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Single Idea 3826

[filed under theme 16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 1. Self and Consciousness ]

Full Idea

The first condition on the self is that it should be capable of consciousness.

Gist of Idea

A self must at least be capable of consciousness

Source

John Searle (Rationality in Action [2001], Ch.3.IX)

Book Ref

Searle,John R.: 'Rationality in Action' [MIT 2001], p.93

A Reaction

This strikes me as a stipulative definition. It raises the question of whether it is possible that a lizard (say) is not actually conscious, but has some sort of propriotreptic awareness, and a 'central controller' for its decision-making.

The 7 ideas with the same theme [possibility that only conscious beings could have a Self]:

1372 Our personal identity must depend on something we are aware of, namely consciousness [Locke]
1378 My little finger is part of me if I am conscious of it [Locke]
22865 Habits constitute the self [Dewey]
5664 Consciousness must involve a subject, and only bodies identify subjects [Ayer]
3826 A self must at least be capable of consciousness [Searle]
3829 Selfs are conscious, enduring, reasonable, active, free, and responsible [Searle]
6381 The mind and the self are one, and the mind-self is a biological phenomenon [Polger]