more from Bertrand Russell

Single Idea 5381

[catalogued under 16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 6. Self as Higher Awareness]

Full Idea

When I see the sun, it does not seem necessary to suppose that we are acquainted with a more or less permanent person, but we must be acquainted with that thing which sees the sun and has acquaintance with sense-data.

Gist of Idea

In seeing the sun, we are acquainted with our self, but not as a permanent person

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 5)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.28


A Reaction

I think this is exactly right. I personally believe that I have a very clear personal identity as I write this, but I do not believe that there is a strict identity with the person who wrote similar comments three years ago. So how do I change 'my' mind?

Related Idea

Idea 22019 Consciousness of an object always entails awareness of the self [Fichte]