Self (philosophy)

In philosophy, "self" refers to the subject of experience and agency—the I that thinks, feels, and acts. Yet what constitutes this self remains deeply contested: Is it a unified, unchanging essence, or a fluid process? Is it material, mental, or neither?

The question spans metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical dimensions. Western traditions have posited everything from Descartes' thinking substance to Hume's bundle of perceptions. Eastern philosophies like Buddhism challenge the notion of a permanent self altogether, proposing instead a constantly shifting phenomenon (Anatta). Modern psychology and neuroscience investigate whether the self emerges from physical brain processes or remains irreducible.

The problem deepens when we ask: What makes me me over time, despite physical and mental change? How does the self relate to consciousness, memory, and free will? Can there be multiple selves within one body?

These questions matter practically too—they shape how we approach ethics, law, and personal identity.

Related

Consciousness, Phenomenology, Mind-Body Problem, Dualism, Materialism, Personal Identity, Buddhist Philosophy