Affectivity and the distinction between minimal and narrative self
Continental Philosophy Review November 30, 2019 Anna Bortolan 21 citations
A distinction is often drawn between a 'minimal' self, present in immediate experience, and a 'narrative' self, built from life stories. Some argue these are fundamentally distinct, with the minimal self enabling the narrative self but not being shaped by it. This paper challenges that view by examining affective experiences. Drawing on classical and contemporary phenomenology, it argues that certain emotions and moods are complex phenomena where minimal and narrative selfhood are deeply entwined. Because affective states are evaluative, they convey a pre-reflective experience of aspects of the narrative self. This suggests that minimal and narrative selfhood are phenomenologically inextricable, not separate dimensions.