Is the Self A Process or A Structure? (mysticism, convention)

[Sunstone]

Is the self a process or a structure?

[eudaimonia]

Can't it be both? Can't a process have a dynamic structure?

I'd say it is a process, however, but it is a human process. IOW, the self of a human is not the same as the self of another creature, let's say a dolphin, and so these entities have a strong tendency to follow different principles of change, and therefore have identifiably different dynamic selves. There may be similarities, of course, (e.g. the high intelligence of dolphins), but consider that dolphin psychology and human psychology are likely to have significant differences.


eudaimonia,

Mark

[Paladin]

A very open question, I suppose it depends on the context in which it is asked. From a conventional perspective Mark's answer certainly makes sense. But since we are in the Mysticism forum and since you used the term self instead of Self I would say that it is indeed a structure and a limiting one at that. If we were to discuss the Self, then perphaps process would be close, but not entirely an apt description of something which by its very nature eludes definition.

Peace
Mark

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Paladin

A very open question, I suppose it depends on the context in which it is asked. From a conventional perspective Mark's answer certainly makes sense. But since we are in the Mysticism forum and since you used the term self instead of Self I would say that it is indeed a structure and a limiting one at that. If we were to discuss the Self, then perphaps process would be close, but not entirely an apt description of something which by its very nature eludes definition.

Peace
Mark

That's a very interesting basis for distinquishing between self and Self. I never thought of considering one a structure and the other a process before.