Being who you are

Abstract

Abstract This chapter further explores the idea of a true or deep self introduced in Chapter 2 and familiar from everyday life. It starts with two truisms. The first is that someone is often not themselves when they are inebriated or under extreme stress. The second is that someone often reveals who they truly are when inebriated or under extreme stress. Both are common views of when the true self emerges, yet they appear to be diametrically opposed. The chapter examines the picture of the true self each reveals. The first suggests that the true self is constituted by what we choose. In philosophical discussion, this idea is typically connected with discussions of the conditions of autonomous agency. The second suggests that the true self is a set of core traits to be discovered, accepted, and expressed. In philosophy and psychology, this view is often associated with questions of authenticity. Strengths and challenges of both approaches are discussed, revealing the complexity and nuance of our conception of the true self. The chapter concludes by introducing an alternative, narrative approach to understanding the true self, which is potentially in a better position to capture that complexity but faces challenges of its own.