This Is an Exercise in Experimental Philosophy

question 38

Essay

This is an exercise in experimental philosophy. Interview five to seven people, asking them (a)to list five or more qualities essential or significant for who they are as selves. (If they need help, you can give them a starter list that includes sex, race, body type, job, etc.)  Then create a sheet with short statements that present clearly and simply the major views on self in this chapter (e.g., self as body, self as consciousness, self as social, etc.). (b)Ask your interviewees to rank the viewpoints in terms of which they find most and least believable. (c)Ask them to briefly explain their rankings. Make sure you record the results of your interviews. How do the results from (a), (b)and (c)match up? Are the qualities thought to be essential to oneself (a)what one would expect in light of the answers to (b)and (c)?   Feel free to change these questions and/or to add additional questions. Write up your results and look for emerging patterns and interesting differences among the viewpoints of your interviewees.   What did you learn about how people "on the street" conceive of the self? How is this different from or similar to the way philosophers have thought about the self?

Realize the significance of conscientiousness in achieving work commitments and responsibilities.

Appreciate the impact of extraverion and introversion on leadership and team dynamics.

Understand the concept of Machiavellianism and its implications on personality and behavior.

Identify characteristics and behaviors associated with authoritarian personalities.

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Definitions:

Intrafamilial

Pertaining to or occurring within a family.

Intrapsychic

Pertaining to processes within an individual's mind or self.

Locus of Control

A psychological concept that refers to the extent to which individuals believe they have control over the events that affect their lives.

Locus of Responsibility

Refers to the perception of where responsibility lies, whether within oneself or externally, for one's actions or life circumstances.