Essay about A Singular Self-Identity - 3465 Words

Self-identity is singular. The belief in this existence of one’s self, presupposes all our experiences of consciousness. We all hold that this identity is ours alone. I speak of my experiences as experienced by me. I would seem to be talking nonsense , if I referred to myself in the plural or spoke of how the multiplicity of ‘me’s’ experienced an event. Although most will submit to the existence of levels of consciousness, we categorize those people who exhibit distinct personalities as non-ordinary. All popular theories of self-identity set about the task of proving a singular self. I will attempt to analyze the currently held theories of self-identity, and consider cases where the singular self-identity of normal individuals is called†¦show more content†¦I believe that we experience at least two states of consciousness : waking and sleeping. They are relatively exclusive conditions of one another (despite the foggy transitory state or lucid drea ming phenomena). Normal states of consciousness are associated with being awake. Sleeping states of consciousness are far more difficult to empirically observe. If we had not all had the occurrence of being involved in an experiential reality that we can only locate in time somewhere between last evening and this morning, we may be quite inclined to doubt the indicators for such activity. But, we have all had the common experience of dreaming. Finally, while waking states of consciousness and sleep consciousness are not one in the same, we still maintain a continuity. The â€Å"I† in my dreams and the â€Å"I† who writes this paper are subjected to very different worlds of experience, but the â€Å"I† from one dream, and one day to the next is continuous. Modern thinkers are quite comfortable when discussing levels of consciousness. We use the Freudian distinctions of conscious/ sub-conscious regularly in everyday language. The basic idea being that there are levels of a single consciousness within one single individual. The overarching concept of a single uniform self-identity is maintained over these divisions. Theories concerning self-identity are usually distinguished into two schools: the bodily theory of self and the psychologicalShow MoreRelated Eve Kosofsky Sedgwicks Tendencies: Queerness and Oppression1208 Words   |  5 Pagesand sexuality in order to include all of their incarnations as valid experiences and identities. Queerness endeavors to include all of those who feel they are a part of it yet, seemingly, not everyone can be queer without changing the very nature of queerness. Or can they? Queerness is a concept which resists borders and structure yet it seems as though there must be certain commonalities among all que er identities and behaviors. In her book, Tendencies, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick constructs queernessRead MoreHow Narrative And Memory Influence Identity942 Words   |  4 Pagespoint, I have used the terms â€Å"self† and â€Å"identity,† including various compound terms for or with them, without attempting to define or distinguish them. Before continuing, and prior to any further discussion of how narrative and memory influence identity, I wish to clarify these terms as best as I am able. As McAdams (2003) notes, both social scientists and laypersons use â€Å"self† and â€Å"identity† interchangeably in many circumstances. The increasing use of â€Å"identity† and explorations of the topicRead MoreIn the Name of Identity Summary Essay750 Words   |  3 PagesIn Amin Maalouf’s book â€Å"In the Name of Identity† Maalouf emphasizes that we should not judge people on one singular identity. He argues that, â€Å"Identity can’t be compartmentalized. You canà ¢â‚¬â„¢t divide it up into halves or thirds or any other separate segments. I haven’t got several identities: I’ve got just one, made up of many components in mixture that is unique to me, just as other people’s identity is unique to them as individuals.† The essence of Maalouf’s argument is that one should not defineRead MoreCambio de Armas Essay1428 Words   |  6 Pagesconstantly shown throughout the novel is the concept of self identity. Identity is a state of mind in which one identifies his or her character traits in addition to one’s idea of being. Identity indicates one’s mental, emotional and physical image of which they depict themselves to be. It also refers to the construction of individual and societys characteristics by which we are symbolized and recognized as to who we are. The concept of self identity is used in many books and novels in order to tie theRead MoreEssay about Slavery and African Born Slaves1328 Words   |  6 Pagesfrom their homes and enslaved. It stars a young woman, Mona, who knows very little of her identity as an African at first, but is transformed into a slave named Shola who works on a plantation where she gains first hand knowledge of the struggles of her people. She meets slaves who are African born and who fight to rebel in order to resist the temptation to assimilate and forget their true, singular identity as Africans. In the beginning, the main character Mona was seemingly apathetic and ignorantRead MoreEssay Psychological foundations behind Personal Identity1060 Words   |  5 Pagesthis study made it apparent that ‘the self’ could be classified into three main groups; social, relational and personal selves, with each of these being readily related to the various theoretical assumptions. This essay will examine how each of these categories seek to answer the question ‘who am I?’, as well as briefly discussing how cultural variation may influence both social and individualistic approaches to the self. The Social Identity Theory views the self as a social being, assuming that groupRead MoreI Am A Woman With Amniotic Band Syndrome1348 Words   |  6 Pages For many years, my identity was fluid and varied on how I was perceived socially and physically. There are various characteristics that attribute to my identity; I am a Latina, I am a woman, and I also have a physical limitation. I was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome, which is a Congenital Limb Deficiency. I wear a prosthetic on my right arm every day. The word â€Å"disabled† implies that a person is limited in movements, sense, or activities. I have never considered myself to truly be â€Å"disabled†Read MoreNative American Voices By Susan Lobo1040 Words   |  5 PagesIdentity is a complicated and unclear concept that has no one definition. Nonetheless, identity plays a key role in the formation of our â€Å"true† selves. Identity is free formed, ever-changing and wildly different to diverse people. Making sense of oneself- who one is, was and may become, is the basic component of identity. When defining one s identity there is no singular place to start. Identities are wide varieties of traits, characteristics, social roles and relationships that define who we areRead MorePerception Of Self, Discrimination, And Failure Essay1578 Words   |  7 PagesIndividual identity is const ructed by many things, ranging from perceptions from others to perception of self, and is constantly changing as life’s complexities increase. Fear, or the distressing feeling of anxiety and angst, is also an unlikely but extremely important component of composition of identity as one gets older, for it is fear that shapes identification and interaction, especially in a group setting. A case where this is apparent is within Predominantly White Institutions, or PWIs, andRead MoreIndividual Identity Is Constructed By Many Things, Ranging1598 Words   |  7 PagesIndividual identity is constructed by many things, ranging from perceptions from others to perception of self, and is constantly changing as life’s complexities increase. Fear, or the distressing feeling of anxiety and angst, is also an unlikely but extremely important component of composition of identity as one gets older, for it is fear that shapes identification and interaction, especially in a group setting. A case where this is apparent is within Predominantly White Institutions, or PWIs, and