Introduction to Understanding the Self PDF

Introduction to Understanding the Self Prepared by: Mr. Jayvee C. Cebu, MP, RPm Module Objectives: To introduce the concept, definition, and processes of self-understanding encompassing the scientific and philosophical explanations about the Self and Identity. The module also broadly in...

Introduction to Understanding the Self Prepared by: Mr. Jayvee C. Cebu, MP, RPm Module Objectives: To introduce the concept, definition, and processes of self-understanding encompassing the scientific and philosophical explanations about the Self and Identity. The module also broadly introduces the factors that contribute to one’s being and identity.  Specifically, we will discuss… Fundamental concepts and principles of the self. Different factors that contributes to one’s being. Philosophical and theoretical explanations about the self. Explanations about fields of sciences about the self and identity. Highlights of the Lessons Unit 3. What Science Says about the Self This unit discusses the different aspects of science and how they explain the Unit 1. Social, Environmental, concept of the Self. Natural science and and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) social sciences encompass a number of This unit introduces you to the disciplines that have deliberated on the journey of understanding the self. This nature of the Self. Such discourses will will highlight the different factors Unit 2. What Philosophy be tackled in this section. (Social, Environmental, Biological, Says about the Self and other life factors) that contribute to the development of the Self. This unit highlights how classical and modern philosophical models defined the Self, the evolution of these philosophical frameworks from ancient to contemporary times, and the relevance of the philosophy of the self to how the younger generation define their own sense of self. Do we really know ourselves well? Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) There are still many things that we haven’t discovered about ✓ Learning Checkpoint ourselves. Do you AGREE or DISAGREE? We can be whatever or whoever we Our parents (or family want to be. members) can only influence us while we are in the growing up years. Our tendencies are completely controllable. We are what we are right now because we want to be like this. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) We may not be conscious about it but Overview of Self/Identity/Personality every time we mention the ‘I’ e.g., I will go to school, I hangout with my friends, Self I like to eat burger, we are talking about INNER BEING the self as “actors”. A person or individual are the objects of its own reflective Further, we always mention the ‘me’ consciousness. as the object, e.g., tell me about it, give me something, it makes me Self is viewed as subjects as well feel awesome. as objects. Self “I” - “ME”- Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Identity includes the many relationships Overview of Self/Identity/Personality people cultivate, such as their identity as a child, friend, partner, and parent. Identity what defines you Identity encompasses the memories, experiences, It involves external characteristics relationships, and values that over which a person has little or no create one’s sense of self. control, such as height, race, or IDENTITY- creates a stable sense of who socioeconomic class. one is overtime, even as new facets are developed and incorporated into one’s identity Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) One is understanding individual Overview of Self/Identity/Personality differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or Personality consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that make irritability. you unique It refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of The other is understanding how the thinking, feeling and behaving. various parts of a person come The study of personality focuses together as a whole. on two broad areas: “Personality makes us unique to each other” SELF how you think and feel about yourself. how you express PERSONALITY yourself. How these can be form and better be understand?? IDENTITY stable sense of who you are over time  DO TASK 1 CAN’T HELP BUT PONDER #1: “What do you think is the relationship of the SELF, IDENTITY and PERSONALITY” Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Why is it important to have a good relationship to the environment and to the members of the society? Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) NATURE vs. NURTURE Issues on Understanding the Self Many scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields and across generations have attempted to SELF vs. IDENTITY explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of self. The most Uni vs. Multi prevalent among issues on self, are the DIMENSIONALITIES issues on: Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and NATURE other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Biological sciences which explain that our Issues on Understanding the Self traits are passed on to humanity from one generation to another, and these transmitted traits served as a blueprint NATURE vs. NURTURE of our self and make us predispose to certain self-expressions (e.g., attitude, behavior, tendencies, etc.). While some insist that the self is predominantly a product of natural processes to which people are inherently predisposed, some argue that the self is largely influenced and principally constructed by one’s social environments. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and NURTURE other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Social Sciences argue though that the self should be principally viewed as an outcome of various nurturing factors in Issues on Understanding the Self the context of one’s social life. Social Sciences have provided manifold of NATURE vs. NURTURE insights and explanations about the self both on the micro and macro level of one’s social life. While some insist that the self is predominantly a product of natural processes to which people are inherently predisposed, some argue that the self is largely influenced and principally constructed by one’s social environments. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) NATURE vs. NURTURE LET’S REFLECT : What is your stand on the issue? NATURE NURTURE While arguments about the predominance of either nature or nurture are still unresolved, we could settle for an eclectic standpoint on this issue. We can safely assume that our self is BOTH a product of NATURE and NURTURE. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Issues on Understanding the Self Many scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields and across generations have attempted to SELF vs. IDENTITY explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of self. The most prevalent among issues on self, are the issues on: Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and SELF other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Self: Based on lexical definition, Self (noun) is “the person that someone normally or truly is… or the Issues on Understanding the Self entire person of an individual”. SELF vs. IDENTITY Self and Identity are topics that remain popular not only among psychologists (authors of psychology articles) but also to other social scientist like sociologists, cultural anthropologists, economists, among others. Noticeably, the term self and identity in various literatures have been loosely interchanged by many authors. For many, there is a very thin conceptual and functional distinction between the two concepts and many people perceive them as synonymous. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and IDENTITY other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Identity: Based on lexical definition, Identity (noun, iden·ti·ty\ī-ˈden-tə-tē, ə-, -ˈde-nə-\) referred to Issues on Understanding the Self “the qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others… or the distinguishing character or personality of an individual” SELF vs. IDENTITY Self and Identity are topics that remain popular not only among psychologists (authors of psychology articles) but also to other social scientist like sociologists, cultural anthropologists, economists, among others. Noticeably, the term self and identity in various literatures have been loosely interchanged by many authors. For many, there is a very thin conceptual and functional distinction between the two concepts and many people perceive them as synonymous. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Issues on Understanding the Self Many scholars (i.e., theorists, scientists, philosophers) in different fields and across generations have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of self. The most Uni vs. Multi prevalent among issues on self, are the DIMENSIONALITIES issues on: Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Issues on Understanding the Self Some people believe that the Self Uni vs. Multi or Identity can be more accurately depicted using a single factor or Dimensionalities aspect. For example, we often hear people ask another to describe a particular person using a few words. Can we really describe someone using only a few words? Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Issues on Understanding the Self You now being are asked to Uni vs. Multi describe a particular person using only one word (e.g., Your Best Dimensionalities Friend), how will you describe him/her? My Best Friend is: _______________ Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Issues on Understanding the Self My Best friend is _______________ Uni vs. Multi How will you categorize this Dimensionalities description in terms of aspect of the self? a. Physical b. Emotional c. Social d. Intellectual e. Spiritual Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Many people tend to provide Issues on Understanding the Self Physical Description… Uni vs. Multi Physical Appearance – refers to how we physically present our self to other people. Dimensionalities Though we can consider that the physical appearance is just a surface description that we can use to describe a person, this dimension of the Self tends to be very critical for some practical purposes (e.g., easy recall, creating impression, making judgement, etc. ). Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Issues on Understanding the Self Our Self cannot be Uni vs. Multi singly represented by Dimensionalities a certain trait because our Self/Identity is composed of multidimensional aspects and that we are a PRODUCT of multidimensional FACTORS. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Issues on Understanding the Self Uni vs. Multi Dimensionalities Society Heredity DIMENSIONALITIES OF THE SELF Environment Volition Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and Social factors are strong foundations other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) of one’s being. The characteristics that we acquired from the influences of the social groups where we Issues on Understanding the Self interact with during the growing up Uni vs. Multi years are integrated to form our identity, or our uniqueness and Dimensionalities similarities with others. Social Factor of the Self It refers to the influences of significant people in a person’s life. This particularly includes the social groups where and individual identifies oneself. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) This is not only about the physical properties of the Issues on Understanding the Self surrounding (i.e., climate and temperature, forms of Uni vs. Multi land, etc.) but this factor Dimensionalities principally includes the larger society or community Environmental Factor of the Self and the expectations and Broadly includes the physical and norms operating in that communal elements present in locality or place. our everyday surrounding, and is invariably dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region or area. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) This factor compared with the two previously discussed factors can be Issues on Understanding the Self depicted as the non- Uni vs. Multi negotiable factor. If one has the choice whether or Dimensionalities not to adopt the influence Hereditary Factor of of social groups and to the Self change (improve) one’s environment, heredity as a Heredity is a biological process factor of one’s being, and by which certain traits and identity is relatively fixed characteristics are passed on and permanent. from one generation to another. Unit 1. Social, Environmental, and other Life Factors (S.E.L.F) Such factor emanates from within the mentality of an individual, but also brought Issues on Understanding the Self about by the aggregated social-life experiences. Uni vs. Multi Social scientists (e.g., Dimensionalities sociologist) may refer to this type of person as Person- Volition Factor deviant and non-conformist. of the Self But being one is not The most controversial factor of necessarily negative, in fact, the Self or Identity. This refers to some of the people of this the inclination of a person to type turned in to trend- form and construct a specific identity, which will set him apart setters, discoverers and or unique compared with others. inventors  DO TASK 2 CAN’T HELP BUT PONDER #2: “How these social, environmental and other life factors contributes to the development of the self? ” Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self The Philosophy of the Self The Self has been defined as “as a unified being, essentially connected to consciousness, awareness, and agency (or, at least, with the faculty of rational choice) “. Different philosophers have produced more specific characteristics of the Self, and over time, these meanings have transformed from pure abstractions to explanations that hold scientific evidences. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Socrates believed The Philosophy of the Self that the real self is not the physical Socrates body, but rather the psyche (or The ancient philosophy of self soul). He further can be traced back from the posited that the ancient Greek aphorism (one of appearance of the 147 aphorisms prominently body is inferior to inscribed in the temple of Apollo its functions. at Delphi), “know thyself” (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν, transliterated: gnōthi seauton). Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Plato suggested The Philosophy of the Self that the existence or the truth about Plato the human self is Plato’s conceptualization of the Self fundamentally an was profoundly introduced in his intellectual entity dialogue Phaedrus, which has been whose nature a popular text for many decades in exists independent the subject of Philosophy. The main from the physical idea in this dialogue is about truth- world. seeking, and that the truth can be distinguished in two forms: the metaphysical realm (mind) and the physical world (body). Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Aristotle called ideal as “essence” and the phenomena The Philosophy of the Self as “matter”. He also emphasized that Plato the two co-exist Plato’s idea of truth about the and are co- human self was even more dependent, the expounded and formalized by his essence provides prized student, Aristotle. While meaning and Plato emphasized the separation purpose to the of ideal and phenomenal matter, and the existence (or being), Aristotle matter provides suggested that the ideal is substance and subsumed in the phenomena. solidity to essence. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self The Philosophy of the Self Philosophy of the self has been defined through two distinct philosophical lens: Empiricism - derives explanations of the self from sensory and bodily responses. We know things because we have experienced it through our bodily senses. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self The Philosophy of the Self Philosophy of the self has been defined through two distinct philosophical lens: Rationalism - there is innate knowledge; they differ in that they choose different objects of innate knowledge. Rationalism explains self from the standpoint of what is “ideal” and the “truth”, not rooted in what is felt by the senses nor our body. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self What are the different philosophical views of the Self ? There is abundance in literature that highlights the similarities and contrasting standpoints of the self. Socrates and Plato have explained the Self from a theoretical and logical orientation; Aristotle was an empiricist, deriving views of the self from physical and scientific underpinnings. St. Augustine adopted the views of Plato and infused it to his religious philosophy. John Locke, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant were empiricist philosophers; Rene Descartes was a dominant rational philosopher during the Middle Ages. Among contemporary philosophers, majority are empiricists: Gilbert Ryle, Patricia Churchland, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty have incorporated biological and neuroscience in their philosophies. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Philosophical Perspectives The Philosophy of the Self Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description Classical Antiquity Socrates Idealism Socratic Knowledge is the personification of good Philosophy while Ignorance is that of evil. Self-knowledge is the ultimate virtue. As the ultimate virtue, it will lead to ultimate happiness. Plato Idealism Dualism Moral virtue is rooted in the intellect and and leads to happiness. Idealism Wisdom and knowledge leads to virtue which will lead to happiness. Aristotle Empiricist Aristotelian Ideal is found inside the phenomena and the Philosophy universals inside the particulars. Ideals are ESSENCE. Phenomena is MATTER. Matter has no form. Essence has no mass. Matter and Essence need each other. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Philosophical Perspectives The Philosophy of the Self Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description Middle Ages All knowledge leads to God. Only the pure in heart can see God. St. Augustine Platonism Neoplatonism Love of God, faith in Him and Understanding of his Gospel will ultimately lead to Happiness. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Philosophical Perspectives Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description The Philosophy of the Self Renaissance Descartes Rationalist Mind-body “I think, therefore, I am.” Dualism The mind and soul can exist without the body. Establishing the distinction of soul from the body can make people believe in the afterlife and the soul’s immortality. Locke Empiricist Theory of It is in consciousness alone that identity exists, not Personal on the body and soul. Identity There is a distinction between man and person. The soul may change, but consciousness remains intact. Hume Empiricist Skeptical All knowledge passes through the senses. Philosophy Separate ideas can be joined in the mind. There is no self, only a bundle of perceptions. Kant Rationalist Metaphysics Reason is the final authority of morality. / Empiricist of the Self There is the inner self and outer self; The inner self includes rational reasoning and psychological state. The outer self includes the body and physical mind, where representation occurs. Unit 2. What Philosophy Says About the Self Philosophical Perspectives The Philosophy of the Self Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description Modern Times Ryle Empiricist The Concept of “I act, therefore, I am.” Mind The mind is not the seat of self. It is not a separate, parallel thing to our physical body. The mind is a category mistake, brought about by habitual use. The only way it can affect the other is through the external world. Churchland Empiricist Neurophilosop A fully matured neuroscience will eliminate the hy need for beliefs since “they are not real.” The physical brain gives us a sense of self. Merleau- Existentialism Phenomenolog Both empiricism and intellectualism are flawed Ponty Empiricist y of Perception in nature. “We are our bodies.” Our bodily experiences do not detach the subject/object, mind/body, rational/irrational.  DO TASK 3 CAN’T HELP BUT PONDER #3: “What do you think is the relevance of philosophy to understanding the self?” Unit 2. What Science Says About Thus, attempts to explain Self have the Self been made from the perspective of scientific methods. The Science of the Self Science has invested much of its efforts in Self is of two-fold: understanding world physical sciences and phenomena, but none more social sciences. so than in explaining how human beings have evolved from its basic life forms to Science has been lexically defined as its more complex make-up “the intellectual and practical today. activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” Unit 2. What Science Says About Science has made sufficient advances in explaining human beings in the biological context. Beginning the Self with the tenets of Aristotle and his scientific approach to the study of human experience, to the Natural Selection within the Evolutionary theory of The Science of the Self Charles Darwin, human development, individuality, and inevitably the Self, has been defined, analyzed, and explained according to specific mechanisms. Biological Sciences The human body has been explained from several scientific standpoints. From a biological perspective, genetics has been studied extensively by scientists and doctors on how genes from both parents contribute to the characteristics of their offspring. The study of the human body from a physical perspective has paved the way for a fuller understanding of the self, as consciousness, deemed to be a fundamental core of the self, is influenced by inner dynamics and environments. Unit 2. What Science Says About the Self The Science of the Self Whereas physical science has devoted much of its time to understanding the physical Social Sciences nature of people, social science is concerned with human functioning in the context of society and social institutions. Psychology, sociology, anthropology, politics, and economics are some of the social sciences that have contributed much to the study of the Self. Unit 2. What Science Says About Psychology is one of the most popular the Self social sciences, defined as “the study of human behavior”. Several theoretical perspectives have been introduced within this The Science of the Self field of interest to explain the “self”. Psychology has contributed a lot in the study of the self as a theoretical construct. In fact, Social Sciences the development of the so-called Science of Self is significantly rooted from various psychological theories and principles. In many psychological theories (e.g., social and personality psychology), the term self has been used as a predicate of several psychological constructs (e.g., self-awareness, self-construal, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self- regulation, etc.). Such usages of the term indicate not only an acceptance of its existence but also signify its importance in characterizing human psychological and personal attributes. Unit 2. What Science Says About the Self The Science of the Self Sociology is the study of collective behavior of people within society and focuses Social Sciences on social problems encountered by people. It does not see the individual on his own, but rather, how social institutions and his social relationships within society create an impact on his thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It provides tools for understanding human experience and how society shapes the person and vice versa. Unit 2. What Science Says About the Self The Science of the Self Anthropology is the “science of human beings; especially the study of human beings Social Sciences and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture.” In the context of studying the self, anthropology provides the lens of the developmental advancements society has made and how it has impacted generations who existed within that society. Unit 2. What Science Says About the Self The Science of the Self Political Science is concerned with participation of individuals in establishing a Social Sciences government and making political choices. It is not about political affiliations but rather, the factors involved in how one arrives at his political choices and behavior. In studying self, how an individual participates in government, his ideologies and advocacies, are significant contributors to his selfhood. Unit 2. What Science Says About the Self The Science of the Self Economics is “concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, Social Sciences distribution, and consumption of goods and services". Nature of goods, how we manufacture them, how we share in its consumption, our state of finances and purchasing power, and its equitable distribution to society shapes our self through valuation of products and services that society has to offer. Our economic activities have shaped our value system, and sense of self.  DO TASK 4 CAN’T HELP BUT PONDER #4: “What do you think is the relevance of science to understanding the self?”  References: Alata, E.J., Casillo, B., Serafica, J., et al. (2019). Understanding the Self https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ogweL4E24ok http://www.ancientgreece.com /s/People/Socrates/ Thank you! Any questions? Prepared by: Mr. Jayvee C. Cebu, MP, RPm