The Philosophical Perspective of The Self

Republic of the Philippines
AURORA STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Zabali, Baler, Aurora
Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
1st Semester, SY 2021-2022
Chapter 1
Course Topic: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SELF

Educational Objectives of the chapter:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Explore the issues and concerns regarding self from various perspectives.
2. Analyze the different representation and conceptualization of the self from various perspectives.
3. Write their own philosophies that stand to what they believe in.
Discussion:
PHILOSOPHY
 The etymological definition of philosophy is love of wisdom.
 Philosophy employs the inquisitive mind to discover the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles of
everything.
 The nature of the self is a topic of interest among philosophers.
The philosophical framework for understanding the self was first introduced by ancient Greek
Philosophers : Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
“know thyself” -Socrates
Notable Philosophers:
1. Socrates
“An unexamined life is not worth living.” – SOCRATES
 SELF is synonymous with the SOUL.
 The SOUL is IMMORTAL.
- Socrates believed that every human possessed an immortal soul.
 Human life does not end at one’s death.
- DEATH – departure of the soul for the eternal world
In Socrates’ concept of REALITY, it consists of two (2) dichotomous Realms: Physical realm and
Ideal realm.
PHYSICAL Realm – changeable, transient, and imperfect. The Body belongs to the physical realm.
IDEAL Realm – unchanging, eternal, and immortal. The Soul belongs to the ideal realm.
 Socrates was the first thinker to focus on the full power of reason on the human self: who we are,
who we should be, and who we will become.
 The soul strives for wisdom and perfection, and reason is the soul’s tool to achieve an exalted state
of life.
”Our preoccupation with bodily needs such as food, drink, sex, pleasure, material possessions, and
wealth keep us from attaining wisdom. “ - SOCRATES
 Goodness or Beauty is the most important of all.
 A person can have a meaningful and happy life only if he becomes virtuous and knows the value of
himself that can be achieved through constant soul-searching.
- “Separate the body from the soul as much as possible”
 Soul searching must begin at the source of all knowledge and significance – the self
The Socratic Method (Introspection) – a method of carefully examining our thoughts and emotions
to gain self-knowledge. (Reflecting, talking to oneself)
2. PLATO : The Soul is Immortal
 The self is synonymous with the soul.
 Plato’s philosophy of the self can be explained as a process of self-knowledge and purification of the
soul.
 The self consists of three parts: Reason, Spirit or Passion, and Physical Appetite.
REASON SPIRIT/PASSION PHYSICAL APPETITE

Is the divine essence that Includes basic emotions such as Includes our basic biological
enables us to think deeply, love, anger, ambition, needs such as hunger, thirst,
make wise choices, and aggressiveness, and empathy and sexual desire.
achieve a true understanding
of eternal truths.
 These 3 elements of ourselves are in a dynamic relationship with one another, sometimes in
conflict.
 Reason is responsible in sorting things out and exerting control, to restore a harmonious relationship
among the 3 elements of ourselves.
“Genuine happiness can only be achieved by people who consistently make sure that their Reason is in
control of their Spirits and Appetites” – PLATO
3. ARISTOTLE: The SOUL is the essence of the self

 For Aristotle, the body and soul are not two separate elements but are one thing.
 The SOUL is simply the Form of the BODY, and is not capable of existing without the body.
 The soul is that which makes a person a person.
 Aristotle suggested that anything with life has soul.
 His discussion about the self centers on the kinds of soul possessed by man.
 He introduced the three kinds of soul: vegetative, sentient, and rational.
SENTIENT RATIONAL
VEGETATIVE
Includes the sensual desires, Is what makes a man human. It
Includes the physical body that
feelings, and EMOTIONS. includes the INTELLECT that
can GROW.
makes man know and
understand things.
“The rational nature of the self is to lead a GOOD, FLOURISHING, and FULFILLING life.”
- Aristotle-
4. ST. AUGUSTINE: I am doubting, therefore I am

 St. Augustine integrated the ideas of Plato and Christianity.
 He developed a more unified perspective on the body and soul.
 The soul is what governs and defines the human person of the self.
 The soul is united with the body so that man may be entire and complete.
 The physical body is different from and inferior to its inhabitant, the immortal soul.
 Augustine described that humankind is created in the image and likeness of God.
 Augustine believed that God is transcendent and everything created by God who is all good is good.
 The self is known only through knowing God.
 God is transcendent and that the self seeks to be united with God through FAITH and REASON.
 In Augustine’s mission to discover the truth on the existence of God, he developed the fundamental
concept of the human person and thus, provided the philosophical principle, “I am doubting,
therefore I am”
“Knowledge can only come by seeing the TRUTH that dwells within us.”
- St. Augustine-
5. RENE DESCARTES: I think therefore I am

 For him, the act of thinking about the self – of being self-conscious – is in itself proof that there is
self.
 For Descartes, the essence of the self – a thinking entity that doubts, understands, analyzes,
questions, and reasons.
Two (2) Dimensions of the Self:
THINKING SELF (soul) PHYSICAL BODY

Is the nonmaterial, immortal, conscious Is the material, mortal, non-thinking
being, and independent of the physical entity, fully governed by the physical
laws of the universe. laws of nature.
*The soul & body are independent of one another and each can exist and function without the other.
6. JOHN LOCKE: The self is consciousness

 The Human mind at birth is like a Tabularasa or Blank slate.
 He felt that the self, or personal identity, is constructed primarily from sense experiences – or more
specifically, what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. These experiences shape and mold the self
throughout a person’s life.
7. DAVID HUME: There is no self

 Hume suggests that if people carefully examine their sense experience through the process of
introspection, they will discover that there is no self.
 According to Hume, what people experience is just a bundle or collection of different perception,
impressions, sensations, ideas, thoughts, and images.
“The idea of personal identity is a result of IMAGINATION”
- David Hume-
8. IMMANUEL KANT: We construct the self
 According to Kant, it is the self that makes experiencing an intelligible world possible because it is
the self that is actively organizing and synthesizing all of our thoughts and perceptions.
 In other words, the self constructs its own reality creating a world that is familiar and predictable.
 Through our rationality, the self transcends sense experience.
9. SIGMUND FREUD: The self is Multilayered

 The self consists of three layers:
CONSCIOUS PRECONSCIOUS UNCONSCIOUS

Is governed by the reality Is located between the Contains the basic instinctual
principle and is organized in conscious and unconscious drives that would be considered
ways that are rational, practical, part of the self that is not socially taboo and is governed
threatening and is easily
and appropriate.
brought to mind.
by the pleasure principle .
10. GILBERT RYLE: The self is the way people behave

 The self is best understood as a pattern of behavior, the tendency or disposition for a person to
behave in a certain way in certain circumstances.
 The self is the same as bodily behavior.
“I ACT therefore I am.” -
Gilbert Ryle-
11. PAUL CHURCHLAND: The self is the BRAIN
 The self is inseparable from the brain and the physiology of the body.
 All we have is the brain and so, if the brain is gone, there is no self.
 For Churchland, the Physical brain and not the imaginary mind, gives us our sense of self.
12. MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY: The self is embodied subjectivity

 All knowledge of ourselves and our world is based on subjective experience.
 The self can never be truly objectified or known in a completely objective sort of
Reflection Paper #1
What is your Philosophy in life? From the Philosophers, who among them is aligned to what you
believe in life. Explain.
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UNDERSTANDING MYSELF
Words That Describe Me
ACTIVITY #1:
Circle the words that describe you. Add words that you think describe you.
Adaptive Self-Aware Tolerant
Dependable Intelligent Fearless
Compassionate Hard Worker Capable with Hands
Respectful Calm Humble
Energetic Eccentric Clever
Creative Confident Thoughtful
Complex Realistic Cautious
Balanced Cooperative Shy
Quiet Attentive Picky
Other Words that describe you: ____________________________

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
ACTIVITY #2
Your Personal Identity
“Who Are You?”
Roles
What are the responsibilities you have taken in your
life?
Your Personal Identity
“Who Are You?”
Family History Values

Introduce your family What is really important to
you?
Interests
What are you most
interested in?

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Republic of the Philippines

AURORA STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences

Course Topic: PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SELF

REASON SPIRIT/PASSION PHYSICAL APPETITE

3. ARISTOTLE: The SOUL is the essence of the self

4. ST. AUGUSTINE: I am doubting, therefore I am

5. RENE DESCARTES: I think therefore I am

THINKING SELF (soul) PHYSICAL BODY

6. JOHN LOCKE: The self is consciousness

7. DAVID HUME: There is no self

9. SIGMUND FREUD: The self is Multilayered

CONSCIOUS PRECONSCIOUS UNCONSCIOUS

10. GILBERT RYLE: The self is the way people behave

12. MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY: The self is embodied subjectivity

Other Words that describe you: ____________________________

Family History Values

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