| The thesis explores Cartesian self representation. Specifically, it distinguishes between two kinds of self representations: self referential representation and self presenting representation. Self referential representation is when there is a reference back to the I or ego. Self presenting representation is when there is a representation that also includes a representation of itself. I argue that all conscious representations include a self referential representation, while most (but not all) conscious representations include a self presenting representation. This distinction between self referential representations and self presenting representations is important, because many people confuse self presenting representations for self referential representations, arguing that just because self presenting representations are not present, no self representation is present either. At the end, I apply my thesis of self referential representations to the problem of how we gain knowledge of the external world. While I do not try to solve the problem itself, I show that self referential representations need to be a part of the solution. |
