The Objective Endurance of the Minimal Self According to Dan Zahavi and Its Implication on the Use of Facebook
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Abstract
This paper examines the endurance of the Minimal Self in digital environments, particularly within the context of Facebook. Drawing on Dan Zahavi’s phenomenological framework, the study challenges the dominant assumption that online identity is entirely constructed through narratives or social interactions. Instead, it argues that digital engagement - including self-presentation and interaction on Facebook - presupposes the Minimal Self as an essential experiential structure. The paper critiques conventional theories of online identity that overemphasize narrative self-construction, demonstrating that, despite Facebook’s role in mediating social relations, there remains an irreducible first-personal dimension to digital selfhood. Through an analysis of how Facebook users navigate their profiles, interactions, and digital traces, this study reveals that self-experience persists beyond social or algorithmic structuring. The findings reinforce Zahavi’s claim that selfhood is not contingent on external validation but is grounded in pre-reflective self-awareness. The paper thus calls for a reconsideration of digital identity theories, recognizing the Minimal Self’s role in shaping online presence and its implications for the study of human self-experience in networked environments.
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