Does identity matter anyway? I have my doubts. We are what we do, not what we think. Only the interactions count {there is no problem with free will here; that's not incompatible with believing your actions define you}. And what is free will anyway? Chance. The random factor. If one is not ultimately predictable, then of course that's all it can be.
The quote from Iain M. Banks' "The Player of Games" raises questions about the significance of identity. It suggests that our true essence stems from our actions rather than our thoughts or self-perception. The emphasis on interactions highlights that what we do in the world defines who we are, suggesting that identity is fluid and context-dependent.
Furthermore, the text challenges the concept of free will, proposing that randomness plays a crucial role in human behavior. If predictability does not fully capture our actions, then chance becomes an integral part of understanding human identity. This perspective invites readers to reconsider how they define themselves in relation to their actions and the unpredictability of life.
