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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page essay that analyzes two articles on the nature of "self," that is, consciousness and identity. The articles are "Evolutionary Necessity or Glorious Accident?" by Natalie Angier and "The Self as Sentiment and Reflection" by Charles Horton Cooley. The writer summarizes the main points and whether or not each author was convincing in their arguments. No bibliography is provided.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khselfar.rtf
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of being a unique individual. Angier points out that this quality of human existence goes by many names, "Call it self-awareness, self-identity, mind, consciousness, or even soul" (p. 8). The
main argument that Angier presents is that the development of a sense of self for human beings was not a "glorious accident" but rather evolved because having a sense of
self is a useful survival tool, "Know thyself may be the key to living in a group" (p. 8). What Angier offers that is new in this article is
the latest thinking on this topic among various scientists, all with impressive credentials. Also, the scientists that Angier quotes provide the sources that she uses to advance her argument. For
example, Angier cites Stephen W. Porges, a neurobiological researcher at the University of Maryland, to further clarify what is meant by "self." Porges defines a sense of self as
essentially "self-actualization, of acting upon the world rather than being acted on." (p. 9). This scientist sees the emergence of self-awareness reflected in the neuro-anatomical differences between reptilian and
mammalian brains. Reptiles are sit-and-wait feeders (p. 9). Mammals, on the other hand, are "dynamic foragers and explorers of the environment" (p. 9). Citing Dr. Steven Pinker of MIT,
Angiers article concludes that "self" is not an accident, but rather evolved as a useful survival tool for human beings. The issue that the article addresses is the central question
that is posed in the articles title, which is whether self-identity came about as a "glorious accident" or "evolutionary necessity." While Angier poses this question, she never offers the other
side of this argument, only quoting those scientists who support the "evolutionary necessity" position. Angier briefly alludes to the fact that there is another side to this debate on the
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