17 Questions
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an aspect of the self in the passage?
Self-esteem
According to the passage, which of the following aspects allows a person to alter, change, add or modify themselves for the purpose of gaining social acceptance?
The union of body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations that constitute the individuality and identity of a person
What is the definition of philosophy according to the passage?
The love of wisdom and investigation of the legitimacy of concepts by rational arguments
What were the Pre-Socratics primarily concerned with according to the passage?
Explaining what the world is really made up of, why the world is so, and what explains the changes they observed around them
According to the passage, which of the following is NOT an element that constitutes the individuality and identity of a person?
Memories
What is the main purpose of understanding the self according to the learning outcomes presented in the passage?
To compare and contrast different philosophical views of the self
Who was the first philosopher to focus on the full power of reason on the human self?
Heraclitus
According to Plato, which component of the soul accounts for basic biological needs like hunger and thirst?
Appetitive
Who believed that 'An unexamined life is not worth living'?
Socrates
Which philosopher integrated the ideas of Plato with teachings of Christianity regarding the dualistic nature of man?
St. Augustine of Hippo
According to Socrates, what is the worst thing that can happen to anyone?
Living but dying inside
Which philosopher was focused on self-awareness and self-perception through his teaching 'Know Thyself'?
Socrates
According to Immanuel Kant, what organizes the impressions we get from the external world?
The self or mind
According to Gilbert Ryle, what is the self?
A name we use to refer to all behavior
How did Maurice Merleau-Ponty view the relationship between mind and body?
He saw the mind and body as intertwined and inseparable
Which of the following is related to self-perception?
The awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, and experiences
Which philosopher's view is most closely related to self-esteem?
Immanuel Kant's view of the self as the seat of knowledge acquisition
Study Notes
Understanding the Self
- The self is the union of elements such as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations that constitute an individual's identity and individuality.
- The self consists of self-knowledge, self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-perception, which enable a person to alter, change, add, or modify themselves for social acceptance.
Nature of the Self: Philosophical Perspective
- Understanding the self is essential to gain social acceptance and to explore one's identity and individuality.
- Philosophers across time and place have different notions of the self, which can be compared and contrasted.
Philosophy
- Etymology: Greek Philos (love) + Sophia (wisdom) = "Love of Wisdom"
- Philosophy investigates the legitimacy of concepts by rational arguments, relationships, and moral judgments.
Ancient Philosophy
- Pre-Socratics: concerned with explaining the world, its composition, and changes (Thales, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitus, and Empedocles)
- Socrates: focused on the "problem of the self", believing that the real self is the soul or psyche, and that the unexamined life is not worth living.
- Socrates' concept of the self: dualistic, with the body being imperfect and impermanent, and the soul being perfect and permanent.
Plato
- Student of Socrates
- Believed that the physical world is not the real world, and that the ultimate reality exists beyond the physical world.
- Theory of Forms: three components of the soul:
- Rational: divine essence for wisdom, wise choices, and understanding eternal truths.
- Appetitive: accounts for basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire.
- Spiritual: accounts for basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, and empathy.
Medieval Philosophy
- St. Augustine of Hippo: integrated Plato's ideas with Christian teachings
- Believed that man has a bifurcated nature, with an aspect dwelling in the world and yearning for the divine, and another capable of reaching mortality.
- Goal of the person: to attain communion and bliss by living virtuously on earth.
Contemporary Philosophy
- St. Immanuel Kant: contested Hume's idea, believing that the self constructs the world through experience and organization of impressions.
- Gilbert Ryle: denied the existence of the internal, non-physical self, believing that the self is a name for behavior.
- Maurice Jean Jacques Merleau-Ponty: denied dualistic ideas, believing that the mind and body are intertwined and cannot be separated.
Test your knowledge on the nature of the self from a philosophical perspective, exploring self-knowledge, self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-perception. Learn how individuals can alter themselves to gain social acceptance.
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