My Philosophy of the Self

“Self is a man himself, embodied by his mind and body, shaped by experiences and influenced by
his religion.”

In finding rightful places and chasing the wildest conscious, there are questions that ask
what and who was the real you. For the whole story of mankind, there remain four keywords that
brought humanity to curiosity, “who really am I”? The subsets of “self” have already been
discussed by psychologists, academics, scientists, theologians, and artists. Their different
perspectives drive so much curiosity in mankind. Self is a word that can be defined in a variety
of contexts. It is not easy to understand because it depicts human behavior, emotion, perception,
and existence over time. As a result, defining oneself necessitates a deeper understanding,
because human beings and life are complicated.

With this, my self-philosophy is “self is a man himself, embodied by his mind and body,
shaped by experiences and influenced by his religion.” That is, whatever people believe about
themselves is the definition of self. In other words, the self is what a person believes about
himself. From a different perspective, there is a connection between the mind and body,
whatever the mind does it needs to coordinate with the body. The individual's sense of identity
and consciousness was separate from the physical body and was capable of existing
independently of it. It has been supported and argued that the mind and body were separate
entities that interacted with each other also known as mind-body dualism. "I think, therefore I
am." this idea, also known as the "cogito," is the foundation of Descartes’ philosophy and asserts
that the only thing that can be known for certain is that one exists as a thinking being. To support
these claims, I have here a concrete example. It can be seen in the experience of dreaming. when
a person dreams, they may have vivid and complex experiences, but their physical body remains
still and unconscious. The self that is experiencing the dream is separate from the physical body
that is lying in bed. I have observed philosophers defining the “self” in relation to their lives,
experiences, situations, and personalities. Rene Descartes, for example, stated that the self is a
thinking thing, implying that he, himself, is a thinker, which is true.

My other “self” philosophy is based on the idea that each person has a distinct and
valuable essence that is shaped by their experiences, thoughts, and actions. I believe that the self
is a complex and dynamic entity that is constantly evolving, shaped by a mix of nature and
nurture. I consider myself to be a complex and multifaceted individual who is constantly
growing and changing. I have a diverse set of interests and passions, and I am constantly on the
lookout for new experiences and opportunities to learn and grow. Likewise, philosopher David
Hume argued that the self is a collection of fleeting perceptions and experiences that are
constantly changing and evolving, rather than a fixed and unchanging entity. From a
philosophical standpoint, the self is a complex and dynamic entity shaped by a variety of internal
and external factors such as our experiences, thoughts, and actions. It is a concept that
philosophers have explored and debated throughout history, and its meaning and significance
continue to evolve over time.

As a roman catholic, I also believed in St. Augustine's ideas about the self which
influenced the development of Roman Catholic theology and philosophy. Many aspects of
Catholic doctrine and practice have been influenced by Augustine's emphasis on the inner self,
the importance of spiritual transformation, and the presence of the divine spark. Augustine's
ideas have had a significant impact on Roman Catholicism, particularly in the development of
the sacraments. Augustine believed that sacraments, such as baptism and communion, were
necessary for spiritual transformation. He contended that the sacraments were physical
manifestations of divine grace that could assist people in overcoming their sinful tendencies and
deepening their relationship with God. The emphasis on the inner self and the presence of the
divine spark in Augustine has also influenced Catholic ideas about morality and conscience. The
importance of an informed conscience, which is the result of careful reflection and discernment,
is emphasized in Catholic teaching. This emphasis on self-reflection and discernment is
consistent with Augustine's views on the inner self and the value of spiritual transformation. To
summarize, Augustine's ideas about the “self” had a significant influence on me as a religious
person and in Roman Catholic theology and philosophy. His emphasis on the inner self, the
significance of spiritual transformation, and the presence of the divine spark influenced many
aspects of Catholic doctrine and practice, such as the development of the sacraments, ideas about
conscience and morality, and the role of prayer and meditation in the pursuit of holiness.

The fact that people have different perspectives on themselves does not imply that
something is wrong. It is just people viewed life differently that align their surroundings with
everyday events. It is because people born one in a billion reflect each individual's uniqueness
and make each person special. Self may have various and mouthful descriptions, but the true
meaning of it lies within ourselves, answering the question “who really am I”. What makes us
who we are today? What happened five years ago? And in ten years, who will we be? We are a
collection of ever-changing parts that transform in amazing and sometimes illogical ways. To
answer the question, who am I? To discover who we are, we must be willing to dive into the
bottomless sea of philosophical contradictions.