Final answer:
Anatman is a Buddhist concept that challenges the idea of a permanent self or soul, asserting that there is no enduring self.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anatman is a Buddhist concept that means 'no-self' or the denial of a permanent self. It challenges the Western notion of an enduring self or soul. According to Buddhism, there is no persistent self; the idea of a separate and permanent self is considered illusory.
The term Anatman, which originates from Buddhist philosophy, translates to no-self and signifies the denial of a permanent, unchanging self within individuals. This concept opposes the views of many Western and some Eastern traditions, where a constant soul or spirit (atman) is believed to exist. The idea of Anatman extends to the doctrine of dependent origination, which suggests that all phenomena are interrelated and continuously changing, thus the existence of an eternal, unalterable self is rejected.
In Buddhist thought, this has significant implications for personal identity and the nature of existence. It challenges the notion of a persistent core identity, thereby dramatically altering the understanding of selfhood in contrast to views that assert the existence of an enduring universal soul or being, commonly found in Judeo-Christian and Hindu doctrines. The implication for the self is a dynamic, ever-changing process rather than a static entity.