Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self

Created @August 16, 2024 8:04 PM

Philosophy

Philosophy comes from two Greek words: Empiricism → Experience is

knowledge.
philos— which means friend or lovers; sophia— which means
—Experience is the source of
wisdom.
knowledge
Love of wisdom
don't believe in intuition
The study of fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and
existence; especially when considered as an academic
discipline. Rationalism → Reason is knowledge

Mother of all disciplines; Simply because all field of study — Reason is the source of knowledge
began as philosophical discourses. believe in intuition

— Philosophy is about thinking carefully and critically about

the world and our place in it. It encourages us to question
assumptions, explore different viewpoints, and seek deeper
understanding.

Epistemology; is the branch of philosophy that deals with the

theory of knowledge. It involves the study of the nature, origin,
scope. and limits of knowledge.

Philosophers
Socrates (Rational) Plato (Rational)
; Socrates was a Greek philosopher and one of the very few ; Plato was a student of Socrates.
individuals who shaped Western thought.

— This means that a life

without reflection, “The Ideal Self, The perfect Self”
“The unexamined questioning, and search, for
— Theory of Forms —
life is not worth truth lacks depth and
purpose. He encouraged There exists a higher, non physical realm of reality that
living”
people to constantly seek contains the perfect, unchanging “Forms” or “Ideas” of
knowledge, reflect on their everything that exists in the physical world.
lives, and strive for self-
The ‘Soul’ is indeed the most divine aspect of the human
improvement.
being.
—→ The self consists of 2 → Every man is composed
dichotomous realms: of body and soul ( every
person is dualistic) — Tripartite Theory of —→ Justice in human can
1. Physical Realm
the Soul — only be attain if the three
All individuals has
2. Ideal Realm parts of the soul are
imperfect, In “The Republic”
working harmoniously with
impermanent aspect for [Magnum opus] Plato
another.
the body. describes the soul as
being composed in 3
Perfect and permanent
parts:
for soul.
1. Rational — The thinking part, which seeks truth and is
responsible for philosophical reasoning.
— Self - Knowledge —

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self 1

 “The examination of —→These are very 2. Spirited — The emotional part, which seek honor and is
one’s self” / the important concerns because responsible for courage and assertiveness.
question about how one only by knowing yourself
3. Appetitive — The part that desires physical pleasures,
ought to live one’s life. can you hope to improve
food drink, and other bodily needs.
your life.
“Self knowledge is the
ultimate virtue” — Virtue is defined as
moral excellence and an
individual is considered
virtuous, if his/her character
is made up of the moral
qualities that are accepted
as virtues such as courage,
temperance, prudence and
justice.

—He believed that if

someone truly know what is
good, they will naturally do
what is good. Therefore,
ignorance is the root of
wrongdoing. In his view, no
one willingly does evil;
they do it because they
don’t know what is truly
good.

— “Know Thyself” — He argued that people

Socrates believed that self- must examine their
knowledge is the own beliefs, motives,
foundation of wisdom. and values to live a
good and meaningful
life.

The idea of “Know

Thyself” suggest that
understanding oneself
is crucial for personal
growth and moral
development.

St. Augustine (Rational) St. Thomas Aquinas (Rational)

; African philosopher | Augustine is regarded as a saint in the ; An Italian Philosopher, Thomas is regarded as one of the
catholic church. most brilliant saints in the catholic church.

“A Virtuous Life is a Dynamism of Love” “The soul is what animates the body, it is
what makes us human”
He believes that the soul governs and define the human
person Man is composed of two parts:

— Image and Likeness of 1. Matter (hyle) – common stuff that makes up everything
God — in the universe.
—→ The concept of
Being made in the goodness is intrinsically 2. Form – essence of a substance or a thing.
image of God means tied to God. Who is the
that humans have ultimate standard of what is
inherent qualities good. — We don't encounter → experiencing that
reflecting God’s nature. ourselves as isolated minds something exist doesn't tell
or selves, but rather always us what it is.
agents interacting with out
→ “Who am I” can’t be
environment. answered by looking from
external but only through
the inside.

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self 2

 Rene Descartes (Rational) John Locke (Empiricists)
; “Father of Modern Philosophy” | Rene Descartes was a ; John Locke was a philosopher and physician and was one of
French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. the influential Enlightenment thinkers.

“I think therefore, I am” “Human mind at birth is “tabula rasa””,

which means that knowledge is derived
— “Cogito, ergo sum” —
from experience.”
I think, therefore I am | — The essence of the
This proposition human self a thinking entity Tabula rasa or →
became the that doubts, understand, Blank Slate
foundational element analyzes, questions and
The self consists — conscious awareness and
of his philosophy , reason.
of memory, that memory of previous
suggesting that →
the person existing experiences are the key to
while all else could be
now is the same understanding the self
doubted, the very act of
person yesterday
doubting confirms the
because he/she
existence of the
remembers the
thinker.
thoughts,
experience, or
actions of the
earlier self.

The self is
identified with
consciousness and
this self consists of
sameness of
consciousness.

David Hume (Empiricist) Immanuel Kant (Rational &

; David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, economist, and Empiricist)
historian during the age of Enlightenment ;Immanuel Kant is a German philosopher.

“The Self is the Bundle Theory of Mind” “Respect others as you would respect
yourself”
He described self or person as a bundle or a collection of
different perceptions that are moving in very fast and
successive manner; therefore, it is a “perpetual flux”.
—- Self Transcendental
—- —→ Self is related to non
Self is not entity over and beyond the physical body:
It exists independently spiritual and physical realm.
— Impressions— — Ideas — of experience —→ The self is not in the
basic object of our copies of impressions The self is the product body, the self is outside the
experience of reason, a regulative body and it does not have
these are the less
principle because the the qualities of the body
these are the forcible and less lively
perceptions that are the counterparts of self “regulates”
most strong. They enter impressions. These are experience by making
the senses with the mechanisms that copy unified experience
most force. and reproduce sense possible.
data formulated based
These are directly
upon the previously
experienced; they
perceived impressions.

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self 3

 result from inward and
— Self that makes —→ because it is the self
outward sentiments experiencing an that is actively organizing
understandable world all our thoughts and
possible. perceptions.

Gilbert Ryle (Empiricist) Paul Churchland (Empiricist)

; British philosopher ; American Philosopher

“Denying the concept of an internal, non- “The physical brain and not the imaginary
physical self” mind gives us our sense of self”

According to Ryle, the —→ Believed that the self All person has is the —→ Eliminative
rationalist view that is best understood as a brain and so, if the materialism —or the claim
mental acts are distinct pattern of behavior, the brain is gone, there is that peoples common sense
from physical acts and tendency for a person to no self. understanding of the mind
that there is a mental behave in a certain way in is false.
For Churchland,
world from the certain circumstances.
the physical brain and that certain classes
physical world is a
Convinced that the and not the of mental state which
misconception. mind express the most people believe,
imaginary mind,
Ryle described this entire system of give people the Do Not Exist.
distinction thoughts, emotions, sense of self.
between mind and and actions that
The self is the brain.
body as the dogma make up the human
of the ghost in the self.
machine where he
explained there is
no hidden entity or
ghost called soul
inside a machine
called body.

Merleau Ponty Sigmund Freud Erik Erikson

Parts of Personality: Psychosocial Stages of Self
development:
1. ID — Internal desire
“Mind and body are so Trust vs. Mistrust
2. Ego —reality
intertwined that they
Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt
cannot be separated from 3. Superego — conscience
Initiative vs. Guilt
one another”
Industry vs. Inferiority
The living body, his thoughts, emotions,
Identity vs. Role Confusion
and experiences are all one.
Intimacy vs. Isolation

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Integrity vs. Despair

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self 4