It's unnerving that the seat of our identity is within those around us, not simply in how they perceive us, but in how we interpret how they perceive us based on their actions. Identity is such a convoluted and subtle thing. I can't imaging anyone who has an identity that could stand up to much social revolt. Can you imagine waking up and everyone treating you as a stranger? It wouldn't take long before you started to question the very foundations of who you were. It's one of the most fascinating things when someone describes to you how someone else described you to them, -to get a second hand glimpse at your identity. I have to imagine that this is a problem in AI. I also have to imagine that AI might form identity in ways that we find difficult to relate to. I also wonder if this isn't a possible explanation for the emergence of altruism. If you are kind, your identity might be more stable. I only partially know myself.
I disagree. The existentialist conclusion was that the way one interacts with the world is one's identity. I actually find this idea liberating. It doesn't matter how fucked up you feel on the inside; good deeds can always redeem you.It's unnerving that the seat of our identity is within those around us...