self observation, n.Definitions

Self-observation (n.) means ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the ego can treat the rest of itself like an object — which is what gives the old double a new meaning.

Self-observation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠nearly hopeless: everybody is farthest from himself, and 'know thyself!' addressed to men by a god is almost malicious.

Self-observation (n.) means ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠playing participant and spectator at once, with an inner Stoic watcher commenting on how well we are living.

Self-observation (n.) changes ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠what it observes, the sceptic objects: as I turn to my centaur's modes of appearance, the whole experience grows fluid, and what I now see may be something new rather than what was there.

Self-observation (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠fatuous when the observer circles his own empirical existence hoping to find himself there; it relates to what one is, not to what one may become.