What is the ’self’?
William James said this:
In its widest possible sense, however, a man’s Self is the sum total of all that he CAN call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bank-account. All these things give him the same emotions. If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant; if they dwindle and die away, he feels cast down.
I’ve thought about this subject for a long time, and I think this might be the best definition for ’self’.
At first one may say that the self is the sum total of one’s body parts. But we all know that losing a finger, or toe won’t change who we are.
What do you guys think? Is James’ definition too inclusive?
