Philosophy
The Metaphysics of Personal Identity and the Narrative Self
Quick fact
The narrative self view, defended by philosophers like Marya Schechtman, argues that personal identity is not just a matter of psychological continuity but is constituted by the stories we tell about our lives—stories that must be coherent and consistent with our actions to ground true identity.
Why this is interesting
You've changed—your body, your memories, your beliefs—and yet you still feel like the same person. But what exactly makes you you over time?
Read the full explanation
Understanding The Metaphysics of Personal Identity and the Narrative Self
Think of your life as a novel that you are constantly writing. The narrative self is the protagonist of that novel. Just as a good story gives coherence to a series of events by connecting them through a plot, the narrative self provides a sense of unity and continuity to the scattered moments of experience. It weaves together memories, plans, and traits into a single, ongoing narrative that answers the question 'Who am I?' This is more than just having a memory; it's about actively interpreting and organizing experiences into a meaningful whole. For example, when you say 'I am a kind person,' you are not just reporting a fact—you are affirming a theme in your life story that guides your future actions and makes your past actions intelligible.
A deeper explanation
The narrative self works as a mechanism of identity because it integrates the seemingly contradictory elements of change and constancy. It does this by selecting, interpreting, and connecting life events into a coherent plot. This process relies on memory, but memory alone is not enough—the narrative must be actively appropriated: you must see these events as yours and as part of your ongoing story. Schechtman calls this the 'characterization condition': your actions and experiences must be attributable to you as the protagonist of your story. This explains why a person with severe amnesia may still retain a narrative identity if they can construct a coherent story with the help of others, while a person who disowns their past actions may lose a part of their identity. The narrative view matters because it ties identity to agency and interpretation, making us co-authors of our selves, and it raises deep questions about the boundary between truth and fiction in the stories we construct.