Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the meaning of the Greek root philo-?
What is the meaning of the Greek root philo-?
love
What is the meaning of the Greek root -sophos-?
What is the meaning of the Greek root -sophos-?
wisdom
According to Socrates, an unexamined life is worth living.
According to Socrates, an unexamined life is worth living.
False
What are the three parts of the soul according to Plato? (Select all that apply)
What are the three parts of the soul according to Plato? (Select all that apply)
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According to Augustine, the soul is immortal and can jump from one body to another.
According to Augustine, the soul is immortal and can jump from one body to another.
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Thomas Aquinas believes that our self-knowledge is determined by our experiences.
Thomas Aquinas believes that our self-knowledge is determined by our experiences.
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According to Rene Descartes, what is the seat of our consciousness?
According to Rene Descartes, what is the seat of our consciousness?
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What is the name of the concept that reality is divided into two parts: the mind and the physical body?
What is the name of the concept that reality is divided into two parts: the mind and the physical body?
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According to John Locke, what gives us our identity?
According to John Locke, what gives us our identity?
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David Hume believed that we can acquire knowledge through physical experiences.
David Hume believed that we can acquire knowledge through physical experiences.
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What did Immanuel Kant think of Hume's idea that all knowledge is derived from impressions?
What did Immanuel Kant think of Hume's idea that all knowledge is derived from impressions?
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What is the name of the theory that reason is the foundation of all knowledge?
What is the name of the theory that reason is the foundation of all knowledge?
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What did Gilbert Ryle believe about the relationship between the mind and the body?
What did Gilbert Ryle believe about the relationship between the mind and the body?
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Paul Churchland believed in dualism.
Paul Churchland believed in dualism.
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Maurice Merleau-Ponty agreed with the traditional mind-body division.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty agreed with the traditional mind-body division.
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Study Notes
The Philosophy of the Self
- This instructional material is a compilation of readings for research and study on Understanding the Self
- The materials are credited to their authors
- The material is not for sale, and students cannot reproduce or duplicate it
- Confidentiality and compliance are maintained
Learning Objectives
- Define the self from a philosophical perspective
- Recognize similarities and differences in self-conceptualizations based on philosophy
- Examine one's self against the different views of self discussed in the course
What is Philosophy?
- Philosophy comes from Greek roots: philo- meaning "love" and -sophos meaning "wisdom"
- It's the study of knowledge, or "thinking about thinking"
- It's the study of the ultimate nature of existence, reality, knowledge, and goodness, discoverable through human reasoning.
- It encompasses the search for knowledge and truth, particularly about the nature of humanity and human behavior.
Philosophers
Socrates
- (469 BC - 399 BC)
- Believed the highest form of human existence is questioning oneself and others
- Emphasized the importance of "knowing yourself"
- Stated that "an unexamined life is not worth living."
- Argued that to prepare for the afterlife, one must focus on understanding self and virtues
- Believed the soul is immortal and death is not the end of existence.
- Questioned whether something seemed true, meant it was true
Plato
- (428/427 or 424/423 BC - 348/347 BC)
- The soul is immortal and separated from the body
- The soul exists before it joins the body, resembling reincarnation.
- The soul lives within a body and moves to another after death
- The soul or psyche has three parts: appetitive, spirited, and rational
Augustine
- (13 November 354 AD - 28 August 430 AD)
- Like Plato, he asserted the soul's immortality
- Unlike Plato, he didn't believe the soul moved between bodies
- Believed the body is an imperfect aspect of humanity, longing for the spiritual realm of God.
- The soul, capable of achieving immortality, remains in an eternal realm with God
- Living a virtuous life is crucial for spiritual union with God
Thomas Aquinas
- (1225 - 7 March 1274)
- Self-knowledge comes from experiences about the world
- Our experiences shape our self-awareness
- The question "Who am I?" can only be answered from within oneself
Rene Descartes
- (31 March 1596 - 11 February 1650)
- "Father of Modern Philosophy"
- A dualist thinker. Reality comprises mind and body, separate yet interconnected, the mind being the center of consciousness
- "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito ergo sum) summarizes his philosophy
- The mind houses drives, intellect, passion, and understanding.
John Locke
- (29 August 1632 - 28 October 1704)
- Identity is tied to consciousness; perception of experiences within one's own mind
- The self is defined by memories; if memories are gone, identity is lost
David Hume
- (07 May 1711 - 25 August 1776)
- Only physical experiences, using our senses are the basis of knowledge
- Experiences are categorized into Impressions (sensory) and Ideas (concepts based on impressions)
- The self is a bundle of perceptions; the mind combines impressions to create a sense of 'self' (or "me").
Immanuel Kant
- (22 April 1724 - 12 February 1804)
- Hume's notion of the self as a combination of impressions is problematic
- Mind plays a role in organizing experiences, not just simply perceiving them
- The self is created by the mind's organization of sensory input
Gilbert Ryle
- (19 August 1900 - 6 October 1976)
- The idea of a separate mind is questionable
- Behaviors and actions form the self, not the mind or body
Paul Churchland
- (21 October 1942 - )
- The physical brain, not an imaginary mind
- Eliminative Materialism: nothing apart from physical matter exists
- If something can't be sensed, it doesn't exist
Maurice Merleau-Ponty
- (14 March 1908 - 3 May 1961)
- The mind and body are intertwined, inseparable
- The physical body is not a prison but an integral part of the self.
Study Guide Questions
- Select one philosopher you relate to most and explain why
- Identify one philosopher whose perspective you disagree with and explain why
- Choose two philosophers and present their views of the self using a Venn diagram to showcase similarities and differences.
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Description
Explore the philosophical perspectives on understanding the self in this compilation of readings. The quiz aims to help you define the self and examine various conceptualizations of it. Engage with the ideas of renowned philosophers as you deepen your knowledge of philosophy and human behavior.
