Philosophy of the Self

Understanding the Self

• The self comprises various dimensions: physical, sexual, material/economic, spiritual, political, and digital.
• Philosophy's key inquiry: “Know thyself”.
• The self serves as the primary companion in life.
• Concepts of self include personal identity, aspirations, societal roles, and potential.

Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

• Philosophy derives from Greek terms: Philia (love) and Sophia (wisdom).
• Ancient Greek philosophers Socrates and Plato explored the complexities of the self.

Socrates

• Emphasized dualism: body and soul are distinct entities.
• Introduced the Socratic Approach to self-examination.
• Notable quotes: “An unexamined life is not worth living” and “I know that I know nothing”.
• Proposed existence of a soul prior to embodiment in the material world.

Plato

• Established the Academy, a prototype of modern universities.
• Differentiated between the ideal world (World of Forms) and the material world.
• Identified three components of the soul: Rational, Spirited, and Appetitive.

Aristotle

• Argued that body and soul are inseparable; the soul is the essence of a person.
• Asserts that the soul cannot exist independently of the body.

St. Augustine

• Describes human nature as bifurcated: imperfect yet aspiring towards immortality.
• Stresses the goal of achieving communion with the divine.

St. Thomas Aquinas

• Proposed that man consists of matter (hyle) and form (morpe).
• Matter relates to physical substance; form reflects living essence.

René Descartes

• Introduced "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am).
• Known as the Father of Modern Philosophy.
• Engaged in hyperbolical doubt about the existence of the physical body.

John Locke

• Suggested identity is not confined to mind, soul, or body, but includes memory.
• Defined identity through psychological continuity over life stages.
• Introduced the concept of Tabula Rasa (blank slate).

David Hume

• Asserted that all knowledge originates from sensory experience.
• Developed Bundle Theory, positing the self as a collection of impressions.
• Differentiated between vivid impressions and ideas as copies of impressions.

Sigmund Freud

• Claimed that “the ego is not master in its own house”.
• Identified two primary drives: Eros (life) and Thanatos (death).
• Proposed a structure of the mind: Id, Ego, and Superego.

Gilbert Ryle

• Denied the existence of an internal, non-physical self.
• Suggested the self is a term for all observable behaviors.

Merleau-Ponty

• Argued against dualistic views, emphasizing the inseparability of mind and body.

Kapwa: Filipino Psychology

• Central value in Filipino culture; distinguishes between two types: Ibang Tao (strangers) and Hindi Ibang Tao (close relationships).

Societal Influence

• Explores how society shapes individual identity through norms, beliefs, and values.
• Sociology examines the reciprocal relationship between society and self-identity.

Filipino Values in Sikolohiyang Pilipino

• Emphasizes values such as Hiya (shame), Utang na loob (debt of gratitude), Pakiramdam (sensitivity), Pakikisama (cooperation), Kagandahang-loob (kindness), and Kapwa (shared identity).

Impact of Modernization

• Modernization influences self-identity development significantly.
• Key characteristics include industrialism, capitalism, institutional surveillance, and dynamism.

Social Groups and Networks

• Social groups: two or more individuals interacting with shared characteristics.
• Social networks: connections that link individuals within groups.

Stages of Self-Development (Mead)

• Language: critical for expression and comprehension.
• Play: involves role-playing and understanding others' perspectives.
• Game: incorporates societal rules into self-perception.
• Views the self as an active process shaped by social interactions.