[mumbi]

I agree and have no qualms with people's use of heroin, and have dabbled, myself. It was only presented as an example.

To amplify, there is nothing morally wrong with anti-depressants either. However morality is not the issue of my concern, the deadening of true self is.

[brazzy]

Most descriptions of depression I have read sound like "the deadening of the true self" is what depression does, and any effective treatment would rather be the revival of the true self.

[ehmish]

I'm not too concerned if my "true self" dies, growth means change, and change can mean death of a previous "self"

[mumbi]

I think you misunderstand what I mean by true self. Yes, our self does change at every moment and is "reborn." However, it is still a true self as it is not artificially modified.

[md224]

Is artificially modifying one's self ipso facto a bad thing? What's your basis for this claim?

[mumbi]

There is no basis for me claiming that artificially modifying one's self is a bad thing, as I never made that claim. I only pointed out an observation.

[mistercow]

I find it extremely doubtful that you can actually give a definition of "true self" which meets the following conditions: 1) coherent and non-contradictory, 2) in accordance with reality, and 3) something a person should care about preserving.

I find it even more doubtful that you can give a definition of "artificially modified" which is meaningfully distinct from natural change.