Philosophy is an ancient discipline that deals with fundamental human concepts, such as consciousness, existence, knowledge, reason, mind, reality, values, ethics, logic, language, communication, perception, cognition, truth, meaning, freedom, beauty, love, gender, politics, culture, society, art, music, technology, and so forth. While all disciplines are concerned with these questions, philosophy does them systematically and conceptually, using rational arguments to reach conclusions. Selfhood, identity, and autonomy are central concepts in philosophy, but they are also present in literature, cinema, art, social science, history, psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, law, politics, and other fields.
Selfhood is the idea that someone has a separate existence from others, can perceive their own thoughts and experiences, and have unique feelings, emotions, preferences, and opinions. Identity is one's self-concept or sense of self, which may be stable or changeable. Autonomy means self-governance, decision-making power, independence, and responsibility for one's actions. These ideas were usually based on biological sex and physical appearance, which people cannot choose. But nowadays, many people create their own identities through self-expression and self-determination. This transformation affects how we think about ourselves and relate to each other.
In premodern times, people were born into a specific place, class, race, religion, family, and gender roles, which determined their selfhood. They did not question these social norms because they believed they were natural, divine, or necessary.
Women and men had different duties and privileges according to their sex; slaves could not escape their masters; people who did not follow religious rules would go to hell. In modernity, philosophers argued for individualism, freedom, equality, and democracy, challenging traditional hierarchies. Still, most people accepted their assigned identities as natural and immutable, even though some claimed to be women trapped in male bodies or vice versa.
Postmodern philosophy questions essentialist views of identity, arguing that it is constructed socially, culturally, politically, psychologically, economically, and linguistically. People are not fixed entities but dynamic individuals who interact with others and the world in complex ways. Gender is fluid, sexuality is multiple, and intimacy involves negotiation rather than submission. Selfhood is flexible, changing over time and across situations. We can choose our names, clothes, hairstyles, behaviors, beliefs, attitudes, values, goals, and relationships.
This flexibility also brings complexity and uncertainty. How do we know if we have changed genuinely? Can we ever truly understand another person's experiences? Are we responsible for our actions when we change ourselves? Does self-creation lead to autonomy or dependence?
Philosophy has not yet answered these questions satisfactorily, but the transformation of selfhood is undeniable. It affects how we see ourselves, each other, and society. Some argue that postmodernism destroys identity, while others claim it empowers us. But what is certain is that people must think critically about the effects of self-creation on their lives, relationships, communities, and cultures.
How do philosophical ideas of selfhood transform when identity is self-created rather than assigned?
The idea that individuals can create their own identities has been popularized by postmodernism. According to this theory, people are not limited to their pre-existing social roles and can create new ones for themselves. This idea challenges traditional conceptions of identity as something fixed or determined by external factors such as race, gender, or class. Instead, it suggests that identity is fluid and dynamic, shaped by personal choices and experiences.