I expect Wei’s intuition is that knowing self means having an axiomatic definition of (something sufficiently similar to) self, so that it can be reasoned about for decision-theoretic purposes. But if we look at an axiomatic definition as merely some structure that is in known relation to the structure it defines, then your brain state in the past is just as good, and the latter can be observed in many ways, including through memory, accounts of own behavior, etc., and theoretically to any level of detail.
(Knowing self “at a low, instinctive level” doesn’t in itself meet the requirement of having access to a detailed description, but is sufficient to point to one.)
Why not, or what do you mean by this? Common sense suggests that we do know ourselves from others at a very low, instinctive level.
I expect Wei’s intuition is that knowing self means having an axiomatic definition of (something sufficiently similar to) self, so that it can be reasoned about for decision-theoretic purposes. But if we look at an axiomatic definition as merely some structure that is in known relation to the structure it defines, then your brain state in the past is just as good, and the latter can be observed in many ways, including through memory, accounts of own behavior, etc., and theoretically to any level of detail.
(Knowing self “at a low, instinctive level” doesn’t in itself meet the requirement of having access to a detailed description, but is sufficient to point to one.)