Post #9

To begin I found it very difficult to follow Galen’s argument. I could not tell when Galen was using satire versus truly agreeing to something. I had to read each paragraph at least twice, and I was wide awake when I read this and usually I can understand essays without a problem. This one however confused me and I found it hard to pick out the main points, but after rereading it, I think I finally got the gist. I definitely think we have one self, I one hundred percent disagree with the idea of multiple person’s. I think that our one self changes, evolves, and ‘resets’ but there is only ever that one self – the basics of who you are, the foundation if you will. I agreed with Galen when discussing self narratives that they’re mostly false and fictional. The narratives people tell and create for themselves are what the aspire to be able to be or do, they are fictional, describing hopes and dreams and most of the time filled with lies. I also really liked when Galen said that he does not think that the self narrative plays a role in how one sees the world. A singular story produced by someone about their own life is not for that individual, it i for society, peers, family, the world around them. The stories told most of the time are not to help find themselves or see the world but to change how the world see’s them. I also really enjoyed the point Galen makes about how not everyone has a narrative and fits into the idea of one. They are not for everyone and just because someone does not have one does not mean that they have no identity or self awareness. Another point Galen makes that I agree with and was able to understand was the idea of self- knowledge and awareness. This was perfectly shown when he describes the man with a poor memory. You must hold yourself to true standards and understand limitations before you tell a story about yourself or even try to define yourself. Those were all the big ideas and concepts I was able to pick out and expand on. After rereading and writing about Galens idea’s they began to make more sense.