The Social Self

[Guest guest]

Thanks Pete,

 

And let me add (and I know you don't agree) that consciousness too is

just a social function (and nothing more) needed for communication.

 

The world we share and commune as social selfs is the world of

consciousness.

 

Werner

 

Hi Werner,

 

I'm not so sure we disagree. I would have to ask

you a few questions about consciousness as a

social function. Do you mean that orangutans, and

pandas which are solitary animals lack consciousness?

 

Do you define consciousness as the capacity to act on

the basis of un-programmed information? I say un-programmed

because a thermostat can be made to react to heat,

but do not react to sound, or light, or any other non-thermal

input. So open ended reaction to input could be a proof

of consciousness, is not that so? And nonsocial animals exhibit

such reactions, so what exactly is consciousness to you?

 

Pete

 

 

Nisargadatta , Pedsie2@a... wrote:

> There is no self, but the social self.

> The " I " is just a social instrument, your

> very mind is a social tool. The human

> mind and self are not cosmic, they

> are not even natural. Feral children

> have neither. They have only the

> animal subjectivity of a dog, or a wolf.

>

> Even if you go live as a hermit in a cave,

> you can't leave society behind. As long

> as you have a mind, society will be there.

>

> So be clear about this, when " you " say " I "

> you are only referring to a social construct

> designed mainly for accountability. Existence

> exist, but the " I " is just a conceptual page

> in society's accounting book.

>

> When this is seen the loyalty, the commitment

> to the social persona drops, and a sense of freedom

> of non-existence is there, but that doesn't mean

> the body, the brain, the very mind are not

> real. It only means they are free, not owned by

> an " I. "

>

> Pete

>

>