Philosophers on the Self

Philosophers on the Self

• Thomas Aquinas proposed that man consists of both matter (hyle) and form (morpe), defining form as the essence of life.
• René Descartes introduced the phrase "I think, therefore I am," and is recognized as the Father of Modern Philosophy, questioning the physical body’s existence through hyperbolical doubt.
• John Locke's view on identity emphasizes memory alongside mind and body, stating that identity evolves through psychological connections across life stages, introducing the concept of Tabula Rasa (blank slate).
• David Hume argued that "All knowledge is derived from human senses," contributing to empiricism; he proposed the Bundle Theory, where the self is a collection of impressions and ideas defined by experience.
• Sigmund Freud highlighted that the ego is not the master of the house, identifying drives of Eros (life) and Thanatos (death), and categorizing the mind into Id, Ego, and Superego.
• Gilbert Ryle rejected the notion of a non-physical self, suggesting that the self is merely a reference to behavior.
• Merleau-Ponty also dismissed dualism, asserting that mind and body are inseparable.

Filipino Psychology and Kapwa

• Kapwa is a core value in Filipino psychology, categorized into two types: Ibang Tao (those who pass by) and Hindi Ibang Tao (close individuals).
• Modern society significantly influences individual self-construction, fostering interconnectedness between self and community.
• Key Filipino values include Hiya (social propriety), Utang na loob (debt of gratitude), Pakiramdam (empathy), Pakikisama (social harmony), Kagandahang-loob (kindness), and Kapwa (collective identity).
• Characteristics of modernity involve industrialism, capitalism, institutions of surveillance, and dynamism.

Social Groups and the Individual

• A social group consists of two or more individuals sharing characteristics, while a social network reflects connections within groups.
• Organic groups arise naturally through family ties, while rational groups form based on shared interests.
• Self-development viewed through Mead’s stages includes language, play, and game, highlighting the interplay of self-perception ("I") and public perception ("Me").

Anthropological Perspectives on Self

• Anthropology takes a holistic view of human nature, focusing on interactions between cultural and biological factors shaping the self.
• Egocentric individuals (e.g., Americans) act independently, whereas sociocentric individuals depend on social contexts.
• Identity is shaped through kinship, family, and sociocultural influences, with language and religion serving as significant markers.
• Identity changes are marked by rites of passage: separation, liminality, and incorporation phases reflect transitions in status.

The Self in Sociology and Psychology

• Theodor Adorno noted that the self’s existence is intertwined with society.
• Psychology examines human behavior and mental processes, focusing on individual stages of development, consciousness, and social influence.
• Four goals of psychology aim to describe, explain, predict, and modify behaviors.
• Jean Piaget’s cognitive development theory includes concepts like schema (knowledge organization) and adaptation (meeting situational demands).
• Gordon Allport discussed functional autonomy in motives and the significance of traits as enduring characteristics.

Freudian and Ego States

• Freud outlined psychosexual development stages: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital, each associated with particular erogenous zones.
• Eric Berne identified three ego states in personality: Parent (authority), Adult (rational), and Child (spontaneous).

The Proactive Self - Albert Bandura

• Bandura emphasized a proactive self capable of initiating actions and agentic belief, involving self-reflectiveness towards one's life direction.

True vs. False Self - Winnicott

• The False Self emerges from inadequate parenting, aligning behavior with external expectations, while the True Self flourishes under responsive care, representing creativity and authenticity.

Western vs. Eastern Thoughts on Self

• Western thought uses scientific methods to study the self, focusing on individualistic perspectives.
• Eastern thought addresses the meaning of life, emphasizing relational identity and practical aspects of existence.
• Buddhism teaches the concept of no self, emphasizing impermanence (Annica) and a life without fixed identity.
• Hinduism prioritizes knowledge of true reality (Brahman) and the law of karma, illustrating the cycles of rebirth and the pursuit of Nirvana.
• Confucianism promotes self-realization through moral character and societal roles, centered on the Principle of Reciprocity.
• Taoism advocates for selflessness and harmony with nature, valuing simplicity and balance between opposing elements (Yin and Yang).

Explore the profound ideas of major philosophers regarding the concept of the self. From Aquinas's distinction of matter and form to Freud's intricate model of the mind, this quiz delves into the philosophies that shape our understanding of identity, consciousness, and existence.