2006-08-31 11:09:29 · 15 answers · asked by Cool dude 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I'm sure it doesn't belong in this category, but it's certainly a good question. Actually, there's a whole host of related questions: Why am I, me? Why aren't I someone else? Why wasn't I someone else before? Why won't I be someone else in the future? And finally, why do I happen to be alive now?
I've actually thought about some of these things, and I've concluded that all this involves the sense of identity that each of us has. It's "identity" that makes us who we are. Identity is a sense of self. Where does it come from?
At birth, our parents gave us a name. We didn't choose that name; they gave it to us. In time, we came to identify with that name. The name belongs to us, not to someone else. It becomes part of our identity.
Some of us change our name during the course of life. If it sticks, that name also becomes part of our identity. So name is important to us.
We were raised, and we live, in certain environments. To a certain extent, we have no control over that environment. On the other hand, sometimes we can and do move into different environments. If it was of our choosing, then we exercised some control, but it doesn't always happen that way.
No matter how it comes about, the environment we experience is a part of our identity.
Finally, there is the totality of our life experience. No one else has the experiences we've had. That is also part of our identity.
Everything I've described here is lodged in our brain. It's called memory. So memory and identity are closely linked.
It's that stuff that makes us unique; it's what makes us who we are.
2006-08-31 14:18:11 · answer #1 · answered by bpiguy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An interesting question, but what does this have to do with the History category?
What makes anyone who they are. First their biological make up and then influence from family, friends, and education.
2006-08-31 11:30:34 · answer #2 · answered by Randy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My personality. Really, no matter what i look like, it don't change who I am. I got a mullet (w00t :P) and I love heavy metal. And I don't really care about what anyone thinks of that.
2006-08-31 11:17:21 · answer #3 · answered by guy w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 10 lbs of dangling fury.
2006-08-31 11:12:30 · answer #4 · answered by kokubenji 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just being myself care less if others like me. My motto: you dont have to agree with me, but try to accept of what I am
2006-08-31 11:17:28 · answer #5 · answered by piyo006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm just a great guy. A legend in my own mind.
2006-08-31 13:29:21 · answer #6 · answered by Dean B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should stay on topic more. This is not a good question.
2006-08-31 11:33:59 · answer #7 · answered by Coastalchick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My medications.
2006-08-31 11:12:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My labeling myself "me".
2006-09-03 09:23:28 · answer #9 · answered by juexue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
atoms
2006-08-31 11:14:26 · answer #10 · answered by Pie Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋