The origin, development and strengthening of our identity - that is our Self - is an important part of human life. Stability and variability of such Self are both aspects necessary to preserve the integrity and status of a person as psychological and social being. The mastering of our own Self is related to some interesting phenomena, discussed by current philosophy of mind and cognitive science. These research strategies deal with issues such as naturalization of Self (Dennett, Strawson), building up a theory of mind (Baron-Cohen) and the disconnective syndrome and its interpretation (Gazzaniga) among many others. This article reflects our current understanding of the Self, and takes into account some philosophical approaches, as well as some knowledge of modern cognitive science to show how the Self as a natural phenomenon can be understood. In its conclusion two conceptual levels of the Self are introduced: primitive Self and conceptual Self. These terms are intended to be the basis for the study of the Self as a natural phenomenon. and Michal Polák
Sborník referátů z první konference Německo-české a slovenské komise historiků konané 17.-20. června 1991 v Praze and Název v tiráži: Němci, Češi, Slováci 1815-1918