Philosopher's Hat Club - The Porosity of the Self

# The Porosity of the Self

# #Self #Personhood #Identity #Husserl #Phenomenology

“Tell me about yourself” is a question that’s easy to ask yet difficult to answer. We often respond with our job, our hometown, or even our personality type — but it’s not always clear what we’re really being asked to describe. The idea of the porosity of the self invites us to question whether there can be a single, settled answer at all.

In this session, together with our special guest, dr Nanni (UCD), we’ll explore ways of thinking about the self as both individual and social, enduring yet open to change, and always in relation to others.Drawing on Husserl’s philosophy of self and personhood, we'll reflect on how we understand ourselves.

Our special guest
Dr. Laura Jane Nanni holds a PhD in philosophy from UCD where she is a postdoctoral researcher and associate staff member of the Centre for Ethics in Public Life. Here she specialises in classical, critical and applied phenomenology with a specific research focus on the concept of self and personhood in both maternity care and mental health. She contributes to the Maternal Care research group in the UCD school of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems. She also works as a Philosophy for Children facilitator in primary schools in Dublin, and contributes to the “Thinking Changes” project funded by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs of peace and reconciliation in association with Queens University in Belfast. Dr. Nanni has recently published a book entitled “The porosity of the self: Husserl’s philosophy of self and personhood” with Roman and Littlefield, January 2025.

The Philosopher’s Hat Club invites you to don your thinking cap and join a fun, facilitated online conversation about our world and interesting ideas. We meet monthly to make philosophy accessible and engaging — no prior knowledge is needed, just curiosity!

Membership gives free access to all online events. Sign up with a free trial and learn more about us at Creative Together.

About Us
The Club is run by Lukasz Krzywon (Creative Together) and Brid Conroy (Tertulia Bookshop Like No Other), both passionate about making philosophy accessible to all. This initiative was created thanks to the support of the Spot Lit EU and the Western Development Commission.
Event Info
The event is on Zoom. Please ensure you have a working camera, microphone, and internet connection. Adults 16+ welcome!

#### Code of conduct

• We are all co-creating a safe space for thinking together on interesting topics.
• Participation is voluntary.
• Our meetings are not debates. We are not here to win in the discussion but to enjoy it.
• Our meetings are not opinion forums. Support your claims with arguments that can be challenged by anyone in the group.
• Respect all participants. Listen attentively. Speak respectfully.
• Try to be concise and to the point. Make space for others.
• No verbal or written (chat) abuse will be tolerated.
• If anyone breaks the rules, the facilitators hold the right to block the person or ask the person to leave the meeting.