I have a question for lesswrong readers. Please excuse any awkwardness in phrasing or diction—I am not formally trained in philosophy.
What do you consider to be the “self”? Your physical body, your subconscious and conscious processes combined, consciousness, or something else? Also, do you consider your “past selves” and “future selves” to be part of a whole with your “present self,” and to what extent?
For an example of why the distinction might be important, let’s say that one night, you sleepwalk and steal a thousand dollars. This is the first time something like this has happened. Of course, society will hold you accountable for your actions, but how will you assign the blame in your head? E.g. “I’m such a horrible person” vs. “That pesky subconscious! Always up to no good!”
Another example is this. You are offered a deal in which you will live in earthly paradise for 10 years, but at the end of that ten years, you will be tortured in way so that your future self will regret accepting. Do you accept the deal? You might, if you can consider your future self in ten years to be a “different person” than your current self.
I have a question for lesswrong readers. Please excuse any awkwardness in phrasing or diction—I am not formally trained in philosophy. What do you consider to be the “self”? Your physical body, your subconscious and conscious processes combined, consciousness, or something else? Also, do you consider your “past selves” and “future selves” to be part of a whole with your “present self,” and to what extent? For an example of why the distinction might be important, let’s say that one night, you sleepwalk and steal a thousand dollars. This is the first time something like this has happened. Of course, society will hold you accountable for your actions, but how will you assign the blame in your head? E.g. “I’m such a horrible person” vs. “That pesky subconscious! Always up to no good!” Another example is this. You are offered a deal in which you will live in earthly paradise for 10 years, but at the end of that ten years, you will be tortured in way so that your future self will regret accepting. Do you accept the deal? You might, if you can consider your future self in ten years to be a “different person” than your current self.
This might be placed better in the open thread.