Hume believes that the “self” is an illusion and fiction. He has stated that “I may venture to affirm of the rest of mankind, that they are nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity, and are in a perpetual flux and movement.”. He is saying, he believes that the idea of self is not true and it’s something that we create and only we can decide who and what we become.
Hume uses an analogy, “The mind is a kind of theater”. In other words, I believe that Hume is trying to say our minds take all these images and there’s so much going on that the mind can’t tell what’s real. Theaters are meant for plays and movies but we are taking them as real but in reality they are not real at all also comparing this to the mind and perception. Therefore, Hume is explaining how our minds can take untrue thoughts and leads us to false perceptions about ourselves and others.
For Hume’s argument about self, I believe and agree with him. I agree on how we can create this false idea of self and who we are and who want to be. However, when he states that everyone is a collection of perceptions throughout their lives, it is true. But this is what creates a self identity and who we are. Everything we go through and the personal experiences, is what creates the type of person we become and are the outcomes of those things. Without our own “collection of perceptions” we believe that we are dead, not living, feel, we also believe it’s a perception of ourselves and can’t tell what we want.
Hume states that we basically cannot rely on our mind because they create false opinions about ourselves. However, Hume later explains how we cannot live without our perceptions and relying on them. But our minds are something we use to make opinions and think and use our minds to figure stuff out.
I agree on the part that we do need our senses, even though past philosophers have stated how they are deceiving, we still use them and need them everyday. Then I agree with Hume. Our senses are something we need to use and help us get through life.
WC:387
Walking and talking 