I define the "self" as whatever makes you different from anyone else. What makes me different from Jane Doe? I am Me. What is Me? Me is whatever I choose to make it. I believe that any being that can conciously change the way it acts, the way it thinks, the way it functions, has a 'self'. Do animals have a self? Certainly, although perhaps not as advanced as humans. Do plants have a self? Possibly. I suppose you could argue it either way. Do inanimate objects have a self? Probably not, although it's nice to pretend. Would you define computers as animate objects? Or cars? Or are they inanimate as well? Notice how whenever we set up a scenario dealing with non-human objects and the conciousness or self, we always use something man-made and mechanical: cars, computers. Things we interact with. Why don't we use the stapler on our desk?
__________________ The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.
The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.
The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.
Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to. --Chuang Tzu |