Is the self social in nature?

Question

I want a philosophical answer

Answer 1

Yes and no; the human self, or ego, is a construct of mental processes and highly social, whether admitted or not. It's why we're talking. The Higher Self, or Consciousness, or Soul, is independent, but exists to experience and express Creation, which implies a kinship with all life. To some this is obvious, to some a puzzle, and to others mere wishful thinking. What it is to each of us is a matter of our spiritual unfoldment.

Answer 2

The question is indeed thought provoking. It took me some time to formulate my answer.

Yes, all living beings are social in nature - but that is not what is being asked here. The question is regarding self.

Everyone has a unique self. We can see, touch, know all outside objects, but our self is within us beyond even our own physical reach. It takes a lot of wisdom and introspection to know our self. But that is one thing we all do. We make every effort to know our self. Whatever we know about our self may or may not be correct, but that is the truth for us.

Now, what do we do with that truth discovered with a lot of introspection? We treat it as the most private property and let no one come anywhere near. If we get the slightest wind that someone is trying to read our self, we make all efforts to hide, camouflage and deliberately mislead. It's real me, my innermost truth, certainly to be kept totally confidential. That, if at all, is not the least compatible with any social nature that I understand.

I have simply put my thoughts out here, may not be high funda philosophy, but it is what I truly believe to be true.

Answer 3

I will have to say, yes to that, that is because as a father, and grandfather, I have watched the babies, reach out in a variety of ways to interact with there surroundings. Place a mirror in front of an infant and it will reach out to make contact, and try making a crude attempt at speech. There is a force of nature at work there, that is not a learned response. There are other examples that are more detailed, and nature based, but I don't like to type too much, at one time.

Answer 4

I have no philosiphy's to quote or make reference to.
I havent the education or intellectual stamina to recall
any profound literature, even though this is what you want.

but maybe, the perception of a simple person will add something to what it is you seek.

I think the answer is "Absolutely" .
not only for survival but for pleasure.
and not only amongst our species,
but with all life forms, such as animals and plants.

my seem stupid but I see how we even interact
with plants socially, Do you have one or more
in your home or office? How does it make you feel?
Do you care for it? how does tha make the plant feel?

We have an attraction to animals, myself especially
has a desire/need to communicate.

etc etc.

I have derived great pleasure from experiences , sights , smells , etc and wished I could have shared the experience.

so of course we are social in nature, even spiritually when it is a personal part of ourselves , it's still being social or making a connection to the unseen .

asking and answering here is social, and fills a need for being social for me since I spend alot of time disconnected from the public physically and may go days without seeing people in the flesh, but need for others brings me here.

and that is my "simple philosophy"

Answer 5

lmao! The question in this case IS the answer, for if the self were not social in nature, why would the question require expression to society?

Answer 6

in essence, yes... in validity, yes... impartial i may be that no man is an island, the truth of it is highly quantified thru history. though, a success is often generated by many and only recognized as a work of one, it can be argued that these were attained thru constant communication with mankind. we are all here to share, we have tongues to communicate, we have hands to feel, we have the mind to reason, but we have to have friends to survive...

Answer 7

No,...... the self is much above such qualities... it is limitless, so no restriction to exclude anything from it to get an isolated individuality first, and then to socialise then !