miniminä
Miniminä is a Finnish philosophical term used to describe the minimal or pre-reflective sense of self that accompanies conscious experience. It denotes the immediate first-person perspective that makes events feel like they are happening to “me” without reflective narrative. The concept is commonly discussed in phenomenology and cognitive science as a counterpart to the narrative or autobiographical self, which develops through memory and life-story.
Etymology and usage: The word combines minää (I) with mini (mini), signaling a basic layer of selfhood
Core characteristics: The miniminä is typically described as pre-reflective, deictic, and embedded in embodiment. It is
Relation to other selves: The concept contrasts with reflexive and narrative conceptions of self, which involve
Applications: The notion informs discussions on self-awareness, agency, embodiment, and disorders of self-experience in psychology, psychiatry,
Criticism: Some philosophers question the necessity or coherence of a distinct “minimal self,” arguing that selfhood
See also: Minimal self, Core self, Phenomenology, Self-awareness.