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RE: I Am Me Before I Am Anyone Else
Hm, id rather argue the opposite: you are anyone else, before you find yourself. :)
Hm, id rather argue the opposite: you are anyone else, before you find yourself. :)
That is equally true.
Interesting counter punch. I have to disagree with you, though, @sambor; even before you 'find' yourself, you are yourself... to me that's the beauty of the quest: you are always yourself. It's accepting who you are and were at any given moment that gives peace and comfort, not the unexisting bliss of the finished product 'you'.
That is equally true :)
From this perspective you look at the “yourself”, as continuous process. The self changes constantly, and the definition of the self can be seen only in its entirety, rather than a single point in time. However, one could argue, that in the whole game of imitation and break away, adaptation and rebellion, there is a point when one starts to feel at home, even though still constantly evolving. The point of self imposed identity, born out of the whole of ones own life’s experience so far, and their analysis (conscious or not), at which one not merely mirrors, but becomes, and henceforth all further adaptation and mirroring are measured against this “blueprint”.
I think it depends on how you look at identity and if you consider definition as imprisonment or fulfillment and freedom. I still argue that in spite of the continuous change of the self, there is some point in time where a certain core develops, as every system needs certain amount of initial information to work with, and we don’t only consist of biology. So, a second “birth” is in my opinion inevitable, be it a short or long, or very long birth, or may it never come, which would be also a form of identity, but that is not what I initially meant making the comment to the poem.
However, even the comforting acceptance of what is already there, is a form of discovery and “becoming” in sense of becoming conscious of it. And one could argue both ways if something exists, if one is not conscious of it - objectively yes, but this does not help the one that is unaware of it. I guess we don’t disagree so much after all.
In any case, thanks for the counter argument and some food for thought. I enjoyed your take and, btw, don’t consider this question “solved” by any means, as I think that there is no one, objective answer, but just trying to explain my argument better. And, I still argue that one is anyone else, before one finds himself. :)
And tnx @thegaillery for your poem and for generating this discussion :)
Thank you for your interesting points @sambor and @hatsekidee. You all have added to my understanding of the 'self'. When I wrote this piece, I revolved around the idea that the best person who knows us is our own selves. More than what other people perceive of you, your reputation, your role in the society... you are those and so much more.
You are welcome @thegaillery. I'd like to refer to a post I wrote last week on Colours of Perception. It is one of my short essays on how things are never perceived from just one perspective. Everyone has his/her own view and they are all true and ever evolving. Everything is everything (and nothing leaves nothing, but that's a whole different philosophical subject ;-))
I hear you @sambor!
I agree that this question remains 'unsolved'. In fact I hope it never does since knowing the answer would make life kind of meaningless if you ask me ;-)
Many beautiful books will not be written, art not made, songs not created and so on and so on... Thanks for your extensive reply. I enjoyed that!
Thank you too @thegaillery for opening this dialogue and bringing different perspectives together.
Haha, you’re so right! :)