Self Delusion

The Self Delusion makes the bold claim that our faith in the primacy and indivisibility of the individual is in fact false. On a physical, psychological and cultural level, we are all much more intertwined than we know:

- We cannot use our bodies to define our independent existence, because most of our 37.2 trillion cells have such a short lifespan that we are essentially made anew every few weeks
- The molecules that make up our bodies have already been component parts of countless other organisms, from ancient plants to dinosaurs
- We are more than half non-human, in the form of bacteria and protozoa cells and genes, some of which can influence our moods and even manipulate our behaviour
- And we cannot define ourselves by our minds, thoughts and actions, because these mainly originate from other people - the result of memes passing between us, existing before, after and beyond our own lifespans

But that doesn't mean we should all simply reject the evolutionary illusion of individualism that has allowed us to succeed as a species. Instead, Tom Oliver makes the compelling argument that we have a better chance of facing some of the big global challenges ahead, such as loneliness, social inequality and environmental damage, if we can start to understand and accept the complex connections between us and see beyond our individualistic mindsets to view our place in the world as it really is.

Iluzia de sine face pretentia indrazneata ca credinta noastra in primatul si indivizibilitatea individului este de fapt falsa. La nivel fizic, psihologic si cultural, suntem cu totii mult mai impletiti decat stim: - Nu ne putem folosi corpul pentru a ne defini existenta independenta, deoarece cele mai multe dintre cele 37,2 trilioane de celule au o durata de viata atat de scurta incat, in esenta, suntem transformati din nou in fiecare cateva saptamani - Moleculele care alcatuiesc corpul nostru au fost deja parti componente ale nenumaratelor alte organisme, de la plante antice la dinozauri - Suntem mai mult de jumatate neumane, sub forma de bacterii si celule protozoare si gene, dintre care unele pot influentam starile noastre si chiar ne manipulam comportamentul - Si nu ne putem defini pe noi insine prin mintile, gandurile si actiunile noastre, deoarece acestea provin in principal de la alti oameni - rezultatul memelor care trec intre noi, existente inainte, dupa si dincolo de propriile noastre durate de viata, dar asta nu face Nu inseamna ca toti ar trebui sa respingem pur si simplu iluzia evolutionista a individualismului care ne-a permis sa reusim ca specie.