Subjective, objective, subjectivity...
We are all individuals living among other individuals.
We have a subjective identity. This identity has by itself a surface, which is the objective part of ourselves. The surface can be seen by others. This surface can be elaborated in order to give a certain impression to the others.
The objective identity can be different from the subjective one. It can be a mask that is hiding the "real" person behind.
The objective identity can be changed more or less easily by changing style of clothes, home, car and many other things.
The "real" person behind can also change, and should change as a result of systematic study and effort. That is the existential function of being human.
Can we get to know the real person - the dynamic subjective subject - by using hostile means?
These days there are so many ways to get information about people. Video cameras on many places, with face recognition. Everything done on the computer, cell phone, Internet, in e-mail and so on can be observed.
This is hostile. It is distrust from those who happens to have the task of analysing these extreme amounts of material.
But can it disclose truth? If the means used are very damaging and negative, the picture will be of something damaged and negative. This was not there before the investigation. This is not the original truth. It is an effect of the hostility.
Showing posts with label personality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personality. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Self made
As we have no self, we can be self made...
If we had a given self we could not change. As we have no given self we can change. When we have changed we can call this new situation self made - we made it ourselves.
The argument is something like this:
The personality we have now is decided by our body and mind. Mind is most important. It contains our experiences, our knowledge and our hopes for the future.
According to Buddhism there is nothing more. This is different from our spontaneous feeling and from most religions, which claim there is a self or soul which is the supervisor of all we do.
If our personality is nothing more than the effect of our present knowledge we might as well improve our knowledge and thus get a better self.
To change personality is not easy. It is not a superficial thing. But it can be done.
If we had a given self we could not change. As we have no given self we can change. When we have changed we can call this new situation self made - we made it ourselves.
The argument is something like this:
The personality we have now is decided by our body and mind. Mind is most important. It contains our experiences, our knowledge and our hopes for the future.
According to Buddhism there is nothing more. This is different from our spontaneous feeling and from most religions, which claim there is a self or soul which is the supervisor of all we do.
If our personality is nothing more than the effect of our present knowledge we might as well improve our knowledge and thus get a better self.
To change personality is not easy. It is not a superficial thing. But it can be done.
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