Personality: The real : Philosophy Forums

Personality: The real

Mr Who
Initiate

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jan 25, 2009

Total Topics: 6
Total Posts: 18

Posted 03/10/09 - 06:49 AM: Subject: Personality: The real me?	#1
This is something I've been thinking about recently. What makes me, me (or you, you)? Personally speaking. My memories will probably fade as I grow old (or if I develop an illness), so it seems a little foolhardy to define myself by my memories. But what about my personality? I have likes and dislikes. I have merits and failings. I have my share of rituals and obsessions. I have a sense of humour (hopefully). I have a sense of morality. I have a degree of intelligence. I have fears and phobias. And so on and so forth... Take these things away, however, and what would be left?

wuliheron
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
Location: Newport News, Va

Total Topics: 15
Total Posts: 4572

Posted 03/10/09 - 08:51 AM:	#2
Actually, personalities also tend to change with age and disease. It is merely our egos that try to persuade us otherwise.

quickly
Assistant Professor

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Oct 29, 2007

Total Topics: 39
Total Posts: 296

Posted 03/10/09 - 11:30 AM:	#3
Probably just pure, intense, surging desire, channeling through millions of motor systems. I think what's problematic here is the notion that you posit a certain substratum - a true self, which if dissolved from lived experience, would be a kind of template for humanity. In a sense, maybe, we are biologically coded to have certain dispositions and habits, but it seems much more like we are productions of sorts, and it is very hard to separate these machinic productions from our representations of those who are constantly producing themselves.
ante mare et terras et quod tegit omnia caelum unus erat toto naturae vultus in orbe, quem dixere Chaos - rudis indigestaque moles nec quicquam nisi pondus iners congestaque eodem non bene iunctarum discordia semina rerum - Metaphorphoseon Ovidi V-IX

Sorry, you don't have permission to post. Log in, or register if you haven't yet.