The Self From Various Philosophical Perspectives PDF

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES WHAT PHILOSOPHY SAYS ABOUT THE SELF.  Introduction to the Topic This topic highlights how the classical and modern philosophical models defined the self, the evolution of these philosophical frameworks from ancient to contempora...

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES WHAT PHILOSOPHY SAYS ABOUT THE SELF.  Introduction to the Topic This topic highlights how the 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 youth define their own sense of self.  LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this class session, the students are expected to: discuss the different philosophical standpoints about the self; explain how philosophical models have transformed from classical to contemporary times; synthesize and evaluate the different perspectives of self; analyze the relevance of various philosophical standpoints to your sense of self.  PHILOSOPHY OF THE SELF PHILOSOPHY is often called Ancient philosophers The SELF has been the MOTHER OF attempted to explain defined as a ALL natural and social "UNIFIED BEING, DISCIPLINES phenomena, coming essentially simply because up with their own connected to all fields of study definitions of how the consciousness, began as world works and what awareness and with philosophical factors contribute to the faculty of discourses, such phenomena. rational choice.  CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY SOCRATES PLATO ARISTOTLE 3 GREAT "GOLDEN AGE" GREEK PHILOSOPHERS The ancient philosophy of the self can be traced back from one of the 147 GREEK APHORISMS prominently inscribed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi. As a "GURU", Socrates preferred to engage his students in endless discussions. It is said that, he had never written down any of his ideas but instead untiringly articulated concepts and principles with his students. believed that the REAL SELF is not the physical body, but rather the PSYCHE (SOUL) further posited that the appearance of the body is inferior to its functions He believed that it is the duty of the philosopher to "KNOW ONESELF" (famous ADVICE). Socrates He saw a person as DUALISTIC: every person is composed of BODY and SOUL. 469 - 399 B.C BODY - imperfect and impermanent aspect SOUL - perfect and permanent Socrates was also known for his DICTUM (short Socrates statement that expresses a general truth or principle). 469 - 399 B.C "IGNORANCE IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM" - It is accepting our ignorance that prods us to know ourselves, our power and limitations. - to know ourselves means to acquire TRUE KNOWLEDGE of ourselves - PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE - to improve ourselves by capitalizing on our powers to fight our limitations - knowing what kind of men and women we are  Socrates 469 - 399 B.C Socrates is also known for this famous quote: "THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING." - To live without knowing who you are and what virtues you can attain is the worst that can happen to a person. - An EXAMINING, a THINKING and an INVESTIGATING self is what essentially the SELF is.  THE RATIONAL SOUL For Plato, the SELF is an The THINKING, REASONING, and "IMMORTAL SOUL IN A JUDGING aspect. It must be well- MORTAL PERISHABLE developed and in-charge. BODY." THE APPETITIVE SOUL This is responsible for the desires He is Socrates' prized and cravings of a person. Desires student, who thoroughly must be controlled and focused to expounded on Socrates' those that give life like eating, ideas of the self. drinking and sleeping. further expounded on THE SPIRITED SOUL This is accountable for emotions and the idea of the soul by also makes sure that the rules of stating it has 3 parts or reason is followed in order to attain plato components. victory and / or honor. Emotions are 428 - 348 b.c. checked.  In his work, THE REPUBLIC, Plato emphasized that all 3 parts of the soul must work harmoniously to attain JUSTICE and VIRTUE in a person. - The SOUL is the "GIVER OF LIFE TO THE BODY" BODY - CHANGING, TRANSITORY and PERISHABLE SOUL - PERMANENT, CHANGELESS and DIVINE ELEMENTS - The BODY is the SHELL for the SOUL. - The co-existence of the immaterial mind and the material body. - "Our life is a continuous ascent towards the world of ideas." (Our life's journey is a continuous striving to free our soul from its imprisonment in the body.) Plato believed that the soul precedes birth and succeeds death. It is the soul or mind that attains knowledge, not the plato senses. He emphasized the social aspect of human nature. 428 - 348 b.c. Humans are not self-sufficient; they need other people and benefit from social interactions. Aristotle was one of the most renowned pupils of Plato. ARISTOTLE Plato called him "THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE SCHOOL". 384 - 322 B.C. The SELF is composed of BODY and SOUL, MIND and MATTER, SENSE and INTELLECT, PASSION and REASON. REASON is the emphasis of Aristotle. It is the SUPREME in a human person and so should govern all of life's activities. Reason is the development of a human person's, physical, economic and social powers. Human happiness comes from the harmonious development of the whole self. Perfection and happiness come from WISDOM and virtue (True knowledge and doing what is best for you). GOLDEN MEAN - is a theory taught by Aristotle which means MODERATION (avoiding EXTREMES: too much or too little). "Living a life of MODERATION is doing things in consonance with REASON.  Medieval Philosophers  He was a North African Christian Theologian and Philosopher who influenced the development of western Christianity and Philosophy. combined Greek philosophy and truths contained in the Scriptures. The SELF is made up of BODY and SOUL, "A SOUL IN POSSESSION OF A BODY" which "does not constitute two persons but one man. His concept of self is in the context of his RELATION TO GOD. - Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. - Every human person is made for God. ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO It is only upon his / her recognition of God's 354-430 A.D. love and his / her response to the invitation to love that he / she finds inner peace.  Happiness is the END-ALL and the BE-ALL of human living and this happiness can be found in God alone. At his conversion, St. Augustine remarked: "You have made ST. AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO our hearts for Thee, O God and so they will find rest only in 354-430 A.D. Thee. Like Aristotle, St. Augustine also taught virtue which is "the ORDER OF LOVE". To love God means it is necessarily to love one's fellowmen. (Never to do any harm to another as you would not want others do unto you - This is Aristotle's GOLDEN MEAN). St. Augustine taught AGAINST HEDONISM: Man craves for something perfect, immutable and enduring. - Possession of the goods of this world such as HEALTH, BEAUTY, POWER, HONOR, FAME can never give to a human person what he / she is truly looking for, as these goods are finite, unstable and ephemeral. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Like Aristotle, Aquinas, proclaimed the supremacy of REASON 1225 - 1274 in a human person. A human person can know the truth with certainty by the use of his reason. stressed that there are some truths which cannot be known by human reason alone and which can be perceived only with the aid of the light of DIVINE REVELATION. TRUTHS known through REASON, TRUTHS known from Divine Revelation: can never contradict each other because they emanate from the same source, GOD, WHO IS TRUTH ITSELF. Like Aristotle, Aquinas taught man's longing for happiness on earth comes with the full development of man's powers. A higher form of human perfection beyond this life because of the immortality of the human soul can be found in GOD alone. St. Thomas was like St. Augustine who taught about the human soul that is restless and imperfect until it rests in God. Modern Day Philosophers rene descartes 1596 - 1650 THE FATHER OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY The SELF is an IMMATERIAL MIND and a MATERIAL BODY = DUALISM. He believed that the mind is the SEAT OF CONSCIOUSNESS. (BODY - human senses, unreliable and should not be trusted.) One can have ideas prior to experience. known for his "I THINK, THEREFORE I AM" - The rationality and activity of the mind are at the center of man's being.  In his ESSAY: CONCERNING HUMAN UNDERSTANDING, he explained that at birth the (human) mind is a TABULA RASA which means "BLANK SLATE" (the mind is empty at birth.) - - MEMORY is necessary condition for personal identity. Impressions during infancy have very important and lasting consequences. He argued that "ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS" that individuals make when young are more important than those made later because they are the foundation of the self. While impressions during infancy serve as the foundation of the development of the self, this does not mean that individuals can no longer unmake the negative effect of not-so-good earlier experience. He emphasized the "FREEDOM OF INDIVIDUALS TO AUTHOR THEIR OWN SOUL". - Individuals are free to define the content of their character except for their basic identity as a member of the human species. Like St. Augustine and St. Thomas, Locke believes that "God created man and we are in effect, God's property". john locke SURVIVAL - CHIEF END and set by our CREATOR. Every human person has the right to LIFE, LIBERTY, HEALTH and PROSPERITY. 1631 - 1704  The SELF is a combination of Scottish philosopher and an experiences of a person. empiricist who believes that all concepts as well as EXPERIENCES knowledge come from the SENSES and EXPERIENCES. 1. IMPRESSIONS - real or actual experiences or sensations He argued that there is no self beyond what can be Rough stone experienced. 2. IDEAS - copies of impressions The SELF is a "BUNDLE OF or representations of the world COLLECTION of different and sensations. perceptions. DAVID HUME Sweet ice cream 1711-1776  One of the most influencial philosophers of Western Philosophy. contributed to the fields of metaphysics, ethics and aethetics among others. He believes that there must necessarily be something in us that organizes these sensations to create knowledge and ideas. REASON, not mere experience, is the foundation of knowledge. For him, it is the self that organizes and synthesizes immanuel kant our experiences into something meaningful to us. It is something that transcends or is above our 1724 - 1804 consciousness. gilbert ryle British philosopher mainly associated with the Ordinary Language Philosophy Movement. 1900 - 1976 proposed that we should instead focus on the observable behavior of a person in defining the "SELF". DUALITY APPROACH: 1. There can be a private, unobservable aspect of a person. 2. A different public and observable trait. Meaning: One can describe one's self as good but do otherwise in real life. He sees SELF as an entirety of thoughts, emotions and actions of person that relates to observable behavior. We get to know others by observing their behavior and inferring about their "selves". We can apply the same observation and reflection on ourselves. Contemporary Philosophers The SELF is a manifestation of subjectivity, wherein a subject can act and cause effects, thus implying its existence. He believed that the physical body is a part of self-identity. The perceptions of the mind and the actions of the body are interconnected. Everything that we experience in this world - joy, sadness, love, remorse - happens with our bodies. maurice merleau- The mind thinks in an embodied way. ponty 1908 - 1961 Paul Churchland adheres to MATERIALISM (ELIMINATIVE) - the belief that nothing except matter exists. He argued that the mind does not exist because it cannot be experienced by one's senses. believed that it is the physical brain that gives our sense of self paul churchland not the imaginary mind. 1942 -  Guide Questions 1. How do philosophers describe the nature of self? 2. Which philosopher would you say aligns with your views the most? Why? Thank you for listening! Lesson and Slides prepared by: MANLAPAS, R.S. SEPTEMBER 5, 2022