THE PROBLEM OF SELFHOOD: THE «I» AS A MULTI-STRUCTURED PHENOMENON

This article addresses the problem of selfhood within philosophical and scientific frameworks, including dualism, panpsychism, illusionism, physicalism, quantum theory, and others. The methodological foundation of the study is a comparative analysis of philosophical and scientific approaches. The method involves a systematic comparison of classical philosophical theories (R. Descartes, J. Locke, J.-P. Sartre) with contemporary scientific perspectives, particularly those of A. Damasio, D. Dennett, and G. Northoff. Neuroscientific data are examined to support or refute these theories, followed by a synthesis that integrates diverse ideas into a hypothesis combining neurobiological, psychological, and philosophical dimensions. Based on the analysis of both classical and contemporary views regarding the origins of selfhood, the article argues that the “I” is a multi-layered structure that emerges at the intersection of neural processes, social experience, emotional-volitional dynamics, narrative self-reflection, and meaning-making. This position incorporates various philosophical insights, emphasizing, in particular, the role of will (J.-P. Sartre) and memory (J. Locke), as well as scientific findings that go beyond strictly materialist explanations of selfhood. These findings underscore the continued relevance of the traditional dualist perspective, which regards the soul as the foundation of consciousness, intellect, and will, and thus of personal identity. It is argued that will constitutes one of the central properties of the self: it functions as an inner force that shapes and sustains the integrity of the self by integrating bodily and social experience, memory, and reason. Accordingly, the “I” is not a fixed entity but one that is formed through free acts and conscious choices. Conclusion. The problem of selfhood belongs to scientific issues that do not have an unambiguous interpretation, therefore it should be considered taking into account different approaches and concepts. Analysis of philosophical and scientific concepts shows that selfhood is a multilevel phenomenon that encompasses a neurophysiological basis, emotional processing of experience, narrative self-reflection, thinking, will, search for meaning and at the same time is a manifestation of the soul, which is considered as the fundamental basis of selfhood. Such an approach requires further scientific research, their careful analysis and development of more advanced theories.