PHILOSOPHY - Mind: Personal Identity (The True Self) [HD]

In this video, Dr. Joshua Knobe (Yale University) asks: Does our ordinary notion of a “true self” simply pick out a certain part of the mind? Or is this notion actually wrapped up in some inextricable way with our own values and ideals?

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[helengunner]

True self is the combination of the two. If a conflict arises, you are what you chose to act on.

[brymilan]

Neither beliefs or emotions are the true self. The true self is that which experiences the beliefs and emotions.

[allenmorgan]

Buddha taught that peoples perspective of reality is skewed by there personal biases and prejudices. That is why he taught detachment. We have to be detached from our own beliefs and emotions in order to see reality objectively. When we detach from our thoughts and emotions, via meditation, we begin to realize that we are neither and that everything is transient and in a constant state of change, hence the doctrine of impermanence. In reality there is no self because there is nothing that is in a fixed state of existence. Our existence, if you can say we even have one, is one totality that is in a constant state of flux. Everything is continually rising and falling, coming in and going out again. Everything is a result of cause and effect there is no one doing anything.

[larryearlofnorthoakstreet]

_"Does our ordinary notion of a “true self” simply pick out a certain part of the mind?"_

Is there an ordinary notion of a "true self"? This video is the first time in my life I've seen the term used. And it doesn't tell me what it's used _for_.

[aminaakram]

My true self is not defined by my beliefs alone or my emotions alone, yet a self-reflecting analysis of both these elements from which I choose due to the gift of freewill who I want to be and that is exactly who I am. 

[Mexopa]

Should we really define our "true self" trough the opinions of other people rather than through ourselves? Personally I believe, that humans naturally have contradictive ideas and beliefs, therefore the "true self" is just a mixture of our reason AND emotion. Why should we abandon either reason or emotion if both of them make up or personality even if they contradict?

[thejellyjiggler]

Perhaps the true self can be the actions that we do? Every action that we do is the "right" action for the time, so it could be an indication of what you truly judge to be correct.

[sweetteaangels]

I think true self is feelings but after you've cleared all the negative beliefs you have. For instance, say I think I'm ugly. Is that the truth, what I truly feel, or is that a belief ? That's a belief . Society determined what characteristics were ugly. I think I'm ugly based on society's rules. But what about my own rules? My true feelings? My true self? My true self I don't even think about being pretty or ugly. I'm just me.

[germansubtv]

I would say, the true self of marcus(or mark or any human), is how he/she reacts to the outside world tho his inner self(emotions). 1. He is homosexual, but says it is wrong. he travels across the world just to tell everyone that it is a sin. Which says, more about his personality, than JUST the fact that he is gay. Bc he cant chose to be gay. But his beliefs is something he can choose...
In the other example, its the same. 2. He travels across the world to tell others, to accept gay people, even tho he hates them(an emotion he cant really choose neither). Marcus may hate gays, but the fact, that he still goes out there to open the minds of others, defines his real self. The choices we make, is what we are.
And while emotions can be temporary(gay mark is a bad example)... and we cant really controll them, i think the beliefs we represent by our acts, is what makes our true self. (english is not my native language, sry)

[Wigger]

I think the concept is that what you focus on is true. So when you focus on what you find valuable that will be your true self. It's not an absolute value, it's just a measurement which can change at any given time.

[TheSkaffen]

Emotions are dynamic, as are beliefs. To try and infer there is a static (easily identifiable) 'true self' is a fools errand.

[CurtFenzTheOnlyOne]

I can't help wanting to introduce "The Lie"  If I believe a lie: "you're dumb, you're stupid, you're won't amount to anything, you're bad, you are ugly"  These mask the true self, both in the area of belief and feelings.  Thus the whole argument breaks down.

[AlanKey]

I wonder what the results would be like with a topic less controversial than homosexuality.

*e.g. Tim believes its unhealthy to smoke but just can't stop himself from smoking.*

I do feel the pull of the "select whichever you think is good" hypothesis. In the smoker's case, I'd like to think that his belief that it's an unhealthy habit is more important to himself than the chemical addiction to nicotine.

What would the opposite case for the smoker be? Perhaps
*Tom believes everyone should have the right to smoke in public places but thinks smoking is disgusting*

What's your reaction to Tom?

[josefmcdonald]

I can only write from my own experience. I don't care about anyone's sexual orientation but I did grow up in a very tumultuous childhood and because of that everyone questions me even though I have made repeated claims that I am not gay. both my parents were alcoholics My mother was the kind that passes out drunk and my father was a functioning alcoholic. my mother abandoned me to a psychiatric facility at around six and I stayed there until eight After that I was taken into state custody to a kind of orphanage which stayed there until I was ten. Then I stayed with foster parents until was almost nineteen after a stupid mistake they disowned me and I tried to reconnect to my remaining biological family but that didn't work out either. because of all that chaos which most of it I had no control tried to keep friends as long as possible to replace what I had lost...I considered that one person like my foster brother because we had such similar experiences. none of that mentions any of my education either in which I constantly had deal legitimate Lunch money bullies and not your average internet troll. essentially I have always treated everyone on the basis of their actions since in the macroscopic picture everything is dependent on voluntary actions even the people you consider family....it is something most people wouldn't understand.

[lylehorning]

The answer becomes obvious when you consider everyone else's perspective. To disregard this is an assertion that one's agency is more, or the only one, that is valid. Additionally the brain has two hemispheres capable of independent thoughts. The true self is defined by your actions on the world stage.

[nimim.markomikkila]

It´s neither. The true self is That-Which-Perceives the both me-selves or sub-personalities.

[WhitneyDahlin]

to me it seems obvious that the choices you make are you. it doesn't matter if you feel in love with Matt if you choose to not be with Matt. what defines you is the personal act of saying yes to this or not to that. your choices make up who you are because they show when you think emotions should be listened to and when you think logic should rule. it shows your priorities which are ruled by the conscious AND the unconscious self

[KarascioM]

I still think emotions reveal true self and beliefs are formed by what we think is the reason why we feel that way. Personally, it seems to me that the liberal and conservative thinkers were just trying to pick the 'right' answer.

[NobOdy-szkp]

With the exception of the artificial and abstract thinker in you, you are pure Nature.

[happyguy]

This video had quite a few flaws, firstly is that I'm the second test both his emotions and his belief was that homosexuality is wrong and he just said it wasn't without truly believing it. Like if someone said they liked chicken but inside they could not stand chicken because they thought it was wrong to eat an animal and it tasted disgusting to them. This meant it was not a reverse of the first one when a guy was secretly attracted to men however both truly thought homosexuality was wrong and said it wasn't. Like if a Jewish person thought it was wrong to eat pork and therefore was disgusted by the idea of eating it and warned other people to not, he himself may like the smell of pork but still thinks it would be bad to eat it and is disgusted of the idea of doing so because it, to him, is a bad thing. In both instances they both had what they thought to be rational beliefs and felt very deep feelings not one or the other. The 'emotions' this talks about is just an uncontrollable impulses that have nothing to do with someone's true self. Someone's true self would be made of beliefs and values that they held deeply and could cause them to feel very emotional about them and control how they act