Philosophy of the Self

Defining the Self

• The self represents an individual's typical character or behavior.
• It encompasses the elements (body, emotions, thoughts, sensations) that form a person's identity.
• It embodies the entirety of an individual.

Philosophical Perspective on the Self

• Philosophy, derived from Greek "philos" (love) and "sophia" (wisdom), explores knowledge through rational inquiry, particularly of human existence.
• Socrates emphasized self-examination with the motto “An unexamined life is not worth living” and advocated for self-knowledge.
• He introduced the idea of dualism: the body (imperfect, temporary) and the soul (perfect, eternal), which belong to different realms.

Socrates' Key Concepts

• Physical realm: changeable, transient realm associated with the body.
• Ideal realm: unchanging, eternal realm associated with the soul.
• Reason is essential for understanding self-identity and striving for wisdom and virtue.

Plato's Contributions

• Plato asserted the immortality of the soul, describing the self as a process of self-knowledge and purification.
• He identified three parts of the soul:
  • Rational soul: reason and intellect
  • Spirited soul: emotions and passions
  • Appetitive soul: basic needs
• Happiness is achieved when reason governs emotions and desires.

St. Augustine's Integration

• St. Augustine combined Platonic philosophy with Christian doctrine, asserting that true knowledge stems from understanding God.
• He believed the self is complete through the union of body and soul and that humans are inherently oriented towards goodness as creations of God.

René Descartes' Philosophy

• Descartes famously stated, “I think, therefore I am,” linking self-awareness and consciousness to existence.
• He posited two identities:
  • Cogito: the thinking aspect (mind)
  • Extensa: the physical aspect (body)
• Self-awareness involves engaging with thoughts, affirming truths, and self-directed actions.

John Locke's Perspective

• Locke described the self as consciousness and introduced the concept of "Tabula Rasa," meaning blank slate.
• Consciousness is crucial for maintaining a continuous identity across time and experiences.

David Hume's Assertion

• Hume argued against the existence of a permanent self, positing that individuals are merely a collection of perceptions that change over time.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the role of philosophy in forming concepts of the self.
• Differentiate various philosophical views on the self and identify their similarities.
• Apply philosophical frameworks to personal self-examination.

Defining the Self

• The self represents an individual's typical character or behavior.
• It encompasses the elements (body, emotions, thoughts, sensations) that form a person's identity.
• It embodies the entirety of an individual.

Philosophical Perspective on the Self

• Philosophy, derived from Greek "philos" (love) and "sophia" (wisdom), explores knowledge through rational inquiry, particularly of human existence.
• Socrates emphasized self-examination with the motto “An unexamined life is not worth living” and advocated for self-knowledge.
• He introduced the idea of dualism: the body (imperfect, temporary) and the soul (perfect, eternal), which belong to different realms.

Socrates' Key Concepts

• Physical realm: changeable, transient realm associated with the body.
• Ideal realm: unchanging, eternal realm associated with the soul.
• Reason is essential for understanding self-identity and striving for wisdom and virtue.

Plato's Contributions

• Plato asserted the immortality of the soul, describing the self as a process of self-knowledge and purification.
• He identified three parts of the soul:
  • Rational soul: reason and intellect
  • Spirited soul: emotions and passions
  • Appetitive soul: basic needs
• Happiness is achieved when reason governs emotions and desires.

St. Augustine's Integration

• St. Augustine combined Platonic philosophy with Christian doctrine, asserting that true knowledge stems from understanding God.
• He believed the self is complete through the union of body and soul and that humans are inherently oriented towards goodness as creations of God.

René Descartes' Philosophy

• Descartes famously stated, “I think, therefore I am,” linking self-awareness and consciousness to existence.
• He posited two identities:
  • Cogito: the thinking aspect (mind)
  • Extensa: the physical aspect (body)
• Self-awareness involves engaging with thoughts, affirming truths, and self-directed actions.

John Locke's Perspective

• Locke described the self as consciousness and introduced the concept of "Tabula Rasa," meaning blank slate.
• Consciousness is crucial for maintaining a continuous identity across time and experiences.

David Hume's Assertion

• Hume argued against the existence of a permanent self, positing that individuals are merely a collection of perceptions that change over time.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the role of philosophy in forming concepts of the self.
• Differentiate various philosophical views on the self and identify their similarities.
• Apply philosophical frameworks to personal self-examination.