Philosophy of Self: Aquinas, Plato, Augustine

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

• Theory of Self-Knowledge: Knowledge of self is dependent on worldly experiences.
• Physical Body: Visible, changing, imperfect, and mortal.
• Ideal Realm: Immortal soul, unchanging, survives bodily death.
• Distinction between natural reason and divine revelation; reason is central to human identity.
• Self-examination enables access to virtue and knowledge.
• The goal of life: Self-knowledge and virtuous living for soul improvement.
• Three theological virtues: Faith, hope, charity.
• Socratic method fosters dialogue between soul and self to discover truths.
• Aim for eternal union and fellowship with God.

Plato (428-347 BC)

• Introduced concept of two realms: world of Forms (non-physical) and world of Senses (physical reality).
• Emphasized soul's distinctness from the body; body-soul unity is essential for completeness.
• Two realms according to St. Augustine: intelligible and sensible realms.

St. Augustine (354-430 BC)

• Described the soul as tripartite: reason (logos), spirit (thumos), and appetite (epithumia).
• Believed humankind is created in God's image; free will exists in humans.
• Original sin introduces inherent sinfulness in humanity.
• The self is primarily known through knowing God; self exists within the bounds of time and mortality.
• Tripartite nature of the self: Memory, Intellect, Will, influencing personal history and self-awareness.

John Locke (1632-1704)

• Introduced Tabula Rasa: Mind is a blank slate at birth; knowledge is gained from experience.
• Emphasized the importance of direct sensory experience in knowledge acquisition.
• Personal identity closely tied to memory; consciousness is vital for unified identity across time.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

• Asserted that knowledge is power and comes from studying nature to understand its forces.
• Introduced the concept of accountability tied to knowledge and social elements.
• Categorized synthesis needed for information organization into three types: intuition, concept recognition, and imagination.

Rene Descartes (1596-1650)

• Advocated for methodological skepticism: doubt everything at least once for truth discovery.
• Famous quote "Cogito ergo sum" establishes self-existence through thought.
• Believed in Mind-Body Dualism; self combines mind and physical extension.
• Self-awareness is foundational for knowledge and connects physical self with thought.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

• Introduced multitiered self: conscious, subconscious, and unconscious.
• Stressed the unconscious self's influence over conscious rational thought.
• Suggested defense mechanisms protect self from reality; self-identity is tied to self-consciousness.

Notable Theoretical Constructs

• Topographical Theory of the Human Mind: Differentiation of conscious versus unconscious mental processes.
• Stages of Self-Development:
  • Stage 1: Imitation (copying others without full understanding).
  • Stage 2: Play (taking roles to understand social expectations).
  • Stage 3: Game (considering multiple roles simultaneously, understanding societal rules).

Individualism vs. Collectivism

• Individualism: Loose societal ties; emphasis on personal self-reliance and freedom.
• Collectivism: Strong social systems where groups protect members in exchange for loyalty.

George Herbert Mead and Symbolic Interactionism

• Defined two facets of self: "I" (spontaneous, creative) and "Me" (socialized, shaped by norms).
• Proposed three core principles in symbolic interaction: significance of meaning, role of language, and importance of thought.
• Interaction shapes self through shared experiences leading to meanings.

Explore the profound ideas of self-knowledge from Thomas Aquinas, and the distinct realms of Plato and St. Augustine. This quiz delves into the nature of the soul, the philosophical concepts of virtue, and the relationship between body and soul. Test your understanding of these foundational philosophers and their influence on the quest for truth and eternal union with God.