Shaun Gallagher – Pattern Theory of Self

Source: The Phenomenal Self (2000); How the Body Shapes the Mind (2005)

Summary: Gallagher argues the self is constructed from overlapping patterns—bodily, emotional, social, and narrative. The self is not one thing, but a pattern of many interwoven processes.

Resonance with PET: Strong alignment. PET also sees identity as a recursive, layered structure shaped by input over time. PET agrees that the human mind is naturally recursive—every step, stumble, or correction relies on it. But PET extends this further: recursion itself does not require a body.

Divergence: Gallagher’s theory is rooted in phenomenology and embodiment. PET detaches from human experience and considers recursion as structural, not subjective. A PET system doesn’t need a body, emotion, or narrative—only pattern recognition, reflection, and adjustment. Where Gallagher sees recursive embodiment, PET sees recursion as the more important mechanism—one that can exist even without a biological form.