The Illusion of Self

Hume's Concept of the Self

• The self is not a fixed entity but is instead composed of a bundle of perceptions and experiences.
• Hume argues that there is no singular, unchanging self; our identity is simply a series of connected moments of experience.

Impressions and Ideas

• Impressions are the raw data of experience, more vivid and forceful than thoughts or ideas.
• Ideas are the faint images of impressions in thought, less forceful and become meaningful through association.

Nature of Identity

• Hume contends that personal identity is not consistent over time, as we continuously change through different experiences.
• The core of our thoughts is formed by our sensory impressions, emphasizing that all our thoughts originate from experiences.

Beliefs on the Self

• Hume posits that the self is based on feelings and sensations rather than a persistent identity.
• The concept 'feeling mo lang' reflects Hume's emphasis on emotions and perceptions as the foundation of understanding selfhood.

Counterarguments and Justifications

• He counters the notion of a stable, enduring self found in traditional theories of personal identity, such as those proposed by Descartes.
• Hume argues we cannot justify claims of being the same person over time since our perceptions are always changing and evolving.