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Single Idea 3293

[from 'Subjective and Objective' by Thomas Nagel, in 16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 4. Presupposition of Self ]

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 Reference

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.