This guide is a non-serious attempt at identifying core elements of the human self via comparison of hypothetical self-aware beings.
Category: Articles
These articles aim to analyze the themes found in The Minutiae. Analysis will cover topic relevancy, history of thought, and prescription for the future.
IA And The Self
This article examines current theories of intelligence, consciousness, and the self and how they map on our understanding of AI.
Justice
When assessing guilt or judging actions, our intuitive understanding of the self plays a major role in our decisions. As an illustration, let’s use the example of a man who has murdered his wife and two young kids. We’ll pretend you are a judge. The man in question plead guilty. All you have to do is decide his sentencing. Here are three different versions of the man and testimony, how would you sentence each version?
Soul, Mind, Body, Illusion
Individuals universally sense a “self,” whether conceived spiritually as a soul, philosophically as the mind’s narrative, or scientifically as the brain’s construct. The self can be eternal or an illusion of continuous change. This article explores these perspectives, highlighting the ongoing debate and encouraging a constructivist approach to understanding the multifaceted nature of the self.
Thought Experiments
This is a series of thought experiments intended to challenge your assumptions about who you are. There are no right or wrong answers, these experiments only serve to expand your perceptions. If you take them in good faith, they may add a layer of complexity to how you see the world and yourself.
Relevance
Knowing who you are and understanding what makes you yourself is critical to making life decisions, forming an identity, and maintaining general wellbeing. In the same way, self knowledge is important to the individual, it is important to the greater society.