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<p>Most philosophers who have addressed the topics of personal ontology or personal identity have thought that our existence in and through time is objective, non-relative, invariant, and totally independent of what we take ourselves to be. However, an opposing view is becoming more popular—one whereby what we are in and through time depends on, and is determined by, what we take ourselves to be. This latter view is intriguing, but I will argue that it has a fatal defect—one that applies to <i>any</i> view (whether actual or merely potential) whereby what we are is determined by what we take ourselves to be. This defect has to do with what might constitute a “take” on ourselves. I will argue that there is no way of construing a “take” such that we (either individually or corporately) have a take on what we are that can do the work defenders of any take-dependent view need it to do. Thus, I will conclude that what we are is <i>not</i> determined by what we take ourselves to be. In this sense, we are not self-made.</p>

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We Are Not Self Made

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年4月10日

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  • Matt Duncan

摘要

Most philosophers who have addressed the topics of personal ontology or personal identity have thought that our existence in and through time is objective, non-relative, invariant, and totally independent of what we take ourselves to be. However, an opposing view is becoming more popular—one whereby what we are in and through time depends on, and is determined by, what we take ourselves to be. This latter view is intriguing, but I will argue that it has a fatal defect—one that applies to any view (whether actual or merely potential) whereby what we are is determined by what we take ourselves to be. This defect has to do with what might constitute a “take” on ourselves. I will argue that there is no way of construing a “take” such that we (either individually or corporately) have a take on what we are that can do the work defenders of any take-dependent view need it to do. Thus, I will conclude that what we are is not determined by what we take ourselves to be. In this sense, we are not self-made.