Theory of Self Kant vs Hume Essay - 1975 Words

The concept of the ‘self’ is regarded as an â€Å"entity which persists through time and change† (Grayling, pg. 540), in spite of other variations, albeit unnecessary ones, that occur in a person. Ones self is alleged to be the backbone of â€Å"thinking, perceiving, memory, and the like – the ultimate ‘bearers’ of our psychological properties.† (Grayling, pg. 540) The idea of ‘self’ is a topic of important philosophical debate, and one which Kant and Hume dexterously engage themselves in. This essay will begin by outlining Hume’s philosophical approach and his theory of self. Following that Kant’s theory of self will be looked at. Hume held the belief that all the contents of the human mind were derived through experience only. He divided the†¦show more content†¦That is to say one’s impressions are continuously fluctuating each moment of the day, from pleasure to pain, â€Å"For my part, when I enter most intimately into what I call my self, I always stumble on some particular perception or other, of heat or cold, light or shade, love or hatred, pain or pleasure, color or sound.† (Hume, pg. 145) Therefore, according to Hume, if the concept of ‘self’ is dependent on a constant, everlasting impression, but there is not a single impression that does persevere over the course of one’s life, there can then be no true idea of self â€Å"...I never catch my self, distinct from some such perception.† (Hume, pg. 145) Fundamentally from this argument, what Hume is stating is that there is not a persevering single thing that one can feasibly claim to be a ‘self’. Hume argues that people are basically an assortment of various perceptions, with each moment bearing a new experience and sensation. Hume actually uses the analogy of the mind as a manner of theatre in which â€Å"†¦several perceptions successively make their appearance; pass, re-pass, glide away, and mingle in an infinite variety of postures and situations.†(Hume, pg. 145) Essentially Hume believes that the ‘self’ only consists of this, one perception followed by another. Hume explains his theory of self, which is referred to as Bundle theory, by asserting that people are confusing the concepts of identityShow MoreRelatedMedia s Influence On The Perception Of Beauty1389 Words   |  6 Pagesthings. One could easily relate this debate to nature vs. nurture. Is it biology or environment? Of course, it is both. Humans are not just made up of DNA. We are moral and cultural creatures. Discussing the primacy of such factors keeps the debate alive. In defining beauty, scholars have a divide between the objective and subjective. Is beauty attributed to individuals or is beauty simply an objective feature of existing beautiful things? Kant (1951) said that the nature of judgment and taste leadsRead MoreAnalysis Of David Hume s Theory Of Justice2868 Words   |  12 Pagesunderstand and try to incorporate in our day to day activities. Yet when we look at the application of ethics, we see that it is the interpretation that causes so many problems. Let us look at a seemingly simple concept: Property ownership. David Hume defined property as nothing but a stable possession under the mutually respected understanding of society. Basically, Man creates society to enforce justice which allows man to own and use property as he desires. A grand idea but is it so simple? IfRead MoreThe Republicn and a Brief History of Philosphy1763 Words   |  7 Pagesreasons, we may call the rational principle of the soul, the other†¦ may be termed the irrational or appetitive† and then there is the spirit (Plato 130). 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