Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

• Mind-Body Duality: Philosophers generally agree on the concept of a mind-body duality, meaning that the self is composed of both a mind (spiritual essence) and a body (physical material).

The Mind

• Metaphysical Object: The mind exists in the metaphysical world, separate from the physical world.
• Perfect Soul: The mind is envisioned as a perfect soul residing within the body.
• Discovery of Truth: The true self is discovered through understanding the truths within our thoughts.

The Body

• Physical Object: The body is a physical object made of physical matter.
• Interaction with the Physical World: It exists and interacts with the physical world.
• Imperfect and Deceptive: The body is seen as imperfect and its senses, while providing information, are considered deceptive and not reliable for understanding truth.

Socrates

• The Soul: The true self lies within the soul, the rational part of our being.
• Mind-Body Connection: The self is a union of body and soul, with the soul being the true self, unchanging and immortal.
• Knowing the Self: To care for the self, we must understand it through questioning, leading to the Socratic method.
• Body as a Receptacle: The body serves as a vessel for the soul.

Plato

• Tripartite Soul: The soul is composed of three parts:
  • Reason: The rational part that governs logic and understanding.
  • Appetite: The irrational part driven by basic instincts and desires.
  • Spirit: The emotional part, encompassing feelings like anger, love, and empathy.
• Dynamic Interaction: The three parts of the soul continuously interact, creating a dynamic balance.
• Chariot Analogy: Reason is the charioteer, while the appetite and spirit are the horses, requiring control and harmony.
• Similarity to Freud: Plato's three-part soul aligns closely with Sigmund Freud's model of the mind's structures.

Augustine of Hippo

• Mind as True Self: The true self resides within the mind, possessing consciousness and the ability to comprehend God.
• Inner Knowledge: We possess an internal awareness of our existence that constitutes the true self.
• Searching for Truth: We can uncover the self through questioning, utilizing the Socratic method.
• Body-Soul Union: The body and soul are united, reflecting the oneness of the Trinity.
• Divine Image: Being created in God's image, understanding ourselves leads us to understanding God.

Rene Descartes

• Mind-Body Distinction: The mind and body are distinct entities, but the mind is primary and the body secondary.
• "I Think, Therefore I Am": The ability to doubt our existence demonstrates the power of thought, proving our existence.
• Self-Doubt and Belief: Beliefs about the self should be doubted until they are internally validated.
• Pineal Gland: Descartes suggests the pineal gland as the point of interaction between the mind and body.

John Locke

• Tabula Rasa: We are born as blank slates, with our consciousness shaping our selves.
• Continuity of Consciousness: Consciousness provides a sense of unity through time, linking past, present, and future selves.
• Rejecting Innate Knowledge: Locke disagrees with the notion of being born with innate knowledge.
• Self as Consciousness: The self is anything possessing consciousness.

David Hume

• No True Self: Hume proposes that there is no permanent, unchanging self.
• Fleeting Impressions: Our experiences consist of changing impressions and ideas, lacking permanence.
• Self as Amalgamation: The self is a collection of fleeting impressions.
• Death and Non-Existence: With death, our existence ceases, meaning there's no lingering self.