Philosophy of Self and Knowledge

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Questions and Answers

What is the weight of Class Standing in the grading criteria?

50%

The term 'philosophy' comes from the Greek word 'philoshopia'.

False

Who is known as the Father of Modern Philosophy?

Thomas Aquinas

René Descartes (correct)

David Hume

Socrates

What did Socrates believe was the true task of a philosopher?

Know thyself Signup and view all the answers

David Hume described the self as a ___ or collection of different perceptions.

bundle Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher proposed the concept of the mind-body dichotomy?

René Descartes Signup and view all the answers

What does Immanuel Kant believe the self requires?

An organizing principle that regulates impressions Signup and view all the answers

What is the essence of man according to Thomas Aquinas?

The soul Signup and view all the answers

Socrates said, 'An unexamined life is not worth ___.'

living Signup and view all the answers

The Greek word 'PHILOSOPHIA' is composed of 'PHILOS' meaning love and 'SOPHIA' meaning ___.

wisdom Signup and view all the answers

The first philosopher is known as Thales of ___.

Miletus Signup and view all the answers

In the study of Science, the material object refers to the subject matter of the ___ .

science Signup and view all the answers

Philosophy includes multiple branches such as ___, ethics, and metaphysics.

logic Signup and view all the answers

Formal objects refer to the particular attributes of the material object under study, also known as the ___ aspect.

formal Signup and view all the answers

Plato identified three components of the soul: Rational, Spirited, and ______.

Appetitive Signup and view all the answers

According to Descartes, 'I think therefore I ______.'

am Signup and view all the answers

David Hume described the self as a Tabula ______.

Rasa Signup and view all the answers

Immanuel Kant proposed that the self must have an organizing principle governed by the ______.

MIND Signup and view all the answers

Merleau-Ponty believed that the body and mind are ______ and cannot be separated.

intertwined Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Self

"Self" is explored through different philosophical perspectives.

Etymological & Technical Definition Of "Philosophy"

"Philosophy" originates from the Greek word "philosophia"
"Philosophia" combines two Greek words: "philos" meaning "love" and "sophia" meaning "wisdom", literally meaning "love of wisdom"
"Philosophy" is defined as the “science of beings in their ultimate reason, causes, and principles acquired by the aid of human reason alone”.

The Two Objects of Study in Science

The "Material Object" is the subject matter of the science.
The "Formal Object" is the particular attribute of the material object under study.

Different Philosophical Perspectives on "The Self"

Socrates: The first philosopher to question the self, his maxim is "Know thyself". He emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, stating that "an unexamined life is not worth living."
- He established the idea of the self as a duality, with a body and soul.
Plato: A student of Socrates who continued his exploration of the self.
- He proposed three components of the soul: rational, spirited, and appetitive.
- He believed the rational soul should govern the human person, emphasizing the importance of justice and virtue for the self.
Augustine: He believed in the existence of a perfectly good and just God.
- He proposed a bifurcated nature of the self, with the body destined to die on earth, and the soul destined to experience eternal life.
- He believed the intellect resides within the soul.
Thomas Aquinas: Focused on the idea of hylemorphism, the self consists of matter and form.
- He believes the essence of the self is the form, with the soul as the essence of man.
Rene Descartes: Known as the "father of modern philosophy."
- He established his famous assertion "I think, therefore I am".
  - He viewed the self as a thinking self, a mind.
- He believed in a mind-body dichotomy, with the body being a machine attached to the mind.
David Hume: An empiricist, he believed all knowledge originates from sensory experiences.
- He viewed the self as a "tabula rasa" (blank slate) at birth, shaped by experiences.
- He believed the self was simply a "bundle" of perceptions, impressions, and thoughts.
Immanuel Kant: Challenged Hume's position that the self only exists through experience.
- He argued the mind organizes and structures our perceptions, creating a unified self.
- He believed the self is an apparatus of the mind.
Gilbert Ryle: Focused on behaviorism, emphasizing the importance of behavior for understanding the self.
- He argued that the self manifests in daily life through observed behaviors.

Philosophy Definition and Etymology

Philosophy comes from the Greek word "philosophia": "philos" (love) and "sophia" (wisdom)
The origin of philosophy can be traced to the 6th century BCE in the town of Miletus in Ancient Greece
"Lover of wisdom" was the title given to those who did not claim to have knowledge but were considered wise
Thales of Miletus is considered the first philosopher and was known for his belief that everything was made of water.
The technical definition: "scientia rerum per causas primas sub lumine rationis naturalis" which translates to "the science of beings in their ultimate reasons, causes, and principles acquired by the aid of human reason alone".
Philosophy can be understood as the science or study of beings in their ultimate reasons, causes, and principles using human reason.

Philosophy - Material Object and Formal Object

Philosophy is the study of things in their ultimate reason, causes, and principles.
There are two objects of study in any science:
- the Material Object or the subject matter of the science
- the Formal Object which refers to the particular attributes of the material object under study.
The Formal Object is the specific aspect a science focuses on in the material object. Formal Object is further broken into two categories:
- Quod (What): what is being immediately and primarily apprehended by the science
- Quo (How): the medium or methods the science uses to study its object
In Philosophy, the material object is being (all things) and the formal object is the first cause or highest principle of things
Philosophy studies all things through the lens of human reason.

Branches of Philosophy

Metaphysics: The study of the nature of reality and existence
Epistemology: The study of knowledge, its nature, scope, and justification
Logic: The study of valid reasoning and argumentation
Ethics: The study of morality and values, including right and wrong
Cosmology: The study of the origin and nature of the universe
Philosophy of Man: The study of the nature of human beings, including their mind, soul, and consciousness
Theodicy: The study of the problem of evil and suffering in the world
Political Philosophy: The study of government, justice, and the nature of political power

Notable Philosophers and their perspectives on the Self

Socrates:
- The first philosopher to systematically question the self and promoted the idea of "know thyself".
- Believed that "an unexamined life is not worth living".
- Believed in Dualism and that man is made up of both a body and a soul.
Plato:
- Plato was a student of Socrates.
- He proposed three components to the soul: rational, spirited, and appetitive.
- Believed that reason should govern human beings.
- Proposed that the soul (Self) should strive for justice and be virtuous.
Augustine:
- Believed God created man and the Earth from nothing.
- Believed in the bifurcated nature of the self: the body is bound to die on earth and the soul is eternal.
- Said that the intellect resides in the soul.
Thomas Aquinas:
- Introduced the idea of hylemorphism which posits that everything, including the self, is made up of both matter and form.
- The essence of the self is the form.
- The soul is the essence of man.
Rene Descartes:
- Father of Modern Philosophy
- Famous for stating "I think therefore I am"
- Believed in the thinking self as the essence of the self.
- Proposed a mind-body dichotomy where the body is just a machine attached to the mind.
David Hume:
- Believed that we learn about the world through experience (Empiricism) and that nothing comes to the mind except through experience.
- Considered the self as a tabula rasa (blank slate) and a bundle of perceptions and impressions.
Immanuel Kant:
- Argued that considering the self as a simple combination of experiences is problematic.
- Believed that the mind must organize these impressions to create the self.
- Proposed the self as an apparatus of the mind.
Gilbert Ryle:
- Believed that the behavior a person manifests in day-to-day life is what truly matters.
- Claimed that the "self" is not an entity and that the self is just a name used to refer to all the behaviors people exhibit.
Merleau-Ponty:
- Argued that the mind and body are intertwined and cannot be truly separated.
- Proposes that all experiences are embodied experiences and that the body is a tool for existing in the world.
- The body, mind, and the self are all one.

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Description

This quiz delves into the philosophical exploration of 'Self' and its definition through various historical perspectives. Learn about key philosophers like Socrates and the basic concepts of material and formal objects in science. Test your understanding of these fundamental ideas in philosophy.