Single Idea 3834

[catalogued under 16. Persons / A. Concept of a Person / 3. Persons as Reasoners]

Full Idea

Selfhood in my sense comes for free once you have a conscious intentional being capable of engaging in free actions on the basis of reasons.

Gist of Idea

An intentional, acting, rational being must have a self

Source

John Searle (Rationality in Action [2001], Ch.5.II)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'Rationality in Action' [MIT 2001], p.145


A Reaction

The concept of an 'action' is probably the thing that most clearly needs a self, because it implies co-ordination and purpose, and there must be some item which benefits. Personally I think you can drop 'free actions' and still have a self.