Hume believes that self is an illusion or a fiction because he believes that self is a collection of impressions that we make perceptions which we get from our thoughts and our senses.
Hume states that “If any impression gives rise to the idea of self, that impression must continue invariable the same, through the whole course of our lives;” He is saying that to know one self has to be a constant idea, therefore impressions must be constant as well. The problem with impressions being constant is that they are subject to change as we grow and mature, therefore self cannot exist. One minute we can be happy, and the next minute we may be sad and our impression has changed, a change in impression leads to a change in self. “It cannot be from any of these impressions, or from any other, that the idea of self is obtained and consequently there is no such idea.”
Basically, what Hume is saying is self cannot exist when our thoughts and impressions are changing. Identity is something that can be altered and changed as our perceptions and impressions change. I agree with Hume that our perceptions and impression do change with time. There were points in my life where I accepted certain things, and enjoyed certain activities, and today may find intolerable but it still doesn’t change who I am. I believe identity remains constant from birth.
W/C:238
Adrian Leyva 