Introduction Understanding the self is probably one of the greatest intellectual challenges for humans. Philosophers have undertaken the challenging task of developing insight into the nature of the human self. In most cases, they come up with different conclusions and often give conflicting arguments to support their conclusions. The main aim of this paper is to look into the arguments presented by Rene Descartes and David Hume on the issue of the self. In the paper, the author will analyze how the two philosophers view the issues that differentiate one’s particular “self” from that of the others. A critical analysis of the arguments made by the two philosophers reveals that Descartes puts forward a more convincing argument than Hume. The reason is that Hume opposes theories that claim a simple idea of the self. He regards them as incoherent. He also voices strong objections to the idea that there could be no impression of the self. However, he does not provide enough evidence to support his position. He acknowledges that others may find an impression of the self, yet he does not. Hume’s position of the self is also very confusing. In some instances, he disregards the existence of the self. However, in other parts of the treatise, he allows for that very possibility. In addition, one cannot help but wonder why Hume first proves that there is no impression of the self and then goes ahead to look for it. He contradicts himself since he claims that one can discover their self through reflection. But when he does this, he claims to find no indication of himself. The Nature of Self-Knowledge: Descartes’ and Hume’s Philosophical Positions Hume and Descartes hold different views regarding the issue of the essence of the self. For instance, Descartes takes an entirely new and thoroughly modern approach to understand the perspective of the self. To this end, the philosopher takes a deep and critical look into the individual’s thinking processes. He came up with the cogito principle to try to explain the existence of the self (Descartes, 2008). On the other hand, David Hume is a bundle theorist. He holds the view that the self is nothing but a bundle of experiences. The experiences are linked together by the dynamics associated with causation and remembrance (Hume, 2007). Descartes’ Perspective of the Self The philosopher is well known for his writings on this topic. He provides ground for all forms of knowledge. He came to the conclusion that the ground was located in the self-awareness of his own existence (Descartes, 2008). He came up with the concept of cogito ergo sum . In modern English, this conception can be translated as “I am conscious therefore I exist” (Descartes, 2008). In his book, the philosopher argues that one cannot coherently doubt their own existence as a conscious thinking entity. The reason is that the very act of doubting implies their reality. In other words, one can never truly say “I do not exist”. He explains that even if one is dreaming or hallucinating, the self is still engaged. The reality remains even in cases where the consciousness of the individual is manipulated by an external agent (Descartes, 2008). Descartes goes further to answer the question of what exactly exists when one is said to be living in reality. The philosopher concludes that the self that is known to exist is a form of consciousness. He views it as a reflection of selfsame awareness. In additio