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Full Idea
The metaphysical ego, if it is a continuing individual with its identity over time, is just one more thing about which the same problem can be raised - will that ego still be me?
Gist of Idea
If you assert that we have an ego, you can still ask if that future ego will be me
Source
Thomas Nagel (Subjective and Objective [1979], p.200)
Book Ref
Nagel,Thomas: 'Mortal Questions' [CUP 1981], p.200
A Reaction
You can worry too much about some philosophical questions. If it is me now, and it has continuing individual identity over time, I'm not going to lose sleep over the possibility that it might nevertheless somehow cease to be me. I'm overrated.
3292 | The most difficult problem of free will is saying what the problem is [Nagel] |
3293 | If you assert that we have an ego, you can still ask if that future ego will be me [Nagel] |
3294 | As far as possible we should become instruments to realise what is best from an eternal point of view [Nagel] |
3295 | Inner v outer brings astonishment that we are a particular person [Nagel] |
3296 | Sense-data are a false objectification of what is essentially subjective [Nagel] |