Philosophical Perspectives on the Self PDF

**CHAPTER I: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES** **LESSON 1 -- PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE** **SOCRATES** (470-399 BC):**\ ***The self is based on knowledge not on ignorance.* A Greek philosopher from Athens who is known to be one of the greatest ancient figures who founded Western Philosophy. He...

**CHAPTER I: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES** **LESSON 1 -- PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE** **SOCRATES** (470-399 BC):**\ ***The self is based on knowledge not on ignorance.* A Greek philosopher from Athens who is known to be one of the greatest ancient figures who founded Western Philosophy. He believed that to "Know Thyself." is an essential part in understanding oneself: who we are, who we should be, and who we will become. For Socrates, the self is synonymous to the soul; in which, the essence of the self is the soul. Socrates believed that every person is made up of both a body and a soul, and that our reality is divided into two realms. The **Physical Realm** is the world we experience through our senses; it is constantly changing, temporary, and imperfect. In contrast, the **Ideal Realm** is eternal, unchanging, and the source of true wisdom and perfection. The soul, being immortal, naturally seeks wisdom and perfection through reason. However, because we exist in the imperfect Physical Realm, our bodies and desires often distract us from this pursuit. As a result, the self experiences confusion and struggle, torn between the fleeting desires of the body and the soul's higher purpose. This internal conflict prevents a person from achieving true wisdom and perfection. Socrates believed that to overcome this struggle, one must live an examined life---a life of purpose, reflection, and self-awareness. He argued that a life without reflection is not worth living. To achieve a meaningful and happy life, a person must strive for wisdom and virtue by understanding their true self. This can be done through introspection, or the careful examination of one's thoughts, emotions, and actions. By knowing oneself and living a life of virtue, a person moves closer to wisdom and fulfillment. **PLATO** (428 -- 348 BC):\ *The self is represented by the well-being of the soul.* Plato, a Greek philosopher from Athens, was a student of Socrates and the founder of the Academy. He later became the teacher of Aristotle. He expanded on Socrates\' concept of the soul and believed that the self is synonymous with the soul. His philosophy focused on self-knowledge and the purification of the soul. In *The Republic*, Plato argued that justice can only be achieved when there is harmony among the three parts of the soul: **Reason**, **Physical Appetite**, and **Spirit**. **Reason** is the divine essence that allows us to think deeply and make rational decisions. **Physical Appetite** refers to our biological needs, such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desires. **Spirit** consists of emotions like love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, and empathy. These three elements of the self are constantly interacting and often come into conflict. To restore harmony, Reason must take control over Physical Appetite and Spirit. When balance is maintained, a person can achieve genuine happiness, and according to Plato, this balance is the essence of justice. He also believed in dualism, emphasizing that the soul is more important than the physical body. For Plato, true fulfillment comes from nurturing the soul through wisdom and rational thought rather than being controlled by physical desires and emotions. **SAINT AUGUSTINE** (354-430 AD):\ *The self must be in harmony with God.* An African theologian and philosopher who became a bishop of Hippo; he integrated the concept of Plato in Christianity wherein the soul is immortal that even if the body is bound to die on the physical realm, the soul will live eternally in the spiritual realm in communion with God. In quest of finding the truth on the existence of God, he also sought understanding of human concept and was greatly influenced by Scepticism which led him to the philosophical principle, "I doubt therefore I am.". According to St. Augustine, the human person is innately and always geared up towards good because man is the creation of God who is the source of all that is good. For one to know the self, one must have the knowledge of God which is the truth that can be found within us through reflections, prayers, and confessions. St. Augustine believes that man's end goal is happiness. So, how does one attain happiness? The self must be able to acknowledge the love of the Supreme Being or reciprocate that love ethically for without God, humans are bound to fail in search of happiness. **THOMAS AQUINAS** (1225--1274 AD):\ *The self must seek truth and goodness to fulfill its purpose.* Thomas Aquinas believed that a human being is composed of two essential parts: matter and form. **Matter** (*hyle* in Greek) is the physical substance that makes up everything in the universe, including the human body. **Form** (*morphe* in Greek) is the essence that gives a being its identity and purpose. Aquinas emphasized that the body and soul are inseparable, unlike Plato, who saw the soul as independent from the body. He explained that while the body is something humans share with animals, the soul is what makes a person truly human. The soul is the animating principle of life, giving humans their ability to think, choose, and seek truth. For Aquinas, the purpose of human life is to strive for goodness and ultimately unite with God. He believed that by developing virtues, using reason, and living a moral life, a person can fulfill their true nature. The soul, being the essence of a human, directs the body toward this higher purpose, making self-knowledge and moral integrity essential for achieving true happiness. **RENÉ DESCARTES** (1596-1650):\ *The self is a thinking entity.* A French mathematician, scientist, and the Father of Modern Philosophy, René Descartes is known for his work *La Géométrie*, which introduced the Cartesian coordinate system. This had a significant influence on the field of mathematics and brought a new perspective to philosophy. He also applied the concept of Dualism to the two dimensions of the human self: the self as a thinking entity and the self as a physical body. He argued that these two are independent of each other, yet each can exist without the other. Descartes sought to understand the relationship between reasoning and the human self. He discovered that the self is intellectually autonomous and capable of independent thought. He suggested that we cannot simply rely on our senses and that everything must be subjected to doubt. However, he also believed that the one thing a person cannot doubt is the existence of the self. But how do we know that the self exists? \"I think, therefore I am.\" -- *Cogito ergo sum.* For Descartes, the very act of thinking is proof of one's existence. He believed that this is the essence of the human self---a thinking entity that has the ability to doubt, understand, analyze, question, and reason. **DAVID HUME** (1711 -- 1776):\ *The self is a collection of different perceptions.* A Scottish philosopher and an empiricist, David Hume believed that knowledge comes solely from sensory experience. He argued that the self is not a separate entity beyond the physical body but merely a collection of perceptions derived from experience. According to Hume, there are only two distinct components of human experience: **impressions**, which are the immediate, vivid sensations we perceive, and **ideas**, which are the thoughts and images formed based on these impressions. He asserted that the notion of personal identity is merely a product of the imagination, concluding that there is no permanent or unchanging self. **IMMANUEL KANT** (1724 -- 1804):\ *The self is constructed through rationality.* A German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. In his philosophy, Transcendental Unity of Apperception wherein he explains that the self is always transcendental. He also introduced the Transcendental Deduction of categories which pertains to the construction of a world that is stable and familiar which can be investigated and proven scientifically. For Kant, the self is merely a product of reason and it constructs its own reality. **GILBERT RYLE** (1900-1976):\ *The self is represented by the behaviour of an individual.* Ryle rejected Descartes\' idea of the mind and body as separate entities, calling it the \"ghost in the machine.\" Instead, he argued that the self is not some hidden inner being but is expressed through actions, habits, and behaviors. According to Ryle, there is no mysterious \"inner mind\" directing the body; rather, a person is defined by their behavior---how they think, feel, and act in different situations. This idea, known as **Logical Behaviorism**, suggests that understanding a person's self means observing their actions, not looking for an invisible mind inside them. **MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY** (1908-1961):\ *The self is embodied subjectivity.* Merleau-Ponty rejected Cartesian Dualism and argued that the mind and body are one, inseparable from thoughts, emotions, and experiences. In his work, *Phenomenology of Perception,* he emphasized that perception is not just a sensory experience but a conscious experience---all knowledge about the self is based on \"**phenomena**,\" or how we experience the world. For Merleau-Ponty, the body is not just a physical vessel but an essential part of how we engage with reality. We do not merely \"have\" a body; we \"are\" our body. **Reflection:** Whose philosophical perspective do you think makes more sense to you? Explain. **Activity** Write a letter to your future self or the version of you at the end of this semester. This will be personal, so write honestly. Place your letters on a one-page short bond paper (written or printed). I will collect them on our next meeting and will return them to you at the end of the semester.