The Self
SpringerBriefs in philosophy January 1, 2026 Dean Rickles
Chapter 6 examines the elusive notion of the self, central to philosophy, spirituality, and psychedelic experience. It describes historical uses of psychoactive substances in rituals such as the Eleusinian Mysteries and Indian soma ceremonies, linking them to processes of self-actualization and individuation. The chapter surveys classical philosophical positions on the nature of self—from the idea of a unified soul to bundle theories and modern neuroscientific models—and emphasizes the paradox of self-knowledge: a self attempting to know itself is akin to an eye trying to see itself directly.