The Self
"Who are you?" Any number of possible answers could right. Or they may all be wrong. The problem with answering the question of Self is the inability to define personal identity. Jean-Paul Sartre believed that there was no self, at least in a definite sense, but only the making of ourselves in the future. As much as a person may search for proof of self, a tangible thing, he will soon discover the futileness in such efforts. The Self cannot be touched, smelled or seen. In essence it may not exist at all. David Hume felt that when he looked within to find himself he always encountered some particular perception. Without these perceptions he felt that he may truly not exist. Taking the two thoughts of these great minds I examined myself. Alas I could not determine through one view or the other on the idea of Self. Sartre's view of the Self is interesting but not complete. He felt that, "Man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself." If that were true then the wh!ole idea of "true love" cannot exist, in fact love would not be. If I make myself love another then I will be happy. I can make this relationship work through sheer will. But in reality I cannot make myself love another and s
not feel. And so forth and so forth until all physical sensations are removed. Now all this man has left is his mind. Awake or in sleep, with nothing to distinguish the two environments, because both cannot possibly exist without any perception that they do. Yet the man continues to know that he exists. If he did not exist then he would no longer be in the room, yet we know that he is still in the room. I believe that the Self exists in the present time outside of perceptions. Myself is something, which is innately sewn, into my being. I cannot achieve it or will it to become. The Self is not a perception but rather I believe that the Self is intertwined with perceptions, the Self creates these feelings, emotions and passions. Myself is something here and now which I cannot change through will and I know that I exist and that myself exists because I have perceptions. Because I can love, hate, taste, touch and see I am myself because I love, hate, taste, touch and see things wh! at we do is because of ourselves. The Self deems the choices which we will feel is right or wrong or better or worst. In the end everyone's view of Self will be that of their own, if anyone allows someone else's
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Approximate Word count = 805
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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