The Self

The self, that existential anchor, which allows us to navigate the shores of the physical and social world around us, with the strong feeling that it is our constant and unchanging companion. Yet some philosophical theories assert that the self is an illusion, as fragile as our perceptions, which are subject to never ending illusions. Others speak of a self that is constantly changing through time, and constantly shaped by our experiences.

Part of this ambiguity is due to the complexity of the self - there are different aspects of the self, or many selves, which, just like Russian dolls, we keep discovering when we dig deeper into oneself.

So let us embark on this exciting existential exploration of our selves with the following questions:

• What does the topic of “the self” evoke for you? What do you connect it with?
• Does the way others perceive you affect your own self-perception?
• Is the self an illusion or real?
• Is there a core layer of the self that defines who we are, and resists to the changes inflicted by the time and our environments?
• Is there just one self?
• Self-knowledge, when the subjects that we are become the object of our own perception. How do we access ourselves? What is self-awareness for you?
• What is the place of the self in our societies? Does the self take too much or too little space nowadays?

Looking forward to meeting you all for an explorative conversation about the self! :)

To build together a fruitful, respectful and inspiring conversation, please be aware of the following ground rules:

• Listen respectfully, without interrupting.
• Listen actively and with an ear to understanding others' views.
• Comment on ideas, not individuals.
• Commit to learning, not debating. Comment in order to share information, not to persuade.
• Avoid blame, speculation, and inflammatory language.
• Allow everyone the chance to speak.
• Avoid no-shows to be fair towards the participants in the waitlist and the organizer.
• Avoid showing up to the event if you are not part of the attendees list to be fair towards the waitlist members and the organizer.
• Be mindful and present during the discussion and avoid being on your phone - after all, it's the beauty of a face-to-face social interaction.