I am not the bearer of experience

It seems to me that I am the bearer or owner of experience. However, this impression is misleading. If I am external to experience (that is, if what I am is not reducible to the way in which I appear in the present experience), then I can’t know with absolute certainty that I exist. But I do. Hence I am not external to experience, and a fortiori I am not the external bearer of experience. If I am internal to experience, then what I am is reducible to the way in which I appear in the present experience. However, if I am a part of experience, I can’t be its owner or bearer, for an owner or bearer of something can’t be a part of what it bears or owns. Therefore, I am not the internal bearer of experience.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Phenomenology and Mind
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17454/pam-2901
Primary Topic
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

I am not the bearer of experience

Luca Zanetti
Phenomenology and Mind
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
article

I am not the bearer of experience

Luca Zanetti
article en

Abstract

It seems to me that I am the bearer or owner of experience. However, this impression is misleading. If I am external to experience (that is, if what I am is not reducible to the way in which I appear in the present experience), then I can’t know with absolute certainty that I exist. But I do. Hence I am not external to experience, and a fortiori I am not the external bearer of experience. If I am internal to experience, then what I am is reducible to the way in which I appear in the present experience. However, if I am a part of experience, I can’t be its owner or bearer, for an owner or bearer of something can’t be a part of what it bears or owns. Therefore, I am not the internal bearer of experience.

Phenomenology and MindVol. 29
Openalex Percentile: Top 82%
Philosophy and Theoretical Science
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I am not the bearer of experience — Luca Zanetti · Phenomenology and Mind (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS