Theory of the Self (2380 words)

Throughout the semester, we have looked at various philosophical theories concerning “the self” Although they all grant the existence of something that we could call a self, they do not agree on its mode of existence, substantial, mental, transcendental, social, fictions, concrete while, conceptually constructed, etc.

In this paper, attempt to figure out what you think the self is, or at least may be.
In your discussion you must:
1) Draw on Sarte primarily, using Mead and Dennet/ Velleman
2) Explain clearly their views of the self and its mode of existence (remember they do not necessarily mean the same by the same terms. So, make sure you explain them specifically, not merely mention them.
3) Formulate YOUR OWN THERY. Do not forge to include and explain what characters must be essential to the self and why.
4) Explain how your theory is different from, and/or similar to the theories of the philosophers above.
5) Explain why you endorse what you think (3) rather than some others: Provide reasons to show that the view you hold v is the best possible one as far as you can think of at this point.

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In this brief discussion, I devote much attention to key elements of Sartre’s views of the self and conscious experience. I follow with relatively brief yet vital discussion of Mead’s social-construction view of the self, and conclude this extended presentation of background with broad overviews of Velleman’s and Dennett’s positions on the self. The final section of the paper is devoted to proposing an alternate, competing theory of the self, a view constructed by way of response to critical issues raised in the course of presenting the four philosophers’ positions. As will be seen, my view makes the intuitive inextricability of self from conscious experience determinative, by essentially identifying conscious experience with the self.
Sartre and the streetcar
A central element of Sartre’s conception of the self—or at least of this telling of his account—is his position that there is no ego present to us in consciousness. What is meant by this? He uses everyday examples of conscious experience in order to explain: when I read, I am aware of the book I am holding and seeing, I am aware of the book’s content—its story, its characters—but, according to Sartre, the “I”—my I, the me-I—is not one of those sorts of things of which I am conscious, it is not something which can be a member of such a list or set of the things of which I am aware while reading the book. In particular, I find this set of examples telling: “When I run...