The evidence of "the I"?

[Edwardo Piet]

I was thinking, I don't really believe the "I" exists.

That sentence alone is so contradictory it boggles the mind.

Not really. I explained I think, that obviously we need to use the word 'I' in general conversion otherwise we can't understand each other very well!

]Why? If you think the terminology is wrong why use it? You are only confusing yourself that way and therefore others.

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Just because I don't know how to NOT use it? How can I talk about "The I" without also using the word "I" when I'm reffering to myself? It's only because I don't know an alternative way.

I know its confusing, but that's the point. I think the whole concept of "the I" atogether can be very confusing, if you think about it.

But what I mean is - I believe I exist of course, in a general sense. What I am saying is which part of me am I refering to when I say "I"?

Does it matter? "I" is your identity, no more no less, who cares where I is? It is scattered in the brain and can get damaged so we know it's there somewhere. The precise locations in the brain I will leave to the neurophycists to find since that is their job. Once they find it I would say, "ow, that's interesting" and go on with my life.

Well because believing that "I" is a constant thing makes you less aware of the fact that it's not. Understanding that it changes and isn't the same one moment from the next, and believing that, can be very confusing and hard to escape sometimes in my experience.

I catch myself not being able to do what I'm not thinking. I'm not in control of my own thoughts because I have to control thoughts with thoughts! When you're aware of it all the time, I see there is no constant "you", its like you're not captain of your own brain anymore. It steers you. And Which part of it is you?

You think thoughts. You either agree with them or you think of another thought that disagrees with them and you do that instead, and agree with that.

And this "YOU" is just another thought that you can't control.

If the "I" is the current conscious domiment thought at the time for example, and it can only be understood and controled through other thoughts - then you can't control it because you can't control these other thoughts either!

How do you control thought with thought? This "I" is not a constant thing you have control over I think, but something that just morphs and bounces about and can only be controlled by another thought that morphs and bounces about - that you also can't control. Because this "YOU" is also another thought you can't control.

How exactly can you control thought with thought when that thought also needs to be controlled with thought? The dominant thought is on autopilot I think. But it only doesn't seem that way when you are not aware of it, and when you get used to thinking their is a constistent constant "I", that is "you".

We change through time. What we are reffering to when we say "I" one moment may have actually changed slightly the next. And yes, as Dawkins was quoting about cells coming and going together.

Sound a lot like mental masturbation to me, completely irrelevant. It's the ship of theseus paradox which has no practical application.

Well if your "I" just changes and morphs and there is no constant and consistent "you", then how can you deliberately choose to practically apply anything unless one of your "I"s makes "you" ( which is another one of your "I"s, i.e; thoughts").

When we SAY "I" existed five years ago then what I we talking about?

The same I as we do now, provided you didn't receive a blow to the head that might alter your personality.

But this "I that I am reffing to now in this sentance; is the "I", the thought, that represents the self-image (mental and physical) that I am reffering to now that I think of as "me".

But it changes all the time. The thought and self-image that "I" think of as "Me" changes over time.

So know I do not think it takes a head injury. I think what you think of as "Me", as "the I" - your self-image in other words I guess - changes all the time.

And since it is made up of thoughts, particularly the dominent most conscious ones, I think that every thought is kind of a new "I" that changes or at least helps to build up your ever changing self image that you think of as THE "I".

EvF