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A Philosophy of Person and IdentityThe Gradual Origin of Self-Consciousness

A Philosophy of Person and Identity: The Gradual Origin of Self-Consciousness [It is often thought that being able to have I-thoughts is a definition of self-consciousness. But how can a creature develop such thoughts? In this chapter I will first show that using such a language-related definition of self-consciousness leads to a paradox: if that is what self-consciousness is, no one could ever come to be self-conscious. Then I will look at the question whether other animals than human beings have (self-)consciousness. I will sketch an evolutionary account of how living organisms might gradually acquire some form of consciousness and self-consciousness. In its most primitive form, life itself already means that there is a distinction between self and everything else, in that a living organism maintains its own organisation. In further steps towards a full-blown (self-)consciousness, the interplay between perception and movement will be crucial. More complex forms of perception reveal more aspects of the external world, but they are always already accompanied by an awareness of where the organism itself is, and what it can do in its surroundings. Thus, consciousness, as literally a point of view, is always at the same time self-consciousness. Consciousness and self-consciousness have developed gradually, and always hand in hand.] http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png

A Philosophy of Person and IdentityThe Gradual Origin of Self-Consciousness

Part of the Studies in Brain and Mind Book Series (volume 21)
Meijsing, Monica
A Philosophy of Person and Identity — Aug 5, 2022
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References (1)

  • A Arluke (1990)

    13

    Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 13

Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Copyright
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. Translation from the Dutch language edition: “Waar was ik toen ik er niet was? Een filosofie van persoon en identiteit” by Monica Meijsing, © 2018. Published by Uitgeverij Vantilt. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN
978-3-031-09523-8
Pages
133 –147
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-09524-5_8
Publisher site
See Chapter on Publisher Site

Abstract

[It is often thought that being able to have I-thoughts is a definition of self-consciousness. But how can a creature develop such thoughts? In this chapter I will first show that using such a language-related definition of self-consciousness leads to a paradox: if that is what self-consciousness is, no one could ever come to be self-conscious. Then I will look at the question whether other animals than human beings have (self-)consciousness. I will sketch an evolutionary account of how living organisms might gradually acquire some form of consciousness and self-consciousness. In its most primitive form, life itself already means that there is a distinction between self and everything else, in that a living organism maintains its own organisation. In further steps towards a full-blown (self-)consciousness, the interplay between perception and movement will be crucial. More complex forms of perception reveal more aspects of the external world, but they are always already accompanied by an awareness of where the organism itself is, and what it can do in its surroundings. Thus, consciousness, as literally a point of view, is always at the same time self-consciousness. Consciousness and self-consciousness have developed gradually, and always hand in hand.]

Published: Aug 5, 2022

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