Quick question: Is sense of self an illusion?

[kurupted_flesh]

Empty your mind; What defines you?

Give me something tangible.



...best answer wins a prize.

[scatlond]

All i have to declare is my genius.

[kurupted_flesh]

All i have to declare is my genius.

Can you freestyle rap?

That to me is a true test of right-brain genius.

[hepcatdsm]

Quick question: Is sense of self an illusion?

Empty your mind; What defines you?

Give me something tangible.


Is sense of self an illusion?:

Senses are the physiological methods of perception

Perception is the process of attaining awareness (or understanding of sensory information)

Awareness is a term referring to the ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or patterns, which does not necessarily imply understanding.

Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object.

A concept is a cognitive unit of meaning

The nature of meaning, its definition, elements, and types, was discussed by Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. According to them 'meaning' is a relationship between two sorts of things: signs and the kinds of things they mean (intend, express or signify). Some have argued that meanings are ideas, where the term "ideas" is used to refer to either mental representations, or to mental activity in general.


A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process for how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about their own acts and their consequences. Our mental models help shape our behaviour and define our approach to solving problems and carrying out tasks.

so let met draw the diagram:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> Senses(physiological) -> Awareness/Understanding(Psychological) -> Concepts(Cognitive) -> Meaning(...?) -> Mental Model(...?)

now let me draw the conclusion by simplifying the loop:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> You, told that your sensing something physical/real (You not being physical/real) -> Results in the interactions of an avatar of a user in a video game environment, where the user is not physically/really in the game, but the reactions to the game's environment are physical/real inputs (relative to the game) perceived by the avatar.

From our point of view of video games...Yes it is an illusion

(edit: all above definitions are from Wikipedia)

[size_of_light]

Empty your mind; What defines you?

Give me something tangible.



...best answer wins a prize.

It's impossible to empty my mind and then find anything tangible left over to give you.

What do I win?

[demise_of_time]

Is sense of self an illusion?:

Senses are the physiological methods of perception

Perception is the process of attaining awareness (or understanding of sensory information)

Awareness is a term referring to the ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or patterns, which does not necessarily imply understanding.

Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object.

A concept is a cognitive unit of meaning

The nature of meaning, its definition, elements, and types, was discussed by Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. According to them 'meaning' is a relationship between two sorts of things: signs and the kinds of things they mean (intend, express or signify). Some have argued that meanings are ideas, where the term "ideas" is used to refer to either mental representations, or to mental activity in general.


A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process for how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about their own acts and their consequences. Our mental models help shape our behaviour and define our approach to solving problems and carrying out tasks.

so let met draw the diagram:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> Senses(physiological) -> Awareness/Understanding(Psychological) -> Concepts(Cognitive) -> Meaning(...?) -> Mental Model(...?)

now let me draw the conclusion by simplifying the loop:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> You, told that your sensing something physical/real (You not being physical/real) -> Results in the interactions of an avatar of a user in a video game environment, where the user is not physically/really in the game, but the reactions to the game's environment are physical/real inputs (relative to the game) perceived by the avatar.

From our point of view of video games...Yes it is an illusion

(edit: all above definitions are from Wikipedia)

Superb post :)

[size_of_light]

Is sense of self an illusion?:

Senses are the physiological methods of perception

Perception is the process of attaining awareness (or understanding of sensory information)

Awareness is a term referring to the ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or patterns, which does not necessarily imply understanding.

Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object.

A concept is a cognitive unit of meaning

The nature of meaning, its definition, elements, and types, was discussed by Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas. According to them 'meaning' is a relationship between two sorts of things: signs and the kinds of things they mean (intend, express or signify). Some have argued that meanings are ideas, where the term "ideas" is used to refer to either mental representations, or to mental activity in general.


A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process for how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about their own acts and their consequences. Our mental models help shape our behaviour and define our approach to solving problems and carrying out tasks.

so let met draw the diagram:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> Senses(physiological) -> Awareness/Understanding(Psychological) -> Concepts(Cognitive) -> Meaning(...?) -> Mental Model(...?)

now let me draw the conclusion by simplifying the loop:

Exterior Input(physical/real) -> You, told that your sensing something physical/real (You not being physical/real) -> Results in the interactions of an avatar of a user in a video game environment, where the user is not physically/really in the game, but the reactions to the game's environment are physical/real inputs (relative to the game) perceived by the avatar.

From our point of view of video games...Yes it is an illusion

(edit: all above definitions are from Wikipedia)

That's a relief!

Because it gives me the freedom to speak my mind without insulting you as the author:

What a complete crock of shit!!!!!!!

[themime]

Owing to crippling laziness I'll just copy and paste what I put on one of the other threads on this subject.


The physical exists, however reality is a bit trickier to pin down.

The "human" is a collection of overlapping lenses through which the observer (the mind/soul) views it's surroundings. Each lens correlates to a learnt or genetic coded function of the brain such as memory.

As we process the things that our senses witness the info passes through each of these lenses and is disguarded or allowed to proceed to the next lens in the stack.

This serves a dual function, as it allows us to make sense of the world while at the same time freeing us from not having to re-learn functions with each passing moment.

The "illusion" comes when we believe ourself to be a "personality" instead of the outcome of this filtration.

However this lack of this individual does not negate the soul for the following reason.

As the mind/soul observes its surroundings this very act creates reality and so we as the observer create reality on a Quantum level, further fuelling creation.

Thereby making us part of creation and not simply passive observers.

Now all you have to do is figure out who was the first observer.