thoughts or experiences that we would never want to share with people. This makes a certain piece of ourselves so intimate that it is something only we will have, and if we choose, something no one will ever have.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great counter to Goffman. Well done! The way you describe the self reminds me a bit of the self as soul argument, a thesis I am a fan of!

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  14. AC Avatar
    AC

    I am often scared to think too deeply about what my true self is. I can not explain why I am afraid, but now reflecting on Hume’s argument, it may have something to do with the anxiety that comes with not truly knowing. Hume’s argument is true in the sense that I am aware of my inner self, in fact it is always with me. The problem comes with perception. Every thought that I have is a perception of something, an experience, an emotion, or a far off memory. There are no thoughts truly of my own. Each thing that runs through my mind is a reflection of something or someone else. This is why I can not truly know who my “self” is. I like to ponder things. I love to learn and understand, bonus points if it is a highly debated topic that I am able to draw a firm conclusion on. Where I struggle is when I can not draw a conclusion. Just writing this my heart rate is through the roof and I can feel the onset of an existential crisis. Just joking, kind of. Goffman argues that self is a product of “scene”. I can understand this view, as like I said not a single thought is my own. But if this is true, how are new concepts and ideas brought about? If consciousness is simply a reflection, why does the world keep evolving? I would really love to answer that question, but my inner self cannot process the information. Overall, I think I agree with Hume. I do know that there is a self inside of me, and I do agonize over perception as a roadblock to true inner reflection.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      This is great analysis. Weaving in Goffman was a great idea and a point well taken. Great job!

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  15. KKozak Avatar
    KKozak

    I believe this question is a little hard to answer because my view of my “self” changes depending on the situation. What I mean by this is when I am at home I am different compared to when I am at work or with my friends. I feel that I carry some of the same qualities no matter what the situation or place is. For example, when thinking about myself whether it comes to work or home I am definitely serious, determined, and quiet. When it comes to the question of if my concept of self has changed, I feel as if everyone’s concept of their self changed with time. I am definitely much different than I was as a kid and I feel that I will be different than I am now when I get older. The reason I say this is because over time we learn and adapt to situations that are changing. This means that in the future I may be less quiet and more outgoing. When I think deeply about the question regarding if I have a self, I feel as if I have to or I would not be able to answer these questions. The reason I say this is because I myself know that I am a person and that I change and evolve just like the world does. I believe that I have a soul and conscious, but how they differ I’m not sure. I feel that it’s hard for me to really know my true self now because I have yet to discover it.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      I feel you will enjoy Goffman’s work on self. Also, it is not often I meet a Platonist. I too believe in the soul. At times, I also feel we have “true selves” yet, I am reminded of what Robert Bellah called the nervous search for the true self. Often, the true self is expressed in terms detached from social and cultural contexts, a state of being that we actually never experience. For me, my truest self is always experienced in the social participation and interaction.

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    2. Selflove23 Avatar
      Selflove23

      It’s interesting to read your reflection on the concept of the self and how it changes over time. I agree that our sense of self can be influenced by different situations and contexts and that our self-concept is constantly evolving as we gain new experiences and learn more about ourselves. I also appreciate your openness to the idea that there may be more to the self than what we can fully understand or articulate. It’s a humbling realization that there may be aspects of ourselves that are beyond our conscious awareness or comprehension and that our understanding of the self is always limited by our own perspectives and biases. Your point about having a soul and consciousness is also interesting. These are concepts that have been discussed by philosophers and scholars throughout history, and their exact nature and relationship to the self are still a matter of debate. Some argue that the soul or consciousness is the essence of the self, while others believe that they are separate entities that influence or interact with the self in some way. I think your reflection on the self is thoughtful and thought-provoking, and it raises important questions about what it means to be a conscious, thinking being in the world.

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  16. Selflove23 Avatar
    Selflove23

    When I reflect on the concept of self, I am reminded of the various components that make up my identity, including my physical appearance, personality traits, values, beliefs, and experiences. These factors have shaped me into the person I am today and contribute to my sense of self. However, when I consider Hume’s argument that there is no such thing as a self, it challenges my understanding of who I am. Hume’s argument is compelling because he asserts that we can never observe anything but our perceptions, and therefore, we cannot have an idea of self. Instead, he suggests that when we try to identify ourselves, we only stumble upon particular perceptions such as feelings of love, hate, pain, or pleasure. This argument challenges the traditional notion of the self as a singular, unchanging entity and instead presents the self as a collection of transient experiences. Personally, I can relate to Hume’s argument. When I try to identify myself, I do not find a distinct, unchanging entity. Rather, I find a collection of perceptions and experiences that constantly shift and change. As I grow and develop, my personality, beliefs, and values change, which suggests that there is no permanent self. However, I do not agree with Hume’s argument that the self does not exist at all. While our perceptions and experiences are transient, they still contribute to a sense of self that is shaped by our unique experiences and perspectives. Our identity is not static, but rather it is a continuous process of becoming. When I consider Goffman’s concept of the self as a performance, it aligns with Hume’s argument that the self is not a fixed entity. We act out different roles in different situations, and the self is constantly adapting and changing to meet the demands of different contexts. While Hume’s argument challenges the traditional notion of a singular and unchanging self, it aligns with the idea that the self is a dynamic and ever-changing process. Our identity is shaped by our perceptions and experiences, and while it may not be a fixed entity, it is still an important part of who we are.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Interesting way to bring in identity into this conversation. In your view, what is the difference between Identity and self?

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  17. Jars Avatar
    Jars

    When I think deeply about myself, what comes to mind is all the things that I believe and what I’ve lived through that has shaped the person I currently am. It’s very hard to try to put into words how you know you have a self but I know I do because of how I have emotions and self awareness that’s all unique to myself as an individual. I also believe that because we all hold onto memories differently and certain situations have different effects on people that we are wired differently, making our “selves” so special. Two different people might go through a similar traumatic event and one might never mentally recover and one might get over it within a few months. It all depends on the way our “selves” process life. I think I previously thought of a “self” as kind of like a soul or conscience because the word self is pretty vague and I grew up catholic and they emphasize the importance of our souls especially in the afterlife. I would describe myself as optimistic, independent, sarcastic, indecisive, and a fun person, but at the same time those adjectives are just my characteristics. That is a part of your “self”, but it seems though it’s deeper than that. That part of you As the reading stated we are very self aware of how we’re feeling and when changes occur. Goffman stated that your “self” changes with time and with different environmental settings. The self is a constantly developing character and it is technically not a physical thing. I think I’m definitely a different person than I was when I was little and my “self” has adapted to a changing “me”.

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  18. krmoy Avatar
    krmoy

    I had mentioned in the first blog, when thinking about “self”, I often have a hard time choosing which part or which personality of mine one is talking about. My mother and I always have discussions on the thoughts of being more than one person, reacting differently around certain people or in specific environments. She believes it is impossible and one person should behave the same as everyone or it is considered “two-faced”. I understood her perspective but now that we are studying the topic, I get to boost to her that I was correct 🙂 I do not act the same towards professors as I do my friends or my mom and I do my significant other. So when people ask me who am I or the type of person I am, my answers strive at great lengths. I do agree with Hume in the fact of reacting with different outcomes based on perception. We evolve, and we change as we grow. Our past situations or traumas have shaped the perspective and ideology that we hold as individuals today. Our concept of “self” has never, nor will ever, be the same as a year or two ago. We all were in very different moments in our lives, maybe the same idea such as selecting majors and going through the headaches of finals but we all experienced it drastically differently due to us being drastically different human beings. I came to Dominican wanting to be a Nurse and I am currently studying to become a Social Worker. Same field in helping others, yes but different spectrums and ways of thinking. I had a plan for my “self” and what I wanted my future to look like but as I went through the motions my current “self” craved something completely different. In defense of Hume’s ideology, I will never find my “self” because I do not want to remain the same individual that I was years or maybe even months from now, it is impossible to remain the same even if I wanted to. Experiences change people, situations change people, and we will not be the same as we once were.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great post. I don’t see a response post for you. Have you responded to one of your peers blog post 2?

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  19. Spring Avatar
    Spring

    When I think about my “self” many things come to mind. It is very similar yet different as when being asked how I identify myself. I find my “self” as an ever-changing individual due to always going through different experiences, socializing with others, and simply getting older. I find myself really connecting to Hume as he stated, “When I enter most intimately into what I call myself, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure.” The “self” is everything yet categorized into one thing. The “self” to me is constantly changing, as I know that certain things within me change from one day to another. For example, yesterday I was feeling very unmotivated and felt very hopeless, yet today I feel motivated as never before. Last year I was not worried about certain things that I find myself incredibly worried about this year, and vice-versa. I think that we all have a “self” that is always changing and unique.
    I find my “self” acting and thinking differently depending on who I am around, where I am at, how I feel, etc. Everything has the potential to have a small or big impact on our “selves” but the “self” also has the ability to identify what is worthy of being attached to and caring about. I believe that simply questioning yourself about your “self” implies that there is a “self.” A question that I do have is, do we have one single “self” that changes around specific individuals, or do we have many “selves” within us?

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great post! Many of the theorists and concepts in the reading talk about the concept of “many selves” or “changing selves.” I think you will enjoy them. I too relate with Hume in many ways. For me I believe there is a soul or substance. ). In my own thinking, the “self” of everyday life is distinct from the “self” formed in reflection. In this sense, Goffman’s theory of “self” is a good example. The “self” of everyday life is an actor, reading scripts and playing parts. However, for me this “self” is not the “self” that goes to sleep and wakes up in the morning. Often, the “self” that tries to fall asleep is running away or trying to block out that silly actor because it won’t let the “self” be! Actors always want all the attention! When I enter into what I call my “self” I find myself at odds or even at war with both the “I” and “me,” for they never leave me at peace. It is almost as if they are jealous. They, the “I” and the “me” seem desperate to become the true and authentic “self.” The self that can enjoy peace, sleep, and stillness without reflection or thought. The “self” that is free to leave both the mind and body, and return to it as it pleases.

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  20. dominicanstar Avatar
    dominicanstar

    Is there ever a one true self? Do I know what or who I truly am? These are questions that continually live in my mind as I am ever changing and developing the meaning of my Self. In truth, I do not believe that I am ever really sure of who I am, however, I am aware of the differing versions of myself from the perspective of others. What I may know is who I currently am at this given moment. Yet, I cannot say that I am knowledgeable of who I may become in a different moment. This also means that who I appear to one person may be a completely altered interpretation to another. According to William James, he explains that human beings are created to deal with the environment as commonly found. That aspect of the environment is known as social life. I find this to be an intriguing concept because I tend to be hyper aware of who I am when in comparison to others, humans or things. The self is portrayed as a communication system used by our mind to help us deal with our environment. This highlights the matter of relations. To my mother, I am her daughter, and she portrays me through that lens. To my sibling, I am the sister and only play that role. To my professors, I am understood to be a student. To my friend, I am seen as their friend and accommodate their thinking to such, etc. However, my Self to me is all those roles being played for others all at once. I view myself as the daughter, the sister, the student, and the friend, along with many other roles. I am many versions of my “self”. Through the pragmatist view, the self is an aspect of communication. “Either the inner practice of self-awareness in thought, or the subjectivism evident in open references to personal characteristics.” In all, the true authentic self does not seem to just simply exist due to the immense variety in which it can be.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      This is well done! Great job bringing James into the fold! Awesome work!

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    2. Yeti Avatar
      Yeti

      I do agree that these are questions that we very often think about, and we probably think about them a little too much if we are being honest. You are right when you said we will never really know what we are. I didn’t really realize or at least give too much thought to when you said different people can have totally different perceptions of who we are.

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    3. krmoy Avatar
      krmoy

      Dominicanstar, I can totally see your point of view on this topic. It is a complex concept to grasp let alone to form an opinion on. I strongly agree with your statement that you are hesitant to believe fully of who you really are and where you touched on “I am aware of the differing version of myself from the perspective of others”. My feelings towards myself and my originality definitely aline with yours! I also enjoyed how you tied your ideas back to William James’s ideology while still holding your beliefs rather than letting James change your perspective. Great work here!

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  21. Yeti Avatar
    Yeti

    When I deeply think about my “self” I think of how caring and loving I am. I see myself as someone who is a very bright person and always tries to brighten up everyone’s day around me. I know I am like this because usually when I am upset or stressed about something I make sure not to show it because I know that no one else wants that to be all I talk about which would be my problems. I do believe I have a “self” and I think often about how others perceive me. I think I probably too often find myself trying to make the image of my “self” so that it pleases everyone else. Overtime my concept of “self” has changed from making sure I please myself and not others all the time. I learned this from experience, when I look back at high school, I wish I cared less about what other people thought of me. I am not 100% sure what my “self” looks like to others, but I can get a good idea of it when my friends talk about things I do and how they think I am. I do agree with Hume in the sense that we can try to think we know what our “self” is, but we will never truly know how we come off to others. I think a lot of us think we know how other people see us but the reality if that is probably something totally different than how others truly see us.

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  22. Dori342 Avatar
    Dori342

    When I think about myself what comes to mind are all of the things that make me who I am. All of the experiences that have shaped me from the moment I was born until now. Of course these aren’t all the things that make me the way that I am since I believe that I was already born with some characteristics that make me who I am now. I would say that my “self” is someone or something I am not fully comfortable or know that much about yet. My “self” tends to change a lot due to self doubt. My “self” is very subconscious of decisions it makes. I know that I have a “self” because I believe that we all have “self”, that is what makes us who we are in the aspect of knowing what we like, what we do not like, what we believe is wrong , what we believe is right. This goes hand in hand with what Zussman talked about in the reading about what we call “traditional social roles’ ‘, one’s self discusses our moral values to one another and to other selves.That is also why I know that we all have a “self” or the concept of “soul” because none of us are the same, none of us think the same. Whether that means what we think of our actions or the actions of others but also just base characteristics. What makes our “self” special is that it is unique to itself.

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    1. Honeybun Avatar
      Honeybun

      Hello Dori342, I also said something similar to your blog post. I do too believe, that our journey/experience from the moment we are born has an effect on the way we live our lives and how we perceive our sense of self and others. For example, I and my sister might go through something traumatic in our lives, but I can get over it easily. My sister on the other hand might need to seek help and talk to someone. We are each different and it’s okay to be.

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  23. Honeybun Avatar
    Honeybun

    When I think of self, I think of characteristics. For example, my appearance, my skills, race, ethnicity, social class, etc. All of these traits of the self go into play and shape who I am today. In Hume’s argument about the self, he mentions that we have no idea was the self is, therefore we really don’t have any consciousness of who we are as an individual. It made me sit and think hard about the question, what is the self? And who am I? Hume has a point where he states that we believe the self is how we perceive ourselves and others based on emotions such as hate and love. Although Hume makes a good debate that we don’t know what self is, I disagree with his statement. No, I might not know who I really am and what makes me who I am, but the traits that I mentioned, in the beginning, help me figure out who I am. My traits, for example, being Hispanic, the way I dress, the way I act, and the people I associate with all come together in the end and contribute to my sense of self. Without those things, I know I wouldn’t be who I am. The experiences that I have gone through since the moment I was born has an effect on my sense of self. Last semester, I took a philosophy class and we talked about what it means to be a human being. We are all different because we each go through our own journey in life.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      I enjoyed your post! I am sure you found this weeks reading interesting as it outlined the way race and ethnicity factor into self and Identity. How are you doing with your final paper? Do you have an idea on what you will be writing about?

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    2. Puppylover Avatar
      Puppylover

      Hi Honeybun,
      I really enjoyed reading your response because it made me wonder and really think about what Hume was talking about. I also really liked how confident you were to bring up an argument about how Hume might not be right and how you know exactly who you might be!

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  24. dustar23 Avatar
    dustar23

    When I think deeply about my “self”, I tend to just think about characteristics that describe me. And while these are definitely ways to think of my “self”, I think that there is more to my “self’ that I still haven’t discovered yet. When I think of my self I think of my beliefs, my values, my culture, and my overall way of living. I’m a hardworking, passionate, and family-oriented person. I think of my self and I also think about the experiences I have had throughout my life that have shaped me into becoming this person. I agree with James’ idea of the self where he states, “the self…is not to be hastily objectified; it must wait for experience to do its work before it is realized” (11). I do believe that part of one’s “self” comes from experiences and social interactions. I know I have a self because not only do I acknowledge my self, but those around me also acknowledge it. In fact, the people in my life all have different versions of my own self. Mead states, “in the course of everyday life, we become – separately and distinctly – the varied selves that we present in relation to whomever regularly participates in our affairs”, different people in our lives get different versions of our “selves” (20). That is why I believe it can be complicated or difficult to determine who I really am or what my self really is, because I am constantly presenting different versions of my self in my everyday life. Similarly, as life goes on, I will continue to have more experiences and I am certain my concept of self will change over time. I can confidently say that my “self” that I know now is not the same as the “self” that I knew 5 years ago. I agree with Hume when he states that “one may, perhaps, perceive something simple and continued, which he calls himself; though I am certain there is no such principle in me”, because I don’t think of my “self” as simple or continued.

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    1. franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd Avatar
      franciscoambrosiofigueroathe3rd

      Great job!

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  25. rhino Avatar
    rhino

    I think a person’s “self” is created from their interactions with other people and the type of people they spend time with. I also think about the activities people do shapes their “self”. When I think about myself, I initially think about what type of person I am. I feel as though I am a good person who tries to help others with anything possible. I feel like my “self” likes to be able to help people that need assistance. I believe myself to be a bright person as well. I generally feel as though I am a smart person who doesn’t always apply himself to things he isn’t interested in. I also believe my self has changed over time. As time has gone on I have perceived who I am differently. I used to view myself as a normal kid, but now I view myself as an athlete. I spend most of my time thinking about the sport that I play and the minority of my time thinking about things outside of baseball. My “self” also values family very highly. I love spending time with my family, especially my brother. My family is a core piece of how my “self” was created. My relationship with my friends has shaped who my “self” is as well. They have introduced me to things like video games and different sports, all of which I still love doing every day. I think everyone can be sure they have a “self” because it is just your personality.

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  26. Puppylover Avatar
    Puppylover

    When I think deeply about my “self”, I think about how the “self” comes in many different ways and how sometimes one might not even know how to respond to this question. Personally when I think of my “self” I think about my values, my personality, and my appearance. However, sometimes I do believe that my personality is my “self”. One’s “Self” is usually always changing and I can say the same. Yes, when I think about my “self” the first thing that comes up to my head is my personality as I’ve mentioned. However, as Hume mentioned the self can change just like any other aspect related to what makes one’s “self. Hume states “I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure. I never can catch myself at any time without a perception, and can never observe anything but the perception”. He mentioned love or hatred, and when he mentioned that it made me realize how love can turn into hatred just like someone can easily change the way they view themselves. For example, I might be a nice and sweet caring girl and who knows maybe by tomorrow I can change myself into a self-centered and selfish girl. Furthermore, Goffman also mentioned how a person is always viewed or judged when they walked into a room so with person have to always show who they are and how they view themselves so others can view them the same, or else they’ll create their own thoughts about them.

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