Is the Self Essential? Handling Reductionism

Abstract

The nature of the self has been addressed by persons in various areas of psychology. The explanatory constructs have often reduced the self to other phenomena or structures. The self has been reduced to biology, cognition, social functioning, personal history, and consciousness. However, there are theories which characterize the self as an agent which is not simply reducible to its functions and supporting structures. The difference between reductionistic and nonreductionistic theories is the difference between a self who is created by awareness and behavior and a self who becomes aware and creates behavior. Most theories of personality argue on one side or the other. There are also theories which simply ignore the argument and use the term “self” vaguely. This article argues for a unitive concept of the self as essence, which precedes existence on all levels of functioning. It is argued that our essential nature is akin to that which has been termed spiritual.