Self and Reality

Self and Reality

Self and Reality

Philosophy concerns itself with essential questions of life. This paper will address questions like; does a vital organ transplant replace the identity of the original being? Does it make it lesser than what it was previously? In this attempt, however, we must be very modest in our claim. We cannot claim to establish conclusive findings in this area, as that would amount to reaching beyond our call, the realms of philosophy.

Identity and the Self

What really constitutes a human being? Can we speak of the brain as the sole constituent? One thing that has become acceptable so far is the fact that, human beings are composite beings, meaning that they are composed of mind and body.

In addressing the question advanced, that is, after a brain transplant in which Tommy Smith is given the brain of Charles Rangers, would Tommy still retain his old self or would he acquire a new identity, it is important to establish the boundary between the mind and the brain. The advancement of a theory that supports the possibility of a change of identity would be bordering on the doctrine of transmigration of soul. The brain occupies space, and is subject to corruption; the mind is totally opposite. Is it possible to combine two essentially different parts, that is, material and immaterial? Consciousness belongs to the mind (Locke, 1841). Is the mind located in the brain, so that when the brain is replaced even so the mind? When the brain of Charles Rangers is given to Tommy, does he get Rangers' mind as well? When we say that a person is out of his mind, do we mean that he is out of his brains as well? Are the two synonymous? Regarding identity, Locke says that two things must be there; subsistence and participation (Locke, 1841). Thus when we say this is Tommy, we are saying that he subsists as such by participating in the same existence. Here one has to agree with Locke. Charles's body was totally annihilated at the time of the accident, but they succeeded in preserving his brain, thus even though the brain was alive, Charles had already lost his subsistence by virtue of his dysfunctional organs. Tommy on the other hand, has all organs functioning, and the replacement of his brain does not cease his subsistence or participation in the same existence, even though the thought processes may be improved after the operation.

Existentialism is a school of thought upholding the view that we exist first, and then acquire our essences. It holds that the self is formed, and informed by conditions surrounding ones existence. Idealism is a school of thought that holds the view that the self is transcendental and holds ideas as superior to the corporeal. Materialism on the other hand reduces all reality to the empirical. The self in materialism is reduced to particles that combine to form a body. In my view, existentialism is closest to reality because, as Locke stated, and it is obvious to all of us, children are only born with the potential to become. What you become is largely informed by your surrounding. This view forms the basis of psychological studies today.

The problem of identity is by no means a simple one. Philosophers across the world will probably spend years looking at this problem, but as each comes up with new insights, we come close to the truth, which is the primary goal of philosophy. This will have eliminated one of the three traditional problems of philosophy. This however remains a hope, considering the elusive nature of reality.

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