I actually read the article you linked to before but didn't have anything to say then. But now? Sure, I hope...
a contribution from Cassino is always a wise one!
What I noticed typing the above is that it's true to the notion of external influences making us what we are, or, what we think we are. Maybe it's because I'm rather cynical, but I see this kind of societal influence everywhere, and it all boils down to making persons into functioning, 'normal' parts of society, little points on a much bigger cogwheel, yet a cogwheel that no one actually owns. School's a good example of course — one is praised for progress and scolded for refusal to co-operate.
i wouldn't call your view cynical, but realistic.
I was also reading earlier the story of someone's asexuality, how they hadn't 'been asexual' until they realised that, in fact, they didn't have to be sexual; it's just a sort of expectation. She'd for a time accepted that "someone would be right for me" or whatever... but, really, never actually felt a want for that for herself. This, again, reflects the notion that society makes the self — people will generally want what they're encouraged to want. I think for most things, to find what one really wants in what they're doing, one only need on occasion to stop and actually think about them. We all do things in our spare time, but I don't suppose many of us dedicate any sort of real 'me time'.
that's a great example, and one i can relate to. guess that's a story for another thread...but i do think that if more people had the mind (or the will) to stop and think about their goals- recognize and look past society's impositions and determine which of their goals stem from genuine desire and which stem from illusions of desire- people would be a lot more
real, tolerance would be more prevalent and the ego nurtured in a more positive way.
The article you linked to suggests the self given by society is a false one, but I'm left to wonder exactly what other self we should have; it never seemed very specific on that point. It's all a very spiritual and noble thing, but without a world and some customs to shape us at all we'd be... lost, or something, most of us at least.
we're an adaptive species that relies on structure to develop, i don't imagine humanity would be so "advanced" had we not built on the structure of nature then invented a structural code for man to follow. i don't think a self molded by society is a "false" one, instead i think the self merely...
is...if that makes sense. but i do believe that a collective striving for the truth-seeking self is one of the building blocks to a more peaceful, enlightened society.