(De)constructing the self: what are we, really?

I have recently remembered, came to realize once again how true it is that “you are not your experiences”. Realizing that your past is not necessarily your future, neither does it have to be the present, I must conclude I am not (and never were) a person with a name and social security number, but an more or less self-conscious awareness with an archieve of past events and a set of reactions to the world developed over the course of collecting those experiences. I am therefore also not my personality, for it, too, does not exist as one ‘thing’.

There are no facts, everything just… is the way it is. “I am what I am” anyone? There is no good or evil, there is no intrinsic morality in the universe. There is only action and reaction. Emotions serve to push us into doing one thing or another (rest, feed, procreate, defend ourselves) – we are all programmed machines. Having said that… do we really have “free will”, and if so, to what extent? 60%, 40%, more, less? Does it matter?

This is more a personal declaration of independence than a question really. The realization that I am not me, but something greater than that is strangely calming (You’re all probably thinking: “Yep, it finally happened, he’s gone nuts. Nurse!” :D well you just might be right, who the heck knows?).

What do YOU think of all this? Who am I, who are you, who are we? etc.

Discuss everything you deem discussion-worthy (my slow descent into madness included, though optional really).

On a related note, if the above ramblings struck a chord, check out an older question of mine and tell me what you think abot that in regards to this question.

Congratulations if you managed to read this far into this post!

Cheers!