What defines us? How do we know who we are? I need help

[Muira]

Whenever I come across a question on 'Who are you, truly?', I get so confused. Is it my identity? Isn't that just my name? What the hell is a personal identity? Isn't it my skills, is it fixed? Isn't the concept of self just an illusion? I mean how can I understand myself, if there is no constant me?

For example, I usually change my personality dramatically based on if I like the person I talk to. I constantly try to change my way of thinking to get a new perspective. I try to reflect on the future and past, without losing sight of the present moment and objective reality. So, if I constantly change in mind, how can I be defined?

[necrosebud]

There’s a lot of things I don’t know about it but I mean - you as an agent exists in your mind and is “defined” as a singular entity temporally and across different conditions (…which is reflected in your entire post! What you are, we’re, can be, may be - anything… and everything)

beyond that I don’t know if there is a need to strictly “define” a self as what you have is correct it can evolve/change…

and this is putting it somewhat simply

[Muira]

There’s a lot of things I don’t know about it but I mean - you as an agent exists in your mind and is “defined” as a singular entity temporally and across different conditions (…which is reflected in your entire post! What you are, we’re, can be, may be - anything… and everything)

beyond that I don’t know if there is a need to strictly “define” a self as what you have is correct it can evolve/change…

and this is putting it somewhat simply

This still confuses me, I feel like an idiot for not understanding such a simple concept

[godslave]

Sartrean Existentialism 101.

[necrosebud]

This still confuses me, I feel like an idiot for not understanding such a simple concept

It's ok lol you're not an idiot...

take a look at these two concepts:
https://dictionary.apa.org/nominative-self
https://dictionary.apa.org/empirical-self

I think what I was saying was probably closer to the nominative self

[Muira]

It's ok lol you're not an idiot...

take a look at these two concepts:
https://dictionary.apa.org/nominative-self
https://dictionary.apa.org/empirical-self

I think what I was saying was probably closer to the nominative self

Thank you so much! <3

[Distance]

We mirror others and assume those ethics, and an identity forms around cultural feedback, informing roles and values. You become a Roman in Rome. Its heart is your soul, or its soul becomes your heart.

With enough time, you no longer become an accepter, but a controller through a gained competence ala "experience."

You could say we are on puppet strings, and the mannequin is unaware of the invisibility of the free will we assume we have that inhabits us.