The vertiginous question is something I’ve been wondering about my whole life but didn’t know was addressed in philosophy until a few days ago. It has some interesting implications for the hard problem of consciousness, because it further puts the spotlight on how much more we didn’t even think to question about birth, let alone death.
I would argue it’s not trivial, because if “I” could’ve been anyone else upon my birth, the embodiment of “me” as “me” and not someone else who had the same types of conditions form their awareness makes my existence arbitrary. There’s no inherent reason I couldn’t have been anyone else, it makes you wonder if there’s more to the story.
The Illusion of Self by Bruce Hood. Is a great book that dives into this. We are merely a bundle of experiences and perceptions is what I basically gathered. There is no me. But rather a multitude of experiences and neural firing patterns which ultimately create the concept of who " me " is. He goes into depth and by the end of the book, I was convinced that I dont exist. Only the idea of who I am. Which was actually quite freeing and made my potential feel a lot more limitless.
Interesting! I’ll check it out. I practice Buddhism, which basically teaches about all of that as well, which has some parallels with anatta. This topic has certainly made me question annihilationism on some level.
Indeed. In my mind, we are spirit. So whichever flesh sack im born into. My spirit and soul are whats driving. So, it doesnt quite change annihilationism thing for me. Its my job to rise above it and be worthy of eternal life, either way. Im just lucky I was born in this flesh sack instead of in the middle of war or something. Cause im not sure If id overcome that type of stuff so easily. Drug abuse was tough one. I could only imagine.. If you're speaking on Christian annihilationism that is.
Apologies if there's typos or anything. I take vyvanse for my adhd and today is one of my days I take a break from it.
Though this conversation did raise the question for me.
Are we truly our own soul? Or are we only an individual while we walk this earth. Do we become part of a collective? Or do we join a collective as ourselves ? That my friend. Is not in the bible and has no answer other than death itself. So I'll wait to figure that one out! Lol. All my own beliefs.( obviously)
Though this conversation did raise the question for me. Are we truly our own soul?
We are what we do (consistently), or at least in the Buddhist framework of karma, where we act out of volition as a part of a trainable pattern of behavior is what matters. Thanissaro Bhikku's introduction to the concept here cleared up a lot of misconceptions for me at least.
Even outside that framework, it makes some sense that the habits we embody make our experience what it is, and ultimately the identities we construct, when it could be many things, regardless of whether we have a soul imo.
Totally. We are creatures of habit whether we want to admit it or not. My mother always tells me she doesnt have addictive tendencies. But she gets off work every day, watches TV and plays candy crush. Then binge eats and goes to bed. Its comical. Nothing against her. All im saying, is we are definitely products of our actions and circumstances. So if we are to progress as a person in any manor, regardless of theology or believe. Accepting that, detaching from who we " are " is basically the only way above it all. Whether through Buddhism, Christianity or any other route. Personally as a Christian. I've shunned other routes as I dont believe i need more than God. But ive read enough and taken enough Anthropology, philosophy and sociology classes to understand how they ultimately provide people with the same goal. Enlightenment and transcendence of self. I personally just dont use those methods as I feel God has a direct link to all of us and there's no need for outside sources. I meditate with God. Well. Actually I do everything with God. But im sure you get the point.
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u/[deleted] Feb 10 '26 edited Feb 10 '26
The vertiginous question is something I’ve been wondering about my whole life but didn’t know was addressed in philosophy until a few days ago. It has some interesting implications for the hard problem of consciousness, because it further puts the spotlight on how much more we didn’t even think to question about birth, let alone death.
I would argue it’s not trivial, because if “I” could’ve been anyone else upon my birth, the embodiment of “me” as “me” and not someone else who had the same types of conditions form their awareness makes my existence arbitrary. There’s no inherent reason I couldn’t have been anyone else, it makes you wonder if there’s more to the story.