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Questions and Answers
What is the capacity of the soul according to the content?
What is the capacity of the soul according to the content?
According to Socrates, the body is perfect and the soul is imperfect.
According to Socrates, the body is perfect and the soul is imperfect.
False
What does 'Cogito Ergo Sum' mean?
What does 'Cogito Ergo Sum' mean?
I think, therefore I exist
According to Plato, the three parts of self are reason, spirit, and _______.
According to Plato, the three parts of self are reason, spirit, and _______.
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What is 'Tabula Rasa' in relation to John Locke?
What is 'Tabula Rasa' in relation to John Locke?
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David Hume believes that the self is just an illusion.
David Hume believes that the self is just an illusion.
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Match the philosopher with their main idea:
Match the philosopher with their main idea:
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What is the significance of observable behavior according to Gilbert Ryle?
What is the significance of observable behavior according to Gilbert Ryle?
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Immanuel Kant unified rationalism and empiricism.
Immanuel Kant unified rationalism and empiricism.
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Study Notes
Philosophical Perspectives on the Self
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Philosophers and Concepts of the Soul
- Ancient Greek philosophers emphasized the duality of body and soul.
- Philo signifies love, while Sophia stands for wisdom.
- The soul is perceived as perfect, in contrast with the imperfect body.
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Socrates
- Advocated for self-knowledge with the principle of "Know Thyself."
- Believed an unexamined life lacks value.
- Introduced the Socratic Method focusing on introspection.
- Highlighted the dualistic concept where the body is material and imperfect, while the soul is logical and perfect.
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Plato
- Socrates' student who expanded the concept with three parts of the self:
- Reason: Focus on logic and knowledge.
- Spirit: Emotional aspects of self.
- Physical Appetite: Biological needs.
- Emphasized that reason should guide actions toward the greater good.
- Socrates' student who expanded the concept with three parts of the self:
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Aristotle
- Integrated Socratic and Platonic ideas, emphasizing the soul’s functionality:
- Vegetative Soul: Growth functions.
- Sentiment Soul: Desires in animals.
- Rational Soul: Capacity for thought and reasoning.
- Integrated Socratic and Platonic ideas, emphasizing the soul’s functionality:
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St. Augustine
- Presented a God-centered view of the self, implying a divine influence on personal identity.
Enlightenment and Modern Philosophers
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John Locke
- Proposed the concept of Tabula Rasa, suggesting individuals are born as blank slates.
- Self is shaped through experiences and collective memories, found in consciousness.
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David Hume
- Argued against the existence of a permanent self, viewing it as an illusion.
- Considered self to be a construct formed from experiences and imagination.
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Immanuel Kant
- Offered a synthesis between rationalist and empiricist views.
- Distinguished between an internal world (thoughts, emotions) and an external world (situations).
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Gilbert Ryle
- Proposed that "I act therefore I am," viewing observable behavior as defining the self.
- Suggested self-identity is formed through the observation of actions.
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Paul Churchland
- Asserted that without the brain, there is no self.
- Highlighted the role of neuroscience in understanding the structure of the self via brain functions.
- Parietal Lobe: Responsible for sensory perception.
- Occipital Lobe: Associated with vision.
- Temporal Lobe: Linked to hearing.
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Maurice Merleau-Ponty
- Introduced perspectives of subjectivity, existentialism, and phenomenology in understanding selfhood.
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Description
Explore the foundational ideas of ancient Greek philosophers about the self and the soul. This quiz covers key concepts from Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, focusing on the duality of body and soul as well as the elements that make up the self. Test your understanding of these influential theories and their implications on self-knowledge.
