P&C review La Chouffe, a strong Belgian Blonde ale, then discuss changing ideas about the self -- what it is, and how we think about it.
In the ancient world, your "self" was more tied to your community and group.
Augustine updated the sense of self as a reflective, moral agent. You don't just think, you think about what you're thinking.
In the Protestant Reformation, the self took center stage. It was all about your own spiritual experience.
Decartes takes a huge step with the mind-body split. There's a "you" that's separate from the body. Our soul is a ghost in the machine of the body.
John Locke introduced the concept of the blank slate. You (or society) can affect who you become. That idea has lost a lot of its lustre as we've realized how much of our self is genetic.
Is the self continuous over time? Is it an internal story: "I'm this kind of person"? Do some people have a stronger sense or perception of self than others do? Or is the self an illusion? Some contemplatives say they can transcend the self.
The modern sense of self puts a huge burden on the individual. Everyone has to define what's good and decide for themselves what gives their life meaning and purpose. Is part of the reason we have so much depression and suicide?
Join us for a deep dive into this fascinating topic.
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