One of the staples of philosophical ruminations that possesses universal significance is the subject of identity. When the philosopher asks, who are you, she is asking for the mapping of the boundaries of what constitutes the self. What does it mean to talk about the self of a person? What constitutes the identity parameters of that self? Is the self a being or a becoming? While many philosophers over the long existence of the philosophical enterprise have explored what the self could possibly be, so many others too, from David Hume and the existentialists to Buddhism, argue that the idea of the self and its identity is an illusion.
And yet, despite philosophical approval or disapproval, identity remains a very potent concept in determining and nuancing human social relations. From sexual to ethnic identity, there are lots of conflicts and animosities that run on how people perceive themselves and others
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