Complexity and the self

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:In this thesis it is argued that the age-old philosophical Problem of theSelf' can benefit by being approached from the perspective of a relativelyrecent science, namely that of Complexity Theory. With this in mind theconceptual features of this theory is highlighted and summarised.Furthermore, the argument is made that the predominantly dualistic approachto the self that is characteristic of the Western Philosophical tradition serves tohinder, rather than edify, our understanding of the phenomenon. The benefitsposed by approaching the self as an emergent property of a complex systemis elaborated upon, principally with the help of work done by Sigmund Freud,Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Paul Cilliers. The aim is to develop amaterialistic conception of the self that is plausible in terms of currentempirical information and resists the temptation see the self as one or othermetaphysical entity within the brain, without reducing the self to a crudematerialism. The final chapter attempts to formulate a possible foil against theaccusation of crude materialism by emphasising that the self is part of agreater system that includes the mental apparatus and its environment(conceived as culture). In accordance with Dawkins's theory the medium ofinteraction in this system is conceived of as memes and the self is thenconceived of as a meme-complex, with culture as a medium for memetransference.The conclusion drawn from this is that the self should be studiedthrough narrative, which provides an approach to the self that is materialwithout being crudely physicalistic.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University