Understanding The Self Past Paper PDF

**Outline reviewer on GE 1: Understanding the Self (Set A)** **Prepared by: Renz Wally C. Amualla** Self Sense personal of identity -------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

**Outline reviewer on GE 1: Understanding the Self (Set A)** **Prepared by: Renz Wally C. Amualla** Self Sense personal of identity -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Distinguishes a person from other What makes us unique Philosophy The search for truths and answers The love for knowledge. **Philo** for *love,* **Sophia** for *wisdom.* The fundamental principles of life, knowledge, reality, existence, morality, human nature, etc., through logic and reason. The Milesians Students of Thales Other term for Pre-socratic period Period that spanned the workings of the natural world. Arche Meaning principles, origin, or substance Thales of Militus Believes that the arche is water Anaximander Student of Thales that believes that the arche is apeiron *(boundless something; unlimited; undefined substance of unique quality)* Anaximenes Student of Thales that believe that the arche is air Cosmology Focus of the Milesian A science that studies the origin and evolution of the universe Triumvirate The big three Ancient Philosophy\'s Triumverate \- Socrates \- Plato \- Aristotle Socrates He believes that each person has an immortal soul that surpasses the death of the body. Believes that bodily needs hinders happy and meaningful life Believes one must separate the body from the soul, as much as possible Dualistic Reality of the Person \- Body: changeable, transient, and imperfect. World of Senses/Matter \- Soul: unchanging, eternal, perfect. World of Ideas/ Form Reason The soul's tool to achieve a good life (wisdom and perfection). Plato The soul is immortal. He believed in the existence of the mind and soul Three Parts of the Soul/Self (Psyche) \- Reason \- Physical Appetite \- Spirit/Passion One must consistently make sure that their REASON is always in control of their PHYSICAL APPETITE and SPIRIT/PASSION. Aristotle The body and the soul are not separate. Without the body, the soul cannot exist. The soul dies along with the body. Kinds of Soul \- Vegetative Soul: physical body that can grow Plants Animals Humans \- Sentient Soul: sensual desires, feelings and emotions Animals Humans \- Rational Soul: intellect that makes man know and understand things. Humans St. Augustine Being a creation of God, the human being is always geared towards the good. To know GOD is to know one\'s self Truth - The truth of which Augustine spoke refers to the truth of knowing God. Medieval Philosopher Rationalism/ Rationalist A philosophy based on reason and awareness Empiricism/ Empiricist A philosophy based on experience and senses Skepticism/ Skeptic A philosophical belief that question the possibility of knowledge Nihilism/ Nihilist A philosophical belief in which all values are baseless and that nothing can be known Stoicism/ Stoic A philosophical belief which denies pleasure and lives apathetically. Hedonism/ Hedonist A philosophical belief where pleasure and earthly needs are patronized Epicureanism/ Epicureans A philosophical belief which encourages moderation in all aspect **René Descartes: A Rationalist** "Cogito ergo sum." -- "I think, therefore, I am." Human identity: self-awareness Self: A thinking thing Self: It can exist independently of the body, but doesn't deny the association of the body to the self Dualism: thinking (spiritual) self versus physical body The spiritual self, governed by the laws of reason and God's will surpasses the physical self, governed by the laws of nature. Yet the intimate connection between the soul and the body is undeniable (pineal gland) **John Locke: An Empiricist** Knowledge originates in our direct sense experience. Reason plays a subsequent role in figuring out the significance of our sense experience and in reaching intelligent conclusions. The self is not necessarily embedded in a single substance or soul, but exists in space and time. Every aspect of the physical body is integrated with personal identity. The body changes. The physical self-changes. But the self endures because of memory. Conscious awareness and memory of previous experiences are the keys to understanding the self. **David Hume: Empiricist, Sceptic & Nihilist** There is no self! Empiricism are impressions of basic sensations of experiences. Ideas are copies of our impressions Impressions form a fleeting stream of sensations No constant and invariable self that exists as a unified identity over the course of life. The self is a "bundle or collection of different perceptions, which succeed each other in an inconceivable rapidity, and are in perpetual flux and movement." **Immanuel Kant** Contests Hume's idea by alluding to the primary experience of the world that is not a disconnected stream of sensations. A priori concepts: fundamental organizing rules or principles built into the architecture of the mind, which categorize, organize and synthesize sense data into the familiar fabric of our lives, bounded by space and time. These are innate. Unity of consciousness that makes the world intelligible **Sigmund Freud** He founded the psychoanalytic school of psychology. The self is multitiered/multi-layered: Conscious is governed by the reality principle; at this level, behavior and experience are organized in ways that are rational, practical and appropriate to the social environment. The unconscious contains the basic instinctual drives including sexuality, aggressiveness, and self-destruction; traumatic memories; unfulfilled wishes and childhood fantasies; thoughts and feelings that would be considered socially taboo. **Gilbert Ryle: A Physicalist** Behaviorism: No more dichotomy by denying the inner selves, immortal souls, states of consciousness, or unconscious entities The self is defined in terms of behavior that is presented to the world. The self is a pattern of behavior, the tendency or disposition for a person to behave in a certain way in certain circumstances **Paul Churchland: A Physicalist** Eliminative Materialism: grounded in neuroscience The mind/self is the brain **Edmund Husserl** The father of Phenomenology We experience our self as a unity in which the mental and physical are seamlessly woven together. **Maurice Merleau-Ponty** He believed in the "lived body". An entity that can never be objectified or known in a completely objective sort of way, as opposed to the "body as object" of the dualists. "There is no duality of substance but a dialectic of living being in its biological milieu." **BUDDHISM** Anatta -- "no self" The concept of a self is an illusion. There is no permanent concept of the self. All things are not permanent. Teachings based on Siddhartha Gautama or BUDDHA ("the awakened one") Rejection of a permanent, self-existent soul (atman) There are five (5) aspects: 1\. Physical manifestation 2\. Sensation 3\. Conceptualization 4\. Dispositions to act 5\. Consciousness Eight (8) paths to Nirvana (freedom from "attachments"): 1\. Right view -- cognitive aspect of Wisdom 2\. Right intention -- volitional aspect of Wisdom 3\. Right speech 4\. Right action 5\. Right livelihood -- do not harm 6\. Right effort 7\. Right mindfulness - the mental ability to see things as they are, with clear consciousness. 8\. Right concentration through meditation Taoism True knowledge cannot be known but perhaps it can be understood. Taos is a system of guidance. Phrases that can describe Tao: Not a God Source of creation Ultimate Way of nature as a whole Te Awareness of the Tao together with the capabilities that enable a person to follow the Tao. Tzu Jan That which is naturally so. Condition something will be in if it is permitted to exist and develop naturally. The Great Nothing Some things are just unexplainable and that's okay because not everything needs explaining. "Why does a chicken, I don't why Hindu Philosophy 1\. Nyaya (Reasoning) It was founded by the ancient sage Gautama It deals with logic which is the process of reasoning Doubt is considered a prerequisite for philosophical inquiry. 2\. Vaisheshika (Physical Sciences) It was developed by Prashastapada It emphasizes the physical sciences such as chemistry It includes exploring the elements of earth, water, fire, air and space, as well as time, mind and soul. 3\. Samkhya (Framework of manifestation) It offers a framework for all the levels of manifestation It comes from samyag akhyate: that which explains the whole 4\. Yoga (Practical methods for direct experience) It systematically deals with all of the levels of one\'s being, striving to experience the eternal center of consciousness It involves systematic witnessing of one's inner states, so as to experientially go beyond all of them to the center of consciousness. It is often called Samkhya-Yoga, as it contains the practical methods to realize in direct experience the truths of Samkhya philosophy 5\. Mimasa (Freedom through action) It has a detailed philosophy related to ritual, worship and ethical conduct, which developed into the philosophy of karma. 6\. Vedanta (Contemplative self-inquiry) It is contemplative methods of self-inquiry leading to the realization of one\'s true nature, that which is not subject to death, decay, or decomposition Levels of the Self in Sufism: 1\. Commanding Self Self that succumbs to evil Seeks to dominate individuals No sense of morality or compassion and marked by unbridled selfishness Similar to the id; closely linked to lust and aggression 2\. Regretful Self Where effects of the first state of state are realized/ made apparent 3\. Inspired Self The individual begins to taste the joys of the spiritual experience. Considered the beginning of the real practice of Sufism, where the seeker is truly motivated by ideals such as compassion, service and moral values. New level reduces the power of the desires and the ego. The goal is to live in terms of higher values. 4\. Pleased Self Individual is content with life and even with the trials and difficulties, realizing that they come from God. A difference in the way that the world is experienced. 5\. Self-Pleasing to God Realization that the power to act comes from God and that nothing can be achieved on one's own. Inner marriage of the self and the soul wherein genuine inner unity and wholeness is achieved. 6\. Pure Self "There is no god, but God." **Psychology** William James' Me Self and I Self (Empirical Self) 1\. Material Self (It refers to mine, "my arm, my bag") Tangible objects, people, or places that carry the designation of mine. Bodily self & Extracorporeal self (beyond the body, e.g., emotional investment) 2\. Social Self (It refers to ours e.g., our parents, siblings, romantic partners) How we are regarded and recognized by others Relational self: interpersonal relationships 3\. Spiritual Self (It refers to inner and psychological self, subjective being) Self-Perceived abilities, attitudes, emotions, interests, values, motives NOTE: Individual Self-Individual traits, abilities and possessions Spiritual self and aspects of the material self (body, possessions, initials). Example: I am tall. I am shy. 4\. Relational Self (Other people with whom we have a personal relationship) Aspects of the social self (e.g. I am Noah's father.) 5\. Collective Self (Social roles, social categories, and social group membership) Aspects of social self (e.g. I am a Filipino.)   Development of Personality: Jung's Analytical Theory Stages of Development: 1\. Childhood Anarchic Monarchic Dualistic 2\. Youth \- The period from puberty until middle life \- Major difficulty to overcome is conservative principle or the tendency to cling to childhood 3\. Middle Life \- Begins at approximately age 35 or 40 \- Period of anxiety and potential 4\. Old Age \- Diminution of consciousness \- Death is the goal of life Self-Realization (Individuation) Requires assimilation of unconsciousness into total self Process of integrating opposites into a harmonious self Rarely achieved  Vygotsky Zone of Proximal Development Lower Limit -- a child can learn Independently Upper limit -- a child requires assistance from a teacher or an adult. **Mary Ainsworth -- Strange Situation** - ***[QUALITY OF ATTACHMENT ]*** - **STRANGE SITUATION** - A series of mildly stressful experiences involving the departure of the parent and exposure to a stranger to which infants are *exposed to determine the quality of their attachments*; **developed by Ainsworth.** *[Quality of attachment to a parent can be characterized as one of four types.]* 1. **Secure Attachment** - An infant--caregiver bond or intimate relationship in which the individual welcomes close contact, uses the attachment object as a source of comfort, and dislikes but can manage separations. 2. **Resistant Attachment** - An insecure infant-- caregiver bond or other intimate relationship characterized by strong separation anxiety and a tendency to show ambivalent reactions to the attachment object upon reunion, seeking and yet resisting contact and not being comforted. 3. **Avoidant Attachment** - An insecure infant caregiver bond or other intimate relationship characterized by little separation anxiety and a tendency to avoid or ignore the attachment object upon reunion. 4. **Disorganized--Disoriented Attachment** - An insecure infant--caregiver bond, common among abused children, that combines features of the resistant and avoidant attachment styles and is characterized by the infant's dazed response to reunion and confusion about whether to approach or avoid the caregiver.