A History of the Self

Description

Over time and culture, the notion of a person has changed. Here are some views derived from work by Mauss (1938).

The mythic part

Primitive tribes and clans live within a mythological frame, where people take parts within larger stories, acting out the parts of preconceived characters. Complex rules, ceremonies, dances and rituals have a powerful effect on the sense of who you are and, significantly, your position in the grand order of things.

The Latin persona

The persona of the Latins is an independent role, defined by their type, character and personality. The person in this role is anchored less by a containing story but is still constrained by the expectations of the role. They wear the masks of their role and play the part, but the story is less grand and more variable.

Original Latin masks include those of tragedy, ritual and ancestry. 'Persona' comes from 'per sonare', 'speaking through' the mask.

The moral person

The Stoics and Romans developed the notion of the person behind the persona, with volition that leads to the mask matching the underlying person.

Christianity developed the idea of moral obligation of the person and this was encased in law, including for non-individual institutions, corporations, etc.

The psychological person

Eventually the sciences took up the baton of examining the person, from biology to psychology and philosophy. And we are still looking, examining, dividing, wondering, ...

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A History of the Self

Description

The mythic part

The Latin persona

The moral person

The psychological person

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