The sense that we are a unified, consistent 'self' seems to be fundamental to our experience of the world. But all of the varied aspects of being oneself can be understood as forms of perception, writes Anil Seth.
I wake up, open my eyes, and a world appears. It is a familiar world – more so than usual in these days of semi-lockdown – but even more familiar is the experience of ‘self’ – of being me – that glides into consciousness at more-or-less the same time. This experience of selfhood is so mundane that its appearance goes by entirely unnoticed, unless actively paid attention to. We take our selves for granted, but we shouldn’t.
Join the conversation