Define : self

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Authors
Dyer, Samantha
Piotrowicz, Kelsey
Advisor
Powell, Jason A.
Issue Date
2013-12
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Who are you? The "self" is a philosophical construct that many people do not understand. Often, people use stereotypical markers, such as their name, age, gender, hobbies, religion, etc. However, we determined that these markers were unacceptable components of the self, as these typical markers can be stripped away and are, thus, a representation of the self, not its definition. To replace the current system of defining one's self, we developed a system that explains the self's composition in terms of "qualities," such as humor, bitterness, anger, joy, etc. To determine if people could look at their selves through these terms, we asked our peers to define their selves without the traditional markers. The results were varied, and the question posed great difficulty, as it asked the individual to dig deep within his or her self to find the answers he or she may not have wanted to find. However, through the challenges we created a better understanding of the self emerged.