The self is a conceptual chimera

'Hume's idea — and Buddha's as well — that the self is an ever-changing collection of beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes, that it is not an essential and persistent entity, but rather a conceptual chimera. If this belief ever became widely and viscerally felt throughout a society — whether because of advances in neurobiology, cognitive science, philosophical insights, or whatever — its effects on that society would be incalculable.'
Isn't that your professed conception of the self? Hmm. How would widespread belief in it change things? Would it lead to people becoming more selfless, as they cease to be so much concerned about their physical, concrete, individual being and start thinking about shared ideals and humanity? Or would it just lead to mass nihilism?
Oh well. The site this was taken from is rather more interesting than the scattered Lobsters in this Forest. Take a look here at the original page.