Philosophy: Socrates and Self-Examination

Course Learning Outcomes

• Discuss various representations and conceptualizations of self from multiple disciplines.
• Explore critical and reflective thought on self and identity aspects.
• Apply theoretical foundations for managing and caring for self aspects.

Philosophy Overview

• Philosophy signifies "love of wisdom" emphasizing wonder, inquiry, and gaining wisdom.
• The pursuit of knowledge derives from questioning.

The Big Three Philosophers

• Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle shared significant philosophical connections.

Socrates

• Did not pen writings; known through Plato's dialogues.
• Recognized as the wisest man by the Delphi Oracle.
• Important philosophical focus: understanding how to live rightly and improve the soul.
• Advocated the Socratic Method, emphasizing dialogue and questioning rather than lecturing.
• Believed in the importance of self-examination: "The unexamined life is not worth living."
• Ignorance is the root of evil; knowledge leads to good actions.

Plato (Aristocles)

• Wrote 20 Dialogues and founded "The Academy."
• Viewed humans as souls using bodies; the soul is eternal and independent of the body.
• Believed in the intrinsic goodness of humans.
• Identified three parts of the soul: Reason (rational), Spirited (non-rational), and Appetites (irrational).
• Encouraged the pursuit of knowledge through the Allegory of the Cave—knowledge enhances being.
• Proposed that love transitions individuals from ignorance to true knowledge.

St. Augustine of Hippo

• Emphasized reliance on God rather than solely on self-knowledge or happiness.
• Viewed humans as flawed, necessitating divine purpose and redemption.
• Addressed four types of love, where love for God was considered the supreme virtue.

René Descartes

• Regarded as the father of modern philosophy; introduced the Cartesian method.
• His famous declaration: "I think, therefore I am," reflects the essence of self-awareness.
• Proposed the Body-Mind Problem, positing that the mind (soul) is distinct from the body, which functions mechanically.

John Locke

• Introduced the idea of "tabula rasa," claiming that the mind at birth is a blank slate.
• Emphasized that knowledge arises from sensory experiences.
• Identified three categories of laws: Law of Opinion (morality), Civil Law (enforced by authority), and Divine Law (set by God).

David Hume

• Advocated empiricism; defined the self as a collection of changing impressions.
• Distinguished between impressions (sensory experiences) and ideas (reflections on those experiences).
• Argued against the notion of a permanent self.

Immanuel Kant

• Presented the mind as actively participating in knowledge acquisition, integrating sensory impressions.
• Introduced concepts of transcendental apperception, suggesting that memories and knowledge imply a unified self.

Sigmund Freud

• Developed the Psychodynamic Theory, emphasizing the impact of subconscious processes on behavior.
• Classified the mind into three levels: Id (instincts), Ego (reality), and Superego (morality).
• Identified two instincts: Eros (life instincts) and Thanatos (death instincts).

Gilbert Ryle

• Asserted that free will entails moral responsibility and ethical action.
• Differentiated between two types of knowledge: 'Knowing-that' (facts) and 'Knowing-how' (application of knowledge).

Patricia and Paul Churchland

• Introduced Neurophilosophy, integrating philosophy, neuroscience, and psychology.
• Suggested that the mind is an expression of brain activity, emphasizing the brain's biochemical influence on identity.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

• Recognized the body as crucial for knowledge acquisition, asserting knowledge is gained through bodily sensory experiences in the present moment.

This quiz explores the teachings of Socrates and his influence on self-examination and identity from a philosophical perspective. Dive into the concepts of wisdom, inquiry, and critical thought emphasized by Socrates, and reflect on their relevance to personal and collective self-understanding.