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The Strange and Lonely Journey of the Self (and How to Finally Leave It Behind)
Human beings have spent thousands of years desperately searching for their “selves,” yet no one seems able to find exactly what that elusive beast is. According to Clem Samson’s provocative insights from The Seven Labyrinths, the history of humanity’s attempt to define the self is a tragicomic journey — from ancient collective identities to the lonely, tortured ego we inhabit today. Understanding this history reveals exactly why you might be feeling lonely, confused, and lost, and more importantly, how you might finally escape.
Ancient Times: The Good Old Days Before the ‘Self’
Before Plato, before Christianity, there was no private self. Identity was a collective experience — you were part of the clan, inseparable from your ancestors and kin. When someone called your name, they were actually calling back your ancestors, not some unique individual soul. You were embedded in community, nature, and shared ritual. Being alone in the modern sense was unimaginable.
But then something happened.
Augustine: The Agony of Being Alone
Fast forward to Augustine and his Confessions around 400 C.E. This is when the modern, agonized, private self was truly invented…
