RuneScape Forum Archive | Tabula Rasa & Identity

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

When asked to define a category pertaining to identity a common response is "It's up to each person to define both the contents and the category." A good example is sex and gender. Sex pertains to physical characteristics but gender expression is something at least partly if not entirely separate from sex. Understand that categories serve as templates meant to define the contents within them. Animal is a category and there are certain necessary attributes to the contents contained within that category which make it appropriate to describe a thing as being an animal or otherwise. If there are no necessary attributes pertaining to gender then the category is arguably unnecessary.

So my question is this... To non-essentialists who accept that identity categories are entirely definable by each person, why not dispense with the group categories and instead invoke your identity as a sovereign individual upon the tabula rasa put forward during the Enlightenment?

Additionally, if you choose to invoke an idiosyncratic version of your identity, how might you communicate it with others in a way that is understood in order to foster an environment which can properly take you into account?

My motivation for putting this forward is the following: If people are able to more effectively articulate who they are and what they need to themselves and others, it can help integrate those who may have a more difficult time fitting into society. It seems more reasonable to start with one blank category whose very purpose is for you to write on it than to distribute yourself across many pieces of papers/blank categories which not only are essentially blank but might cause confusion due to certain expectations associated with those categories. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

27-Jul-2022 17:31:13 - Last edited on 27-Jul-2022 20:29:51 by Philasophia

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

An additional prompt for those interested in discussing this matter:

For those who have identified necessary or probabilistic attributes associated with various identity categories, what have you grounded that in and why?

I probably should've included "probabilistic" in my previous description of a valid category attribute as many things aren't defined with such infinite precision that they can described as necessary.

An example of a probabilistic attribute associated with an identity category might be the tendency of women to be relatively nurturing. It's probabilistic because not all women are nurturing. The reason for establishing connections between categories and probabilistic attributes is to establish expectations to foster a sense of social order. Alas, it's helpful to remain open to the possibility of your expectations being contradicted.

If you believe the above is valid... It might be worth considering the probabilistic attributes in themselves independently of the associated identity categories in order to optimally account for the exceptions to the rule. I'm happy to discuss this further with anyone interested. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

27-Jul-2022 22:03:58 - Last edited on 27-Jul-2022 22:04:35 by Philasophia

Dec

2011

Archaeox

Posts: 53,399 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Philasophia said :
So my question is this... To non-essentialists who accept that identity categories are entirely definable by each person, why not dispense with the group categories and instead invoke your identity as a sovereign individual upon the tabula rasa put forward during the Enlightenment?

Dressing up an offensive thread with fancy words only works if nobody understands what you really said.

The theory of tabula rasa goes substantially further back than the Enlightenment, and denies innatism; this is inherently offensive to many people's self-definition.

Take your trolling elsewhere please.

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27-Jul-2022 22:42:07

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Archaeox said :
Philasophia said :
So my question is this... To non-essentialists who accept that identity categories are entirely definable by each person, why not dispense with the group categories and instead invoke your identity as a sovereign individual upon the tabula rasa put forward during the Enlightenment?

Dressing up an offensive thread with fancy words only works if nobody understands what you really said.

The theory of tabula rasa goes substantially further back than the Enlightenment, and denies innatism; this is inherently offensive to many people's self-definition.

Take your trolling elsewhere please.

This isn't a troll? I'll address an issue you raise however in another post in case your's gets hidden for attempting to derail the thread. I've already made my motivations for this thread clear. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

27-Jul-2022 23:34:49

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The issue with self-definition is problematic in that if everything you say is entirely self-defined then it's technically impossible to communicate with others. Accordingly, this would make it impossible to integrate such persons into society. Thus, they'd be infinitely marginalized the further individuated they became. There certainly is some room for individuality but a common framework is likewise necessary. And in case you're wondering why I would suggest this in the initial post, I was more so drawing out the logical implications of a certain position on these issues as well as encouraging the reader to consider "how they might communicate with others" within this framework. I think this is a problematic issue that might lead to difficulties and would like to see if there is an ideal way of addressing the matter. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

27-Jul-2022 23:39:15 - Last edited on 27-Jul-2022 23:45:38 by Philasophia

Nov

2023

King Noob X

Posts: 573 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Balancing efficiency of communication and communicating inclusivity has its challenges. As so few do it perfectly, its not a big problem. Most people just appreciate courtesy and effort. Idk how you've got away with this.

27-Jul-2022 23:49:42

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

King Noob X said :
Balancing efficiency of communication and communicating inclusivity has its challenges. As so few do it perfectly, its not a big problem. Most people just appreciate courtesy and effort. Idk how you've got away with this.

It's not even just about efficiency of communication per se. If I have a self-defined identity and no clear way of conveying what that is to others, that could lead to feelings of isolation. In fact, I know this to be the case personally. I'm highly inclined towards divergent thinking so I have a difficult time staying in one box for long. I also have a tendency to take information I've picked up from various sources in order to generate novel perspectives. This is creativity and has its blessings and curses. It helps to know that there's a category for people who don't "fit well into boxes" and I'm not the only one. Having a discussion about it might likewise help others feel understood. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

27-Jul-2022 23:53:45 - Last edited on 28-Jul-2022 00:04:12 by Philasophia

Philasophia

Posts: 501 Steel Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

Also, I'll add that Tabula Rasa is the furthest thing from offensive when it comes to self-definition. In fact, the idea suggests you can essentially author yourself when the idea of a blank slated mind is paired with individualism. Still, it's an idea worth challenging and the implications of potential social isolation still remain.

For anyone concerned about how one might maintain both the self that is capable of defining things and being individual whilst simultaneously laying upon the world a sort of coherent order that not only allows things to operate efficiently but helps people understand one another, feel free to look into or ask me about the philosophical idea of compatibilism. I am a light within the RuneScape forums. Not just any light, but the light of Diogenes searching for a single honest person.

28-Jul-2022 00:44:18 - Last edited on 28-Jul-2022 01:40:32 by Philasophia

May

2003

Tren

Forum Moderator Posts: 92,598 Emerald Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile

The Forums for an on-line game are not the ideal place to have a serious discussion about any of the philosophical theories that you have brought up here, whether discussed singly or all jumbled up as you have presented them here. Similar to political discussions, which are no longer allowed in these forums, people’s beliefs and feelings on these topics and issues are usually very strong and threads such as this typical end up with players being offended by the remarks of others.

Additionally, some of the issues you have brought up here, such as feeling marginalized or isolated, are best discussed with trained professionals, support groups, or forums dedicated/specializing in such topics. While they may be important topics, this is not the place for those discussions.

~Tren

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28-Jul-2022 03:09:19