Does what you do define who you are or does who you are define what you do?

Question

i personally think who you are defines the decisions you make but the things you do define who you are to others. Does that Make sense?

Answer 1

I believe that who I am defines what i do.... to an extent.  When we're talking about philosophy words can trick us.

Answer 2

I'm afraid I must disagree with you. I don't believe anyone really knows who they are. I believe it was Socrates who said,"Know thyself". It's something I've been working on all of my life.....and I'm old! Since I don't consider myself unique, I imagine each of us has wondered what he or she would do in some horrendous event, some disaster, or circumstance that demanded self-sacrifice, or extraordinary courage. I don't think anyone knows, but such an event, if it occurs, can reveal part of yourself you never knew existed. Since no-one knows me here, I can relate something about myself that I never knew; something that I will carry with me to the grave, and if I can still reason, from which I will take some solace for all the terrible mistakes I've made. I was being thrown from side to side in a narrow stairwell, while a young girl, sobbing, clung to my right arm, and I, with my left, was helping an old man down the same trembling stairs. Somehow, we made it to the street to see buildings falling all around us. Forty thousand people died that day, and more than half of Ahmedabad lay in ruins. I could have shaken off the young girl and pushed the old man aside and made a dash for the street, but I didn't. It told me something about myself I never knew. So you see, Crackerjack, at least for me, my actions define who I am.....I haven't a clue.

Answer 3

Who's right, Nietzche or Sartre?

On the Nietzche side, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Movie, 'TOtal Recall':  The hero loses his memory, tries to find out who he was.  In the quest, his actions define him...He would rather be the person in the quest, than the jerk he used to be....To be is to do.

On the Sartre side, Robocop.  Again, the hero loses his memory.  But, he has no identity until he discovers his past as a loving father.  This past is what defines him - And, though people watch this film for its violence, the true climax is when he really finds who he is.  To do is to be.

Answer 4

You stole my answer in your description lol. I would also like to add that people are very multifaceted and it is hard to define someone by observing only a small fraction of their actions. I also think that even if one was to observe everything a person does, they would still not be able to understand them fully as they would need to somehow enter that other person's mind to fully understand them.

For me, it is one of my highest aims, if not the highest. I may never fully understand myself, but I know that doing nothing will yield nothing. Cheers.

Answer 5

i think what you do defines who you are...

your deeds are the ones that make up your entire personality...

Answer 6

I think that what you experience defines who you are, and what you do is part of those experiences.

Answer 7

Well said!!

I would like to add that in the formative years, what we are made to do repetitively and what we see others do, have a great hand in shaping us into what we are going to be on attaining adulthood. Once we reach adulthood and firm up our values and habits, they define us who we are and our decisions/actions are accordingly directed and actions so fructifying become the source for others to judge us...... a sort of continuous process. However, this normal flow can of course be disrupted and changed drastically through major events/experiences. After all, life is quite dynamic and we never remain the same for too long.

Answer 8

Hehehe.   It makes as much sense as anything else ☺

Doug

Answer 9

There is a system at work with feedback - you do something, you observe the conequences and get feedback from others, this causes you to question or affirm your attitudes, values and beliefs, you change you're behaviour given what you now understand, you do something else etc...on and on.

they inform one another so they are both true.