Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 12:33:12 -0800 (PST)
From: oconnell-AT-oz.net (Mark O'Connell)
Subject: Re: Warhol/sci-fi/turnips/sybil


>>
>>Why is the multiple identities idea significant? Surely a person can
>>consider different perspectives without referring to multiple identities?
>>


>Mark, how do you differentiate between perspectives and identities here?
>If we have different perspectives at different times contexts etc on who or
>what we are doesn't this suggest multiple identities? If not, then what?
>You state 'consider' but are we always that reflective in our use of
>different perspectives/selves?
>Rachel


I guess I'd say that perspectives are held by identities.
Who's perspective is this?
What person is it identified with?

Perspectives also help define identities.

A person (single identity model, fake passport not included in basic
package)  usually has a perspective, a general view of the world (it's
good, it sucks, it's too expensive, whatever..). I would think of this
view/perspective as part of the person's identity.

>>If we have different perspectives at different times contexts etc on who or
>>what we are doesn't this suggest multiple identities?

If on monday I feel like a total loser and wednesday I'm on top of the
world I would have a different perspective on things each day, determined
by my mood, but it would still be MY mood. I couldn't attribute it to or
blame it on someone else. Also, my moods wouldn't change me fundamentally,
there would be some consistency. It would be apparent that it was me in a
good mood or me in a bad mood and not someone else altogether. If it were
someone else altogether wouldn't I possibly be ill?

(I could imagine a situation though: say one morning I wake up late, step
in cat barf before I get my shoes on, run out of the house without coffee,
find the car broken into, jump on the freeway and get stuck in a major
traffic jam, realize I forgot my cigarettes, go to the trunk, take out an
assault rifle and start randomly/gleefully blasting away at the morons
trapped around me, etc... Well, then the defense would probably argue that
I'd gone mad, and that it wasn't Mark who'd done this evil deed, but Boris,
another person who's been living in Mark's brain for months without even
offering to split the rent. I'd agree with the attorney.)

A person holding one view can, with a little effort, appreciate (at least
to some extent) a view held by another.

>You state 'consider' but are we always that reflective in our use of
>different perspectives/selves?

No, I don't think so. But I don't think it's an issue either.

I think that if you want to describe things in a poetic (for lack of a
better term right at the moment) way that talking about our different
selves and experiences is great. When it's part of a philosophical
statement things change.  I think that philosophy should ideally be
comprehensible (just my point of view, no flames required).

What do you think?

Mark O'Connell
oconnell-AT-oz.net