Have you ever noticed how much the person you are is shaped by the people around you? How your personality changes from situation to situation? Especially when you are in love with someone, you tend to show more of the aspects you know the other person appreciates in you. But also friends and groups we want to be part of influence which attitudes and worldviews we hold. And in the end, are we not all largely determined by our past experiences, our childhood and how we were raised? To what extent would you be the same person, if you had grown up in a totally different environment?
And so the question arises, if there is actually a Self, independent of our social surroundings. Maybe it is just an illusion that we have an actual Self, distinct from others. We all influence each other and in this way somehow psychologically intermix our individual selves. Often we aim to get rid of external influences and try to find our true Self. But maybe the right question to ask is not who we actually are, but who we want to be?
Nice essay... so when someone says "he is not his true self"... then who is he and who is doing the judging of trueness? How many selfs are inside? Do they talk to each other? When someone says "I am not my self until I have a cup of coffee." What does this mean? Who IS this coffeeless person? Actors with different masks to wear in different situations. Recommend Bruce Hood "The Self Illusion"
By the way my favorite quote from Bruce Hood is "we are not who we think we are. We are not who others think we are. We are what we think other people think we are."
Nice topic @Wasp98 and interesting quote @Byron. I'd be surprised if most haven't taken note of this social dynamic that plays out. Between people, situations, even just sitting alone and thinking you could discover a range of actions, thoughts, feelings, etc. "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am.) -Descartes.
Eckhart Tolle is your man for this subject!
@Byron very interesting questions!