Future Self a Different Person?

[Captain Cardio]

Is your future self effectively a different individual?

I've heard that over the course of 7 years, every molecule that makes up an individual, has been replaced. This means that if you were look an individual now, and then 7 years from now, you are looking at somebody composed of an entirely different set of molecules.

Even outside of a microscope, we can notice very drastic changes in an individual over the course of time. Whom a person associates with, how they see the world, what they enjoy doing, and an enormity of other more specific differences can accumulate to a point.

This point would be the imaginary scenario where you could put somebody and their past self side by side, and because of their changes in attitudes, beliefs, experiences and even physical appearance, you would decide that they are different people who might agree on little to nothing, much like individuals would if you had taken too similar looking strangers off the street and asked them about the same personal information.

The exception of course would be their shared history prior to the earlier version of the two versions of the person being contrasted..

This amount of witnessed change clearly depends on an individual and the course of their life, but can we conclude in some or most cases, that the only real constant in an individual, is the feeling or observer part, which would have been with an individual every moment from their past self to the future self?

[Thanatos]

Change is part of life. If I met my past self from even a few months ago I'd kick him for being so incredibly dumb :) My views change, my thoughts change, who I am changes. The me of seven years ago is dead and replaced by a person he'd recognize but not understand.

This ties into the discussion of immortality because if I live to be 10,000 will any part of me still be me? Will I even remember myself now after so long? How will I think? What will I become?

[Morality Games]

My views on this subject are Pragmatist / Buddhist, which is that you are yourself until you cease to function as yourself -- or rather, you can consider yourself in such terms for the sake of practicality even if you are not at all your old self in fact.

How you function (what you do), and not your constitution (what you are made of) is the determination of self -- and the standard of reference you use to compare and see if you are functioning as yourself is your 'idea' or 'sense' of self.

[Lullaby Chainer]

about the molecules, and I'm no microbiologist, but does that include the molecules of neurons? 'cause neurons don't reproduce or replenish themselves (least for the most part)

[loser]

Life is DYNAMIC; it doesn't exist otherwise. Stasis means death or non-life. This continuous, non-ending change encompasses EVERYTHING. Your DNA is in constant flux, affected by every interaction you experience.

Change is the very essence of life. What do you think the answer to your question is?

[Captain Cardio]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer about the molecules, and I'm no microbiologist, but does that include the molecules of neurons? 'cause neurons don't reproduce or replenish themselves (least for the most part)

I think there is molecular replacement for maintenance in individual brain cells or individual neurons. But as far as I know, you're right, brain cells/neurons as entire cells don't reproduce under normal conditions.

I wish I could remember where I heard this 7-year thing, not sure what keywords I could Google it under.

If you find anything on it, let me know :)

[stardust]

That solely depends on whether the molecules(to begin with) frame one's personality or not. There are probably some metaphysical aspects as well (like auras) that assert an individuals life on the long run. But your question is interesting, and could be true. I wont be the same seven years from now. We tend to be very passive, and consider these modifications as part of the natural cycle, but that dosen't sounds very pleasing.

[stardust]

Quote by: Lullaby Chainer about the molecules, and I'm no microbiologist, but does that include the molecules of neurons? 'cause neurons don't reproduce or replenish themselves (least for the most part)

Even brain cells don't reproduce once they get damaged. I think so.