Between you and yourself

October 15, 2019

What happens when you look in the mirror? And is it the same thing as taking a selfie?

Furthermore, what changes when you share the selfie with others – say, via social media? And is it the same thing as sharing a photo of you taken by somebody else? What about if somebody else shares a photo of you – either alone, or in a group?

What happens, existentially speaking, in each of these events? Can we describe them as existential events? Why – or why not? Does a selfie reinforce, or alter who you are? Does it being shared with others have an impact on your identity?

Zacaria Manning, a contributor to the Blog of the American Philosophical Association (APA), reflects on the effects of “Instagramming the Self”.

Over to you.

Photo courtesy of Matteo Viscotto via Unsplash