A Singular Self-Identity

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Recommended: An essay on self identity

Self-identity is singular. The belief in this existence of one’s self, presupposes all our experiences of consciousness. We all hold that this identity is ours alone. I speak of my experiences as experienced by me. I would seem to be talking nonsense , if I referred to myself in the plural or spoke of how the multiplicity of ‘me’s’ experienced an event. Although most will submit to the existence of levels of consciousness, we categorize those people who exhibit distinct personalities as non-ordinary. All popular theories of self-identity set about the task of proving a singular self. I will attempt to analyze the currently held theories of self-identity, and consider cases where the singular self-identity of normal individuals is called into questi on. Psychologists seeking to clarify this discussion have researched phenomena concerning the nature of self-identity, and it’s relation with consciousness. Philosophers can attempt to investigate the fundamental assumptions underlying these studies, an d examine their ramifications upon our dogmas of self-identity.

To formulate a concept of our idea of self we must consider the uniqueness of our experience, and account for memories of prior experiences. Self-identity is my ownership of a personal, distinct unity of consciousness that is consistent through time. Unity of consciousness is the personal, private, owned, and discrete continuing experience of the self. For example, I believe that I am. I believe that I am, neither in part nor in whole, someone other than whom I perceive that I am, and that this “I” was the same unity yesterday as today. I also infer that I will be (if I wake from sleep) tomorrow the continuation of the same self.

This self that we assume, does not ex...

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.... Los Altos, CA.: Kaufman, 1983..

Laurence, Jean-Roch, Perry, Campbell & Kihlstron, John. “‘Hidden Observer’ Phenomena in Hypnosis: An Experimental Creation?” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 44.1 (1993): 163-169..

Sacks, Oliver. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: and Other Clinical Tales. New York: Harper Perenial, 1985..

Spanos, Nicholas P. “The Hidden Observer as an Experimental Creation” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 44.1 (1983): 170-176..

Watkins, John G. & Watkins, Helen H. “”Hypnosis, Multiple Personality, and Ego States” Handbook of States of Consciousness. Eds. Benjamin B Wolman & Montague Ullman. New York: Van Nostrand, 1986..

Wilkes, Kathleen V. “Fugues, Hypnosis, and Multiple Personalities” Self & Identity: Contemporary Philosophical Issues. Eds. Kolak, Daniel & Martin, Raymond. New York: MacMillan, 1991..

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