Personal identity has long been a topic of philosophical discussion and is clearly taking on an increasingly important role in the social sphere. I’m curious how you guys live and understand identity. I’ve thrown in a disparate list of food for thought intuitions that may or may not be useful.
- The minimal set of properties that differentiate me from others.
- An essence, a form, or a soul.
- How I see myself in relation to others. Identity is largely internal but is impacted by how others receive me.
- How others see me. Identity is largely external. What I ‘am’ to others.
- The set of actions I take in the world. The impact I make. The things I create.
- It’s whatever is thinking “me” or “I” at any given moment and there’s no persistent identity over time to unite those instances. It’s fleeting.
Easy! I don’t. I’m just me.
I’m pretty surprised to see others in here answering how I would about the topic.
«Granny Weatherwax looked out at the multi-layered, silvery world.
“Where am I?”
INSIDE THE MIRROR.
“Am I dead?”
THE ANSWER TO THAT, said Death, IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NO AND YES.
Esme turned, and a billion figures turned with her.
“When can I get out?”
WHEN YOU FIND THE ONE THAT’S REAL.
“Is this a trick question?”
NO.
Granny looked down at herself.
“This one,” she said.»
— Terry Pratchett, Witches Abroad
Removed by mod
From what I’ve seen latly “identity” is a tool used by religion, politicians and marketers to feel pert of their in group and soften their critical thinking.
I think that any of these, and probably a dozen others, may be relevant definitions in certain circumstances.
However, for a more general definition, from my own perspective, I would say that identity is the sum of my experiences and the patterns or propensities that i have developed as a result.