Understanding the Self

Understanding the Self

• Understanding is the ability to comprehend, empathize, and have insightful judgement.
• Self is comprised of an individual's character, behaviors, and the union of their body, emotions, thoughts and sensations.
• The self is both unique and independent, with consistent traits and a sense of unity.
• The self acts as a central point for experiences, thoughts, and emotions.
• The self is private, with individual interpretations of information, feelings, and thoughts.

Factors Affecting Self

• Heredity plays a significant role in self-development, influencing physical and psychological traits.
• Environment impacts self-development through observational learning and exposure to various environments, such as family or social groups.
• Biological factors, such as brain function, hormones, and neurotransmitters, also influence self-development.
• Personal choice is a significant factor in self-development, emphasizing the role of free will and individual decisions.

Philosophical perspectives of Self

• Philosophy is the "love of wisdom," seeking to understand the nature of reality, knowledge, values, and existence.
• Socrates emphasized the importance of self-knowledge, believing that an unexamined life is not worth living. He proposed a dualistic view of the self, composed of a mortal, imperfect body and an immortal, perfect soul.
  • The soul strives for wisdom and perfection, using reason as a tool to achieve an exalted state.
  • The body is prone to distractions from bodily needs, preventing the attainment of wisdom.
• Plato, Socrates' student, supported his teacher's ideas, believing in the mind and soul as given by God. Plato proposed three components of the soul:
  • The rational soul governs reason and intellect, directing human affairs.
  • The spirited part governs emotions.
  • The appetitive soul governs desires.
  • Plato asserted that justice in the human person is achieved when these three parts work harmoniously.
• Aristotle, Plato's student, argued that the body and soul are not separate but interdependent. He believed the soul is the essence of the self, making a person a person. The soul's essential nature is to lead a fulfilled and flourishing life.
• René Descartes proposed a mind-body dichotomy, with thought (mind) preceding action (body). He believed humans are free to choose, with thought guiding actions.
• David Hume, a Scottish empiricist, argued that knowledge is derived only from sensory experiences. He proposed the "bundle theory," suggesting that the self is a collection of perceptions, including impressions and ideas.
• Immanuel Kant proposed that the self is an active intelligence that synthesizes knowledge and experiences. He believed the self is not merely personality but an organizing principle for understanding the world.
• John Locke emphasized the role of consciousness in personal identity, proposing that consciousness, not the brain, is essential for self-awareness. He believed consciousness can transfer from one substance to another.
• Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, proposed a multi-layered, complex self, driven by two forces: Eros (sexual desire) and Thanatos (aggression). Freud described three structures of the mind:
  • The id: Exists since birth, representing basic instincts.
  • The ego: Operates according to the reality principle.
  • The superego: Operates according to the morality principle, including conscience and the ideal self.
• Paul and Patricia Churchland, neuroscientists, proposed eliminative materialism, arguing that common sense understanding of the mind is incorrect. They believe the self is merely the physical brain, encompassing all mental states.