In this guided meditation, we delve into the phenomenology of various conceptions of personal identity. Specifically, we observe the experiential nuances of believing that we are individual souls (Closed Individualism), that we are a single universal consciousness (Open Individualism), that we represent ephemeral moments of experience (Empty Individualism), and that we encompass all these identities concurrently (Goldilocks Zone of Oneness).
As with the "The Phenomenology of Ontology" meditation, our objective here is to discern the qualities of experience that shape a specific worldview. In essence, the phenomenology of personal identity is a pivotal subject for any holistic consciousness research initiative, regardless of the metaphysical veracity of these perspectives. The capacity of these conceptions to modify experiential attributes—such as refining internal boundaries or amplifying the choppiness of sensations—underscores the importance of this topic for both phenomenological and scientific exploration.
More so, many exotic states of consciousness involve implicit alterations to our conceptions of personal identity. Therefore knowing how to detect the experiential features that make these beliefs feel more or less plausible is essential to successfully navigate exotic states of consciousness without compromising one’s epistemology.
Relevant Links:
- Ontological Qualia: The Future of Personal Identity (https://qualiacomputing.com/2015/12/17/ontological-qualia-the-future-of-personal-identity/)
- For more extensive definitions, see the Glossary of the Qualia Research Institute (https://qri.org/glossary)
- Guided Meditation: The Phenomenology of Ontology (https://youtu.be/QRExq_sf6No?si=G1cA1b0fAaE1oGjP)
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