GEC 1 - Understanding The Self PDF

GEC 1 - UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Section 1: Social and Environmental and other Life Factors (SELF) Section 2: The Science and Philosophy of the self What philosophy says about the self What science says about the Self At the end of the chapter Expl...

GEC 1 - UNDERSTANDING THE SELF Section 1: Social and Environmental and other Life Factors (SELF) Section 2: The Science and Philosophy of the self What philosophy says about the self What science says about the Self At the end of the chapter Explain the role of philosophy the role of philosophy in understanding the concept of self. Discuss the different concept of the self from the philosophical perspective Differentiate the various concept of the self and identify their similarities and Develop your own philosophy of the self Etymological definition of philosophy “ love of wisdom”  SOCRATES: An Unexamined Life is not Worth Living “Ang buhay na hindi sinusuri ay hindi sulit na ipamuhay” Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in world history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in fact, known as the "Father of Western Philosophy" for this reason. SELF is synonymous with the SOUL every human possesses an immortal soul REALITY CONSIST OF TWO (2) DICHOTOMOUS REALMS 1.PHYSICAL REALMS changeable, transient & imperfect 2. IDEAL REALMS, unchanging, eternal and immortal 1. PHYSICAL REALMS changeable, transient & imperfect - the body belongs to physical realms 2. DEAL REALMS, unchanging, eternal & immortal - includes the intellectual, essence of universe concept of truth, goodness & beauty – soul belongs to ideal realm Essence of the self (the soul) is the immortal entity. The souls strives for wisdom and perfection BUT then as long as the soul is tied to the body, the quest for wisdom is inhibited by the imperfection of the physical realms (wanders, confused)  Socrates suggest that Man must live an examined life and a life of purpose & value. An unexamined life is not worth living. The individual person can have a meaningful life and happy life ONLY if he become virtuous and knows the value of himself that can be achieved through incessant soul searching. Source of all knowledge and significance – SELF INTROSPECTION, Socratic method carefully examining one’ s thoughts and emotions – to gain self knowledge.  PLATO: The Self is Immortal Soul Plato (born 428/427 bce, Athens, Greece—died 348/347, Athens) was an ancient Greek philosopher, student of Socrates (c. 470–399 bce), teacher of Aristotle (384–322 bce), and founder of the Academy. He is best known as the author of philosophical works of unparalleled influence and is one of the major figures of Classical antiquity. SELF is synonymous with the SOUL His philosophy can be explained as a process of self knowledge and purification of the soul Introduces the idea of a three-part soul / self 1. Reason 2. Physical appetite 3. Spirit and passion Introduces the idea of a three-part soul / self REASON – the divine essence that enables us to think deeply, make wise choices and achieve a true understanding of eternal truths. PHYSICAL APPETITE – includes our basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst and sexual desire. SPIRIT AND PASSION – includes basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, empathy  REASON Dynamic relation – PHYSICAL APPETITE Conflict SPIRIT AND PASSION Reason, sort things out and exert control and restore Happiness can only be achieved by people who consistently make sure that their reason is in control of their spirit and appetite  THEORY OF FORMS Concepts of two (2) world World of forms ( non – physical ideas) real & permanent World of sense ( Reality) temporary and only replica of the ideal world Sensible world is dependent on the ideal world Soul (permanent), man should give more importance to it than the physical body which reside in the world of sense  ARISTOTLE: The Soul is the Essence of the Self Aristotle (born 384 bce, Stagira, Chalcidice, Greece—died 322, Chalcis, Euboea) was an ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, one of the greatest intellectual figures of Classical antiquity and Western history. SOUL is merely a set of defining features and does not consider the body as separate entities Anything with life has a soul, soul is the essence of all living things, soul is the essence of the self Humans differ from other living things because we the capacity of rational thinking Three (3) kinds of soul possessed by man: VEGETATIVE SOUL, SENTIENT SOUL & RATIONAL SOUL Three (3) kinds of soul possessed by man: VEGETATIVE SOUL – includes the physical body that can grow SENTIENT SOUL – includes sexual desires, feelings and emotions RATIONAL SOUL – includes the intellect that allows for us to think and understand The pursuit of happiness is a search for a good life that includes doing virtuous action.  ST. AUGUSTINE : THE SELF HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL African philosopher (St. Augustine of Hippo) He integrates the idea of Plato and teaching of Christianity The body is spouse to the soul both attached to one another by a natural appetite, he believes that the body is united with the soul so that man may be entire and complete “ he believes that soul is what governs and defines man” Humankind is created in the images and likeness of God, everything created by God who is all good is good. Therefore, the human person, being creation of God is always geared towards the good. Augustine is convinced that the SELF is known only through knowing GOD reflection, power of prayers and confession “ I am doubting, therefore I am” Ang katotohanang ikaw ay nagdududa ay nangangahulugan na mayroong isang "ikaw" na gumagawa ng pagdududa.  RENE DESCARTES : I THINK THEREFORE I AM French Philosopher, father of Modern Philosopher “Cogito ergo sum” I THINK THEREFORE I AM key stone of Descartes’ concept of self – The act of thinking about the self –of being self-conscious - is in itself proof that there is a self. Ang pag-iisip tungkol sa sarili- o ang pagiging mulat sa sarili-ay patunay na mayroong isang sarili.  JOHN LOCKE: THE SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS John Locke (born August 29, 1632, Wrington, Somerset, England—died October 28, 1704, High Laver, Essex) was an English philosopher whose works lie at the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism,classical liberalism in particular. Tabula rasa or blank slate, SELF or personality identity is constructed primarily from sense experience. Conscious awareness and memory of previous experience are the key to understanding the self. Consciousness accompanies thinking, power of reason to gain knowledge to understand experience. Reason plays an important role in helping to figure out significant of sense and to reach intelligent conclusions. – understand and achieve accurate conclusions about the self. IMMANUEL KANT: WE CONSTRUCT THE SELF 18th-century German philosopher, is well-known for his theory of knowledge and metaphysics, particularly in his work Critique of Pure Reason. It is the self that makes experience an intelligible world because it is the self that is actively organizing and synthesizing all of our thoughts and perceptions. SELF contract its own reality, actively creating world that is familiar, predictable and most significantly, mine  SIGMUND FREUD: THE SELF IS MULTILAYERED Psychology's most famous figure is also one of the most influential and controversial thinkers of the 20th century. Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist born in 1856, is often referred to as the "father of modern psychology. SELF consist of three (3) layers: Conscious, Unconscious & Preconscious CONSCIOUS SELF is governed by the “ reality principle” ( rational, practical & appropriate to the environment) – responsible for consequences, balance, demand of the situation UNCONSCIOUS SELF basic instinctual drives including sexuality, aggressiveness, self destruction, traumatic memories, unfulfilled wishes and childhood fantasies and thoughts and feeling that that would be considered socially taboo. PRECONSCIOUS SELF contains materials that is not threatening and is easily brought to mind, PRECONSCIOUS mind is found between CONSCIOUS and UNCONSCIOUS parts of the self. The PRECONSCIOUS SELF is the part of the mind that consists of thoughts and memories not currently in our conscious awareness but can be easily brought to consciousness. (acts as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind, Preconscious helps retrieve memories or information and brings it to the conscious mind when needed. It also filters certain thoughts or desires from the unconscious, determining which can reach our conscious awareness)  GILBERT RYLE: THE SELF IS THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE SELF is best understood as a pattern of behavior , the tendency or disposition of a person to behave in a certain way in certain circumstances “ I act therefore I am” He conclude that the mind is the totality of human disposition that is known through the way people behave. Mind expresses the entire system of thoughts, emotion and actions that make up the human self.  SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF SCIENCE defined as the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the scientific study of the structure and behavior of the physical and atrial world through observation and experiment. Scientific approaches to the study of self are classified into two(2) PHYSICAL SCIENCES & SOCIAL SCIENCES - GENES from both parents contribute to the characteristics of their off spring through genetics. - DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic Acid) a replicating material present in all living organism *Forensic – crucial evidence *Medicine – determine the paternity & maternity of individual and treatment of disease *Fuller understanding of the SELF NEUROPHILOSOPHY concerned with the association of the brain and the mind, in order to understand the working of human mind (think, feel& behave) - neurological basis PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY describe the shaping of the self as similar to how the human immune system functions PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY describe the shaping of the self as similar to how the human immune system functions In the context of human system, the human body rejects harmul foreign matter leading to healthy bodily system. SELF reject environmental factors assumed to be harmful to the body and its well- being, imbibe external experiences that are seen to be helpful and reject those dot not like or derive pleasure from. Social sciences concerned in human functioning in the context of society & social institutions (Psychology, sociology, anthropology, politics & economics)-contributed in studying self. Psychology, social and personality psychology the term SELF has been used as an object of several ideas or construct self-awareness, self-construal, self-esteem, self efficacy, self-regulation) SELF-AWARENESS is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don't align with your internal standards. SELF-CONSTRUAL refers to how individuals define themselves: as independent from others or as interdependent with others. SELF-ESTEEM confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect. SELF-EFFICACY refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments SELF-REGULATION is the ability to understand and manage your behavior and your reactions to feelings and things happening around you Social sciences concerned in human functioning in the context of society & social institutions (Psychology, sociology, anthropology, politics & economics)-contributed in studying self. Psychology, social and personality psychology the term SELF has been used as an object of several ideas or construct self-awareness, self-construal, self-esteem, self efficacy, self-regulation) SELF-AWARENESS is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don't align with your internal standards. SELF-CONSTRUAL refers to how individuals define themselves: as independent from others or as interdependent with others. SELF-ESTEEM confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect. SELF-EFFICACY refers to an individual's belief in his or her capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments SELF-REGULATION is the ability to understand and manage your behavior and your reactions to feelings and things happening around you SOCIOLOGY the study of the collective behaviors of people within the society and focuses on social problems encountered by individual, impact of social institution and relationship within society on one’ s thought, behavior and feelings – expectations, norms, values, globalization, digitalization (self is not just an isolated, private entity but is deeply embedded in social contexts and processes) - focus on present societal concern ANTHROPOLOGY the study of human being and ancestor through time and space and relation of physical character environmental and social relationship and culture. – focus on evolution on individual and societies and specific cultural tools embedded within generation. Political science concerned with the participation of individuals in establishing a government and making a political choices. Economics concerned with the participation of individuals in establishing a government and making a political choices. Outlined the contribution of sciences in self understanding and self discovery. Physical science concentrate on the effect of one's biological make-up, whereas social sciences emphasize the impact of community and society on oneself.