The Self

S Y N O P S I S

With simple and direct language that reconciles traditional metaphysics and computation, this work contains an ambitious philosophical investigation that presents a novel and feasible explanation for the mind-body connection and personal identity, culminating in a radical and totally unified vision of reality.

In it, the author presents something with the potential to be the essence of the Self (or soul) and, furthermore, describes in detail how and why this could generate all the capacities of the Self, from the physical to the highest mental ones.

The author’s thesis rests on three pillars. The first concerns the fundamental components and the modus operandi of creation. The second is an architectural characteristic that complicates the perception of it. The third is the sole agent of creation.

Reading this work is recommended for those seeking a holistic and logically grounded understanding of the nature of consciousness and reality.

1. INTRODUCTION

The identification of the Self constitutes one of the greatest challenges to human rationality. The majority of people probably consider this identification to be completely unfeasible. However, this book was written to demonstrate exactly the opposite. The first step to demonstrate this will be taken based on the way of viewing the Self.

The way of viewing the Self can vary greatly. Some people believe the Self is something mysterious or supernatural. Others believe the Self is something natural, but that arises casually. Despite this divergence, most people agree on the following points: a) The difficulty in identifying and explaining what the Self is; b) The certainty of the Self’s existence. To discover the reason for this agreement, it is necessary to analyze each of these points separately.

The main reasons for the difficulty in identifying and explaining what the Self is are the following: 1) The intangibility of the Self, since it is very difficult to identify and explain what cannot be seen or touched; 2) The impossibility of using the sciences for this purpose, as sciences can only be applied to phenomena whose variables or components can be manipulated and measured in controlled environments. These difficulties seem insurmountable, but there is an entirely logical path to circumvent them. This path is, intentionally, the structure of this work.

The conviction in the existence of the Self is based on the perception that the capabilities to want, do, feel, learn, think, etc., can only manifest due to something inherent in human beings. It is worth noting that the French philosopher, physicist, and mathematician, René Descartes, based his famous phrase on this perception: "I think, therefore I am!" Who, in their right mind, can doubt that thinking is one of the main pieces of evidence for the existence of their Self? The relationship between the Self and thinking is a very strong argument in favor of the Self's existence. However, this argument alone is insufficient to enable the identification of the Self. Many other arguments are necessary to substantiate this identification. Furthermore, these arguments can only be considered valid if they proceed from premises that are true. One way to arrive at these premises is by adopting a basic view of the Self, such as the one that will be presented next.

2. THE SELF

Generally, the Self is viewed as a user or a kind of immaterial pilot of the human body. This view of the Self is referred to as spirit by many people. The word “spirit” comes from the Latin "spiritus," which originally meant “breath” or “a blast of air.” It held this meaning because of the belief that life was breathed by God into man’s nostrils. This meaning has not changed much, as the word "spirit" is currently used to reference something non-corporeal that is the principle or essence of life. However, it has received many other meanings. Sometimes, it is used to refer to consciousness, personality, and the set of mental faculties. At other times, it is employed to designate the set of physical laws that support the nervous system. Differences aside, all these meanings are related to something intelligent that is responsible for the individuation and animation of living beings.

Psychology assumes that the Self (or Ego) is the center of personality and the carrier of consciousness. In other words, in psychology, the Self is something endowed with apperception that supports the attributes related to personality. Apperception is the capacity that enables a being to perceive itself. The capacities for apperception and for supporting personality can only manifest in living beings. This conceptualization of the Self is very superficial, but it is sufficient to demonstrate that psychology recognizes both its existence and its relationship with life.

The recognition of the Self's existence and its relationship with life is an undisputed point and very important for the identification of ...