Chapter 1: The Self From Various Philosophical Perspectives PDF

Chapter 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES Learning outcomes: ∙ Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various disciplinal perspectives. ∙ Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self....

Chapter 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES Learning outcomes: ∙ Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from various disciplinal perspectives. ∙ Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self. ∙ Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across the different disciplines and perspectives. ∙ Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analyzing the development of one’s self and identity by developing a theory of the self. Lesson 1 PHILOSOPHY Philo Love Philosophy LOVE OF WISDOM Mother of all sciences. Sophie Wisdom  Pre-socratic Philosophers Thales Pythagoras Parmenides Heraclitus Democritus The universe was Earth was The universe was The world was The universe was made up of water composed of four in a constant governed by law- made up of tiny elements—earth, balance; things can like elements indivisible objects. water, fire, and air. exist or not—this is symbolized by fire. constant. Philosophy is a study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquires that involves in answering questions regarding the nature and existence of man and world we live in. PHILOSOPHERS A. Socrates “The unexamined life is not worth living”. Socratic method – asking questions as do not know anything. Socrates thought that the worst that can happen to anyone—to live but die inside. A person’s acceptance of ignorance is the beginning of acquisition of knowledge. But possession of knowledge is a virtue; ignorance is depravity (evil, corruption, and wickedness). Self is composed of 2 things: Physical and ideal realm. Man is composed of BODY & SOUL. Self is immortal and unified that is consistent overtime. PHILOSOPHERS B. Plato A person who is a follower of truth and wisdom will not be tempted by vices and will always be correct, moral, and ethical. Three components of the SOUL: Appetitive, Spirited, Rational. The human person will only become just and virtuous when the ideal state is attained. PHILOSOPHERS C. St. Augustine He agreed that man is bifurcated nature. One is dwelling in the world and is imperfect (body) and second that continuously yearns to be with the Divine and other can reach immortality (Soul). D. Rene Descartes “Cogito ergo sum” (I think therefore I am) Asking questions are part of one’s existence. The body and mind define the existence and the sense of self. A person is composed of cogito (mind that thinks) and extenza (extension, body that perceives) Self is a thinking thing. PHILOSOPHERS E. John Locke Tabula Rasa The experiences and perceptions of a person establish the person’s becoming. The self is consciousness. F. David Hume There is no self! Self is a bundle of impressions. Impression – basic objects of our sensations Ideas – copies of impressions Self that is being experienced by an individual is nothing but a kind of fictional self, to unify mental events. PHILOSOPHERS G. Immanuel Kant Mind organizes the impressions. Man is an actively engaged intellectuals that synthesize all the knowledge—transcendental apperception, an essence of our consciousness that provides basis for understanding and establishing the notion of self. H. Thomas Aquinas Man is composed of matter and form Matter (hyle) – common stuff that makes up everything Form (morphe) – essence of a substance or thing (soul, it is what makes us humans). PHILOSOPHERS I. Sigmund Freud The father of psychoanalysis. What we are now is the by-product of our past experiences that motivated by the pleasure and avoiding pain. He believed that man has different constructs of personality. The provinces of the mind: i. Id – child aspect of the person, pleasure-driven of the self. ii. Superego – the conscience of one’s personality, inclined to uphold justice and do what is morally right and morally acceptable. iii. Ego – mediator between id and ego; operates within the boundary of reality, primarily control the id impulses.  He viewed self as conscious and unconscious. He Introduced the levels of consciousness. i. Consciousness – surface level of our memories; easy to access ii. Pre-consciousness – the memories in this area have little difficulty to access iii. Unconsciousness – where the memories from childhood are deeply stored. PHILOSOPHERS I. Gilbert Ryle – the self is the behavior presented by the person. The self is not an entity that one can locate and analyze. Man is like a complex machine. The behavior that we show, emotions, and actions are the reflection of our mind and as such is the manifestation of who we are. J. Paul Churchland – self is defined by the movement of our brain. People should improve association and use of worth in identifying the self. Self is the product of brain activity. I. Maurice Jean Jacques Merleau-Ponty – existentialist and phenomenologist. The mind and body are intertwined. One’s body is his opening toward his existence to the world. The world and the sense of self are emergent phenomena in the person’s becoming.  SELF is a “unified being” essentially connected to consciousness, awareness, and agency (or at least with the faculty of rational choice). How our SELF relates to external world? Lesson 2 SOCIOLOGY Socius Companion Study of society and social Sociology relation, institution, and Logos structure Study of  In recent studies, it indicates that men and women are actively engaged in their growth and development in shaping the self. George Herbert Mead Symbolic Interactions Perspective – people react based on their perceived experiences and definition of the situation. The self is a product of social interaction. Three Stages of Development: 1. Preparatory stage – a child is dependent on social interaction as imitation is a way to understand the world and a foundation to communicate with others. 1. Play Stage – role-playing allows to widen the perspective of a child that he is not alone in the world, and he must consider it. 1. Game Stage - the child has the ability to simultaneously respond to multiple social relationships. He will learn to obey laws by playing games.  Generalized others – the realization of a person that people in society have cultural norms, laws, beliefs, and values which will be the basis for self-evaluation. Two parts of the self: ❖ Self-image – the complete perception about the self based from the perspective of others. ❖ Self-awareness – the acknowledgment of the role of other towards the self. “I” and “Me” of the Self ❖ I – how you see yourself. “I am…” ❖ Me – how you see yourself from the others’ perspective. Albert Bandura – Social Cognitive Theory, humans have the flexibility to learn a variety of behaviors in diverse situations. Formation of one’s identity is a learned response to social stimuli. The behaviors and attitudes developed in response to reinforcement and encouragement from people around us. Self-efficacy - people’s beliefs in their capability to exercise some measure of control over their own functioning and over environmental events (2001).  Behavior Personal Environment Karl Marx Theory of Self-Estrangement or Self Alienation – “The alienation of man’s essence, man’s loss of objectivity and his loss of realness as self-discovery, manifestation of his nature, objectification and realization”. Alienation happens when someone is forced to work. THANKS