Philosophy: Socrates and Plato on the Self

Socrates (470-399 BC)

• The self is based on knowledge, not ignorance.
• "Know thyself" is crucial for understanding oneself (who we are, should be, and will become).
• The self is synonymous with the soul.
• Reality is divided into two realms:
  • Physical Realm: constantly changing, temporary, imperfect, experienced through senses.
  • Ideal Realm: eternal, unchanging, source of true wisdom, where the soul exists.
• The soul seeks wisdom and perfection.
• Internal conflict between the body's desires and the soul's higher purpose.
• An examined life (pursuing reflection, self-awareness) is necessary for a meaningful life.
• Virtue and wisdom achieved through understanding one's true self (introspection).

Plato (428-348 BC)

• The self is represented by the well-being of the soul.
• Plato was a student of Socrates and expanded on his concept of the soul.
• Justice is achieved with harmony in the soul's three parts:
  • Reason: divine essence, rational decisions.
  • Physical Appetite: biological needs (hunger, thirst, etc.).
  • Spirit: emotions (love, anger, ambition).
• Reason must control the other parts for harmony and happiness.
• Dualism: the soul is more important than the physical body.
• True happiness comes from nurturing the soul.

Saint Augustine (354-430 AD)

• The self must be in harmony with God.
• The soul is immortal and lives in the spiritual realm in communion with God.
• Seeking truth and understanding of God is essential for self-knowledge.
• Humans are naturally inclined towards good as created by God.
• Happiness is achieved by acknowledging God's love.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274 AD)

• The self seeks truth and goodness for fulfillment.
• The self is composed of matter (physical body) and form (essence).
• The body and soul are inseparable.
• Humans are distinct from animals due to the soul.
• The soul directs the body to goodness and union with God.
• Self-knowledge, moral integrity, and virtue are necessary for achieving happiness.

René Descartes (1596-1650)

• The self is a thinking entity (mind).
• "I think, therefore I am" (Cogito ergo sum).
• Thinking (doubt, understanding, analysis) is proof of one's existence.
• Mind and body are independent but can coexist.

David Hume (1711-1776)

• The self is a collection of different perceptions.
• Sensory experience is the basis of knowledge.
• The self is a bundle of perceptions.
• No permanent or unchanging self.

Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

• The self is constructed through rationality.
• Emphasized human capacity for reason and self-awareness.
• Transcendental Unity of Apperception: the self is always transcendental.

Gilbert Ryle (1900-1976)

• The self is represented by behaviour.
• Rejected the concept of a "ghost in the machine".
• The self is observable through actions and behaviours, not an inner entity.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908-1961)

• The self is embodied subjectivity.
• The mind and body are inseparable; the self is experienced through the body.
• Perception is key to the self through phenomena (experiences of the world) rather than just sensory input.