Kagaku tetsugaku
Online ISSN : 1883-6461
Print ISSN : 0289-3428
ISSN-L : 0289-3428
Self-Reflectivity and the Ability to Respond
Takeshi Ohba
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2000 Volume 33 Issue 1 Pages 1-16

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Abstract

According to a prevailing view, a self is reflective solely by virtue of the self-referential nature of a human mind. Relationship with fellow beings, according to this view, concerns merely a contingent matter of psychological developments, and has conceptually nothing to do with the self-reflectivity. This view, however, seems to me totally wrong. To be sure, both 'self-locating' information processing and 'other-oriented' information processing may be necessary and sufficient for purposeful movements and social transactions. But selfhood requires an ability to entertain an "I"-thought. To have this ability is manifested by being able to identify an image in a mirror as one's own image though no one can see one's own face. This sort of self-identification requires in turn the mastery of the concept of 'being seen by' fellow beings.

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