Re: virus: "the self"

Mark Hornberger (markhornberger@nietzsche.net)
Fri, 25 Apr 1997 14:39:49 -0500

If someone popped you in the nose, and you said "Hey, that hurt!"... would
it be a viable response for them to say "But there is no *you*, per se, as
a separate entity." Asking whether or not the self exists is a semantic
game, and (IMHO) little else. I have a corporate body, a mind,
consciousness, whatever, a collection of traits that together I call my
"self." While it may be true that my understanding of what my existence
implies or necessitates is less than I would like it to be, this limitation
has no bearing on my a priori existence.

(And by a priori I mean that even if I were in an auto accident and came
out a catatonic veggie, devoid of discernable consciousness or awareness, I
would still exist. If you doubt this assertion, query nurses on a
total-care floor whether or not their invalid patients exist. Wiping
someone's butt tends to dispel any suspicions that the butt's owner is
nonexistent.)

thanks

Mark Hornberger

At 10:25 AM 4/25/97 CT, you wrote:
>What is "the self"?
>
>Corey A. Cook
>cookcore@esuvm.emporia.edu
>
>****************************
>* Sometimes, you're right. *
>* Sometimes, you're wrong. *
>* I am always right. *
>****************************
>
>