Eudaimonia, Self, and Evolution (Part I)
The more I reflect on the nature of Being across time, the less convinced I am that we, as “individual beings,” exist as a single, unified entity persisting unchanged. Instead, I find it more intuitive—and philosophically compelling—to think of the self as a collection of distinct entities, each existing somewhat (in)dependently across the fabric of time.
From this viewpoint, the self is not a monolithic whole but a mosaic—an assembly of distinct "selves" or entities that emerge at different moments in time. I believe that what connects these entities, and what allows us to experience a coherent sense of self, is the fine thread of a value hierarchy—an evolving framework of priorities, beliefs, and goals that we (hopefully) refine as we navigate through life.
What do I mean by imagining the self as a collection of independent entities across time? Two thinkers who have profoundly shaped my understanding of this concept are Hume and Nietzsche.
Hume’s "Bundle of Perceptions”: Hume argued that what we call the "self" is nothing more than a bundle of perceptions—a stream of fleeting sensations, thoughts, and emotions. These impressions are tied together by memory and association, but there is no underlying, immutable "I" that persists through time. In this view, the self is a series of momentary experiences, each existing independently of the others. When we introspect, we do not uncover a stable core self; instead, we find a succession of impressions and ideas.
Nietzsche’s Dynamic Self: Nietzsche rejected the notion of a fixed or stable self. For him, the self is a process of becoming, constantly shaped by internal drives and external influences. Central to Nietzsche’s philosophy is the idea of self-overcoming—the capacity to transcend one's current state and evolve toward higher forms of existence. He emphasized the importance of values in this process, describing the self as a battleground of competing instincts that must be ordered through a coherent hierarchy.
If the self is composed of multiple, independent entities, a fundamental question arises: How do we weave these fragments into a coherent sense of identity?
This is no trivial question.
Each of these temporal entities can be thought of as existing along a spectrum of similarity and dissimilarity to one another. The more dissimilar they are, the harder it becomes to construct a unified narrative of the self. Without some organizing principle, these entities risk becoming a chaotic collection, like ants in a colony scattering in all directions.
However, as anyone observing a real ant colony knows, this is rarely the case. Despite their individuality, ants work cohesively toward a shared goal. Their movements are governed by a unifying purpose, allowing them to function as a collective whole. Extending this metaphor, the coherence of our self across time depends on the presence of an evolving value hierarchy.
A coherent self requires that the entities composing it—our past, present, and future "selves"—are tethered by shared values. This value hierarchy does not have to be static; in fact, it is essential that it evolves to reflect growth and adaptation. What is critical is that it provides a guiding thread—a reference point that ties together the fragmented entities of our existence.
To construct this thread, we must first identify the commonalities between the different versions of ourselves. What are the values, desires, or aspirations that remain consistent, even as we change? These commonalities serve as the foundation for a unified narrative. Once identified, the differences between our past and present selves can be examined, not as obstacles to coherence but as markers of growth.
By weaving this thread, we gain a clearer sense of direction. The self becomes less a collection of disjointed moments and more a purposeful journey—an evolving story that makes sense of both who we are and who we are becoming.
Understanding the self as a collection of entities connected by an evolving value hierarchy shifts how we approach our relationship with our vision of who we are and, more importantly, who we want to be. It encourages us to take ownership of our values, refining and prioritizing them to ensure coherence in the narrative of our lives. In doing so, we recognize that the self is not a fixed identity to be discovered but a dynamic process to be shaped.
“And in this shaping, we move closer to becoming who we are meant to be.”
