Abstract

Western thought assumes the existence of a unitary and solid Self that plays a key role in value creation and provides the basis of freedom, self-knowledge, and authenticity. However, is there really a unitary Self that only refers to itself? Is the Self responsible for controlling what happens inside it? Or does it miss something? Can self-exploration reveal puzzling elements of its inner configuration? Is it possible to nullify and ultimately extinguish the Self? The aim of this paper is to provide possible answers to these and other questions that arise from the analysis of some of the most significant contributions of both the Western and Buddhist traditions regarding the study of the Self.