The society of selves.
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences April 1, 2007 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2006.2007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humans Intelligence Self concept Interpersonal relations Consciousness Biological evolution |
| Key points | Argues that the privacy of consciousness, or psychic opacity, has an evolutionary history and possibly an evolutionary function, and that while mind-reading and psychic transparency matter to humans, the consequences and possible benefits of being ultimately psychically opaque deserve consideration. |
Abstract
Human beings are not only the most sociable animals on Earth, but also the only animals that have to ponder the separateness that comes with having a conscious self. The philosophical problem of 'other minds' nags away at people's sense of who--and why--they are. But the privacy of consciousness has an evolutionary history--and maybe even an evolutionary function. While recognizing the importance to humans of mind-reading and psychic transparency, we should consider the consequences and possible benefits of being--ultimately--psychically opaque.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Phenomenal consciousness: its scope and limits. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences November 13, 2025
- Between brains, bodies and things: tectonoetic awareness and the extended self. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences June 1, 2008