Understanding the Self GEC 101 Lecture Notes PDF

Understanding the Self GEC 101 Instructor: Jennifer Gay E. Carpio [email protected] Department of Psychology 1 Proposed asynchronous sessions ⊹ September 22 and 23 ⊹ September 26 and 27 ⊹ October 24 - 28 ⊹ December 7-11 ⊹ January 9 -...

Understanding the Self GEC 101 Instructor: Jennifer Gay E. Carpio [email protected] Department of Psychology 1 Proposed asynchronous sessions ⊹ September 22 and 23 ⊹ September 26 and 27 ⊹ October 24 - 28 ⊹ December 7-11 ⊹ January 9 -13 (work on your final requirements) ⊹ January 16 - 20 (submission of final requirements) 2 What is this subject about? Understanding the Self is a fundamental course in the GEC for tertiary education. This subject aims to help you develop a more critical and reflective attitude in exploring issues and concerns of the self and identity. 3 This course deals with the nature of identity, and the factors that affect the development of personal identity. This is a course that allow students to explore issues and concerns regarding the self and identity. 4 The subject has three major parts: ⊹ The self from various perspectives ⊹ Unpacking the self ⊹ Managing and caring for the self 5  Grading System: ⊹ 20% - Exam(s) ⊹ 40% - Submissions (e.g., final requirement as well as asynchronous assignments including reflection papers, assignments, etc.) ⊹ 30% - Performance in classroom activities or output from classroom activities ⊹ 10% - Attendance ⊹ Highest possible grade – 1.0 ⊹ Passing grade – 3.0 ⊹ Failing grade – 5.0 6 Have you asked these questions? ⊹ Who am I? ⊹ What is my real self? ⊹ What is my fundamental identity? ⊹ The unexamined life is not worth living - Socrates 7 ⊹ The self is usually thought of as something within us, as that which is most central to who we are. ⊹ The most common boundary line that is universally accepted and the one that individuals consent to is that of the skin – what is inside the skin is “me.” 8 Have you done some things or behaved in ways that you can say does not represent your true or real self? Have you acted in a way that does not express who you truly are? 9 ⊹ Do you truly know yourself? ⊹ Your name is intimately tied to you. But the self goes beyond your name. ⊹ The self is thought to be something else than the name. ⊹ The self is something the person perenially molds, shapes, and develops. Everyone is tasked to discover one’s self. 10 “ ⊹ Chapter 1: The self from various philosophical perspectives 11 What is philosophy? ⊹ Philosophy means “love of wisdom.” ⊹ The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. ⊹ A way of thinking about thought, existence, meaning, and value. ⊹ Hence, philosophers often ask questions about life, the world, morality, etc. 12 ⊹ Philosophers often question existing knowledge as a means to get closer to the truth. × Philosophers seek to understand fundamental truths about themselves, the world, and their relationships to the world and each other. × Philosophers are often engage in asking, answering, and arguing. 13 ⊹ History shows that philosophical theories have tried to explore and explain as to what constitute as our real self or true nature, and what relationship this self might have to the material body. 14 ⊹ The inquiry on the self has preoccupied the earliest thinkers in the history of philosophy: the Greeks. ⊹ The Greeks made great strides to understand reality and respond to questions about the self. ⊹ The different perspectives and views on the self can be best seen and understood by revisiting its prime movers and identify the most important conjectures made by both ancient and contemporary philosophers. 15  SOCRATES ⊹ “Know thyself” ⊹ Socrates argues that the true task of the philosopher is to know oneself. ⊹ “The unexamined life is not worth living” ⊹ Is self knowledge necessary to a meaningful life? 16 ⊹ Socrates is considered as a moral philosopher. ⊹ He is the first philosopher to engage in questioning the self. ⊹ His philosophy examines how we should live. ⊹ Socrates argues that every man is dualistic. The dualistic viewpoint believes that there are two important aspects of personhood. 17 ⊹ Hence, every man is composed of body and soul. × The body is the imperfect and impermanent aspect of human beings. × In contrast, the soul is considered perfect and permanent. 18 ⊹ Socrates also believes that reality is dualistic. Hence, there are two realms: × Physical realm – changeable, transient, imperfect; where we live in, comprised of all we can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. × Ideal realm – unchanging, eternal, immortal; truth, goodness, beauty; the ideal forms of ourselves. 19 ⊹ Relationship between the realms and the self. × The physical body belongs to the physical realm. The physical body is changes, is imperfect, and dies × The soul belongs to the ideal realm. The soul is unchanging and immortal. The soul strives for perfection and wisdom. The soul survives the death of the body. Hence, death is simply the separation of the soul from the body. 20 ⊹ Thus, although there is a close relationship between the body and soul, they are different entities. ⊹ Our preoccupation with bodily needs (food, water, sex, etc.) keep us from attaining wisdom. ⊹ To be virtuous, Socrates believes one must try to separate the body and soul as much as possible. 21 ⊹ What is remarkable about these ideas is its parallel with Western consciousness – a finite body, an immortal soul, and a perfect realm are parallels of Western (and some Eastern) religions. ⊹ His ideas also resonate with modern concepts with the self – there is a complicated relationship with the thinking, reasoning self and the physical self. 22 PLATO ⊹ A student of Socrates. ⊹ The philosophy of the self can be explained as a process of self-knowledge. ⊹ He believed in the existence of the mind and the soul. ⊹ Plato agrees that the soul is immortal and separate from the body. 23 ⊹ Plato argued that human life or existence is essentially a struggle between reason and desire. × Reason is the 'higher' part of the human being while desires are the 'lower' part that constitutes the primitive, irrational, and the chaotic level. 24 ⊹ Humans are usually identified as rational beings (and are therefore, reasonable). ⊹ Desires are seen as being less central though still part of us – desires need to be controlled by reason. × The desiring side, when allowed to reign supreme, will make humans at the mercy of irrational passions. 25 ⊹ Similar to Socrates, Plato supported the idea that man is a dual nature of body and soul. × Plato believes in the idea that the true self is made of reason or the intellect and this makes up the so- called soul of the individual. 26 ⊹ Plato believes the soul has three parts: × 1. RATIONAL SOUL × Reason and intellect × Divine essence that enables us to think deeply, make wise choices, and achieve a true understanding of eternal truths. × The level of the soul that knows reality; makes decisions; govern other parts of the soul. 27 × 2. SPIRITED SOUL/SPIRIT × Emotion and passion × Basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, empathy, aggressiveness. × In charge of emotions and should be kept at bay 28 × 3. APPETITIVE SOUL/PHYSICAL APPETITTE × Basic needs/survival needs × Our basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire. × In charge of base desires Plato’s ideas on the three parts of the soul were outline in his major work, “The Republic.” 29 ⊹ These three parts of the soul are in a dynamic relationship which sometimes result in conflict. ⊹ According to Plato, if conflict arises, reason should sort out the conflict and exert control to bring harmony among the three elements. ⊹ When the ideal state is attained, then the human soul becomes just and virtuous. 30 ⊹ ARISTOTLE ⊹ A student of Plato ⊹ The body and soul are not separate but is one thing × Aristotle believes that the soul is simply the form of the body and is not capable of existing without the body. × Without the body, the soul cannot exist. 31 ⊹ The soul is the essence of the self. It is what makes a person a person. ⊹ The rational nature of the self is to lead a good, flourishing, fulfilling life. ⊹ Aristotle believes that anything with life has a soul. 32 ST. AUGUSTINE ⊹ Integrated the ideas of Plato and Christianity. ⊹ His view of the person reflects the spirit of the medieval world. ⊹ He believes that a human being is a rational substance made up of soul and body. He also supports dualism. 33 ⊹ Neither soul or body alone make up a human being. ⊹ Believes that the soul is superior to the body. The soul rules the body. Initially, he saw the body and soul relationship as contentious. ⊹ However, as he matured, he developed a more unified perspective of the soul and body. 34 ⊹ Hence, he now saw the body as united with soul so that man may be entire and complete. ⊹ St. Augustine is also recognized as the first theologian (Theology is the study of God or religion). ⊹ He believes that we are created in the likeness of God. × Therefore, man is geared towards what is good. 35 ⊹ The self is known only through knowing God. ⊹ Self-knowledge is a consequence of knowing God. ⊹ St. Augustine greatly influenced the ideas of Rene Descartes. 36 RENE DESCARTES ⊹ Known as the Father of Modern Philosophy. ⊹ Brought a modern perspective on the nature of the self. ⊹ Believes that man’s ability to reason is instrumental to attain truth and knowledge. ⊹ Descartes wanted to thoroughly understand the thinking/reasoning process and its relation to the self. 37 ⊹ We need to use our own thinking abilities to develop our own conclusions, supported with compelling proof. ⊹ Descartes believes in doubting what we have been taught without question. × Through doubting, we can develop beliefs that are truly ours. 38 ⊹ His famous mantra is - “I think, therefore I am” (cogito ergo sum). ⊹ This is Descartes’ first theory of knowledge. × It means that as a thinking entity, people doubt their existence. You cannot doubt your existence, as you are the one doing the doubting. In the act of doubting, you are thinking. This is proof that there is a self. 39 ⊹ This mantra is also the foundation of his concept of the self. ⊹ The essence of existing as a human identity is the possibility of being aware of our selves: being self- conscious in this way is integral to having a personal identity. 40 ⊹ The self then is a combination of two distinct entities: × Cogito – the thing that thinks; the mind (the self as a thinking entity) × Extenza – extension of the mind which is the body (the self as a physical body). 41 ⊹ For Descartes, then, this is the essence of your self —you are a “thinking thing,” a dynamic identity that engages in all of those mental operations we associate with being a human self. ⊹ Aside from these mental operations, your self identity is dependent on the fact that you are capable of being aware you are engaging in these mental operations while you are engaged in them. × * Self-identity – a unique essence, a you. 42 ⊹ Descartes believes that your physical body is secondary to your personal identity. × One reason for this is that he believes you can conceive of yourself existing independently of your body. ⊹ Nevertheless, even though your body is not as central to your self as is your capacity to think and reflect, it clearly plays a role in your self-identity. 43 ⊹ This is where we see the influence of Socrates and Plato: ⊹ Descartes declares that the essential self - the self as thinking entity - is radically different than the self as physical body. ⊹ The thinking self - or soul - is a non- material, immortal, conscious being, independent of the physical laws o the universe. 44 ⊹ The physical body is a material, mortal, non-thinking entity, fully governed by the physical laws of nature. ⊹ Therefore, the soul and the body are distinct and independent from each other. 45 ⊹ Thus, Descartes ends up with Plato’s metaphysic, a dualistic view of reality, bifurcated into a spiritual, nonmaterial, immortal realm that includes conscious, thinking beings, and a physical, material, finite realm that includes human bodies and the rest of the physical universe. 46 JOHN LOCKE ⊹ Locke’s work as a physician provided him with a very different perspective ⊹ We will take a look at John Locke’s ideas to explore the nature of personal identity. ⊹ Locke believes that the mind at birth is tabula rasa (blank slate).Hence, we know nothing at birth. This is his theory of knowledge. 47 ⊹ For Locke, all knowledge originates in our direct sense experience (as opposed to Descartes where reasoning ability provides the origin of knowledge). ⊹ Locke is considered an archetypal advocate of the empiricist view of knowledge. × Empiricism - The view that sense experience is the primary source of all knowledge. 48 ⊹ Locke pushes us to examine our own experiences. 49 ⊹ Identity is tied to human nature, or what we understand a person to be. ⊹ For Locke, consciousness accompany the thinking process × We are conscious of out sensations and perceptions. We are aware of our self. × Necessary for us to have a unified self identity. ⊹ aa 50 ⊹ Locke is proposing a radically different version of the self than the philosophical tradition before him. Locke does not subscribe to dualism. × Locke denies that the individual self necessarily exists in a single soul or substance. × For Locke, conscious awareness and memory of previous experiences are the keys to understanding the self. 51 ⊹ In other words, you have a coherent concept of your self as a personal identity because you are aware of your self when you are thinking, feeling, and willing. And, you have memories of times when you were aware of your self in the past. × The self’s existence is dependent on our consciousness of it. The self is not tied to any particular body or substance. 52 DAVID HUME ⊹ A Scottish philosopher ⊹ Continued in the empiricist tradition of Locke, believing that the source of all genuine knowledge is our direct sense experience. ⊹ Hume has a more startling conclusion – there is no self! 53 ⊹ According to Hume, if we carefully examine the contents of our experience, we find that there are only two distinct entities: × Impressions - the basic sensations of our experience (e.g. pain, pleasure, heat, etc.); impressions are “lively” and “vivid.” × Ideas - copies of impressions, and as a result they are less “lively” and “vivid” (e.g., thoughts and images 54 ⊹ Our experiences form a fleeting stream of sensations in our mind ⊹ The self is simply a collection of different perceptions which succeed each other rapidly in perpetual flux and movement × none of these perceptions resemble a unified and permanent self-identity that exists overtime × the self cannot be found among these continually changing sensations 55 ⊹ When we are not experiencing our perceptions (e.g., sleep or death), there is no reason to suppose that our self exists in any form. ⊹ For Hume, a close examination of our stream of consciousness reveals no self , soul, or “I” that exists continually through time. ⊹ Hume’s concept of the self is often compared to Buddhism’s concept of anatta or “no-self.” 56 IMMANUEL KANT ⊹ Alarmed by Hume’s skepticism and extreme empiricism ⊹ All knowledge of the world begins with sensations: sounds, shapes, colors, tastes, feels, smells. 57 ⊹ Unlike Hume, Kant believes we perceive and experience an organized world of objects, relationships, and ideas, all existing within a fairly stable framework of space and time. ⊹ Hence, our primary experience of the world is not in terms of a disconnected stream of sensations. ⊹ In general, we live in a fairly stable and orderly world and integrated throughout this fabric is our conscious self who is the knowing subject ⊹ at the center of our universe. 58 ⊹ The self not only gives us our personality but is also the seat of knowledge acquisition. ⊹ The self is a dynamic entity/activity, continually synthesizing sensations and ideas into an integrated, meaningful whole. × The self construct its own reality that is familiar and predictable, and wholly its own. 59 SIGMUND FREUD ⊹ Formulated a psychoanalytic conception of human nature ⊹ Freud's account of human nature is also said to be like Plato's conception that life is a conflict and a struggle to restrain and control the desires. 60 ⊹ Freud divided the self into three parts: × Id – instinctual impulses; pleasure principle × Ego – deals with reality; reality principle × Superego – conscience; deals with morality; keeps the d and ego in check × The primary conflict for Freud is between the id and the superego. 61 ⊹ Repression – happens when the desires of the id conflicts with the moral standards of the superego ⊹ Repression is a defense mechanism to prevent undesirable and disturbing thoughts from becoming conscious. × E.g., Repressing sexual desires for an inappropriate person 62 ⊹ Freud believes the excessive repression can be harmful ⊹ Freud believes that desire is a natural part of us 63 GILBERT RYLE ⊹ Solves the mind-body dichotomy issue by denying the concept of an internal, non-physical self. ⊹ The self is not an entity one can locate and analyze. ⊹ For Ryle, what truly matters is behavior that a person manifests in daily life. 64 ⊹ The self, therefore, is the way people behave. ⊹ The self is best understood as a pattern of behavior, the capacity of a person to act and move in certain ways and conditions. 65 PAUL CHURCHLAND ⊹ Self is inseparable from the brain and the physiology of the body. ⊹ If the brain is gone, so is the self. ⊹ The physical brain gives us our sense of self. Hence, the self is the brain (materialism). 66 MAURICE MERLEAU- PONTY ⊹ Believes that the mind-body division is an invalid problem. ⊹ Merleau-Ponty believes that the mind and body are so intertwined that they cannot be separated from one another. 67