Philosophy: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

• These notes cover key philosophers and psychological concepts related to the self.

Socrates

• Central idea: "Know Thyself!"
• True wisdom lies in recognizing the limits of one's knowledge.
• Employed the Socratic Method to encourage critical thinking and elicit ideas from students.
• Argued that "an unexamined life is not worth living."

Plato

• Proposed a dualistic view of human nature, consisting of body and soul.
• Introduced the concept of the Tripartite Soul:
  • Rational Part: Corresponds to the Ruling Class.
  • Spirited Part: Corresponds to the Military Class.
  • Appetitive Part: Corresponds to the Commoner class.
• Stated that human behavior originates from desire, emotion, and knowledge.

Aristotle

• Established the groundwork for symbolic logic and scientific thought.
• Advocated for gaining knowledge through "natural philosophy," now known as science.
• Identified seven causes of human actions: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, and desire.
• Provided the example of deductive reasoning.

St. Augustine

• Integrated Greek philosophy with divine truths from scripture.
• Asserted that the absolute and immutable is the Living God.
• The Living God is the creator of the entire universe.
• Endorsed the principle of treating others as one wishes to be treated.
• Refers to the Golden Rule

René Descartes

• Defined the self as a thinking subject.
• The self possesses full competence in the powers of human reason.
• Argued that the self can discover truth and authenticity within its capacity to think, independent of external authorities.
• Famously said, "I doubt, therefore I think; I think, therefore I am."

John Locke

• Introduced the concept of "tabula rasa," or "empty mind," shaped by experience, sensations, and reflections.
• Personal identity relies on psychological continuity and is based on consciousness.
• Awareness of the past fixes identity over time.
• Stated that our concept of personal identity must derive from inner experience.

David Hume

• Denied the existence of a continuous "self" over time, asserting only impressions.
• Suggested one can only perceive individual impressions or perceptions of oneself, making it impossible to think about oneself as a unified entity.
• Conceptualized "the self is a bundle of impressions."

Psychology

• Defined as the science of behavior, derived from the Greek words "psyche" (soul) and "logos" (study).
• Modern psychology is defined as the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Sigmund Freud

• Hypothesized the personality is made up of the id, ego and superego.
  • The self, its mental process and behavior are a result of the interaction between the Id, the Ego and Super Ego.
• ID:
  • Operates at an unconscious level driven by instinctual desires and seeks pleasure without regard for logic or reality.
  • Pressures the mind to satisfy release, a collection of urges, specifically sexuality and aggression.
• EGO:
  • Engages in rational thinking and considers external realities.
  • Aims to balance the desires of the Id with the constraints of the Superego to make realistic decisions.
  • Will balance the Id and Superego, use defense mechanisms to avoid anxiety
• SUPEREGO:
  • Represents one's conscience and moral principles learned from social influences, such as parents, society, and religion.
  • Collection of moral lessons learned
  • Strives for moral perfection and can cause feelings of guilt.

Freud's Defense Mechanisms

• Repression:
  • Unconsciously blocking unacceptable thoughts and feelings
  • For example, forgetting details about the loss of a pet.
• Projection:
  • Attributing unacceptable thoughts and feelings to someone else.
  • For example, accusing a classmate of being mean while unaware of one's own meanness.
• Displacement:
  • Transferring feelings, thoughts, or actions to a less threatening target.
  • For example, scolding a younger sibling after being scolded by parents.
• Sublimation:
  • Redirecting unacceptable behaviors into socially acceptable activities.
  • For example, channeling anxiety through painting or exercising.
• Introjection:
  • Incorporating positive qualities of another person into one's own ego.
  • For example, when a Filipino national achieves something internationally, other Filipinos comment with "proud to be Pinoy".

William James

• Defined the self with duality: "Me" and "I"
• ME: Self concept, our collective knowledge of who we are
• I: Self-awareness, the act of thinking about ourselves

Erik Erikson

• Introduced stages of psychosocial development, each characterized by a basic conflict and an important event:
  • Adolescence (12-18 years):
    • Identity vs. Confusion
    • Social Relationships are the important aspect of this stage
    • Virtue: Fidelity
  • Early Adulthood (19-40 years):
    • Intimacy vs. Isolation
    • Relationships are the focus of this stage
    • Virtue: Love
  • Middle Adulthood (40-65 years):
    • Generativity vs. Stagnation
    • Work and Parenthood take precedence
    • Virtue: Care
  • Old Age (65 and above):
    • Integrity vs. Despair
    • Reflection on Life
    • Virtue: Wisdom

Jeffrey Jensen Arnett

• Defined emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) as a distinct developmental stage characterized by:
  • Exploration
  • Instability
  • Self-focus
  • A feeling of being in-between
  • Openness to possibilities
• This stage is a transitional period for exploring identities and moving towards adulthood.

Carl Rogers

• Introduced person centered approach
• Identified three components of self:
  • Self-Image:
    • How you perceive yourself currently.
  • Self-Esteem:
    • The extent to which you like, accept, and value yourself.
  • Ideal Self:
    • Envisioning who you want to be.
• Congruence:
  • Exists when a person's self-image and ideal self align.
• Incongruence:
  • Arises when there is a significant discrepancy between the real self and the ideal self.
• Unconditional Positive Regard:
  • Accepting someone completely regardless of behavior
• Empathy:
  • Being able to understand how someone else feels