#282 - Do You Really Have a Self?: A Conversation with Jay Garfield (Episode #282)
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Episode Highlights
Interdependence
The concept of dependent origination is central to understanding interdependence in Buddhist philosophy. explains that everything occurs due to a vast network of causes and conditions, emphasizing that nothing exists independently 1. This interconnectedness challenges the notion of a singular self, as argues that our perception of self is a complex of changing phenomena rather than a fixed entity 2.
When we see ourselves as natural organisms enmeshed in a causal nexus with an identity that we constitute, then you begin to see who we are.
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This perspective encourages a shift from viewing the self as an isolated being to recognizing our role within a broader causal framework.
Identity Construction
Identity is not an inherent trait but a construct shaped by social and cognitive processes. uses the example of money to illustrate how identities depend on conceptual frameworks and social agreements 3. He emphasizes that our identities, much like currency, are constructed through interactions and shared understandings, highlighting the role of language and social relations in this process 4.
We are not just great apes who happen to discover that they were persons, but we've constructed ourselves as persons.
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This understanding of identity underscores the importance of recognizing our interdependence with others and the environment in shaping who we are.