Self Philosophy PDF

S.E.L.F  Scholars in different fields have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of the self. The most prevalent issues on the self are: ○ Nature vs. Nurture ○ Identity vs. Self ○ Dimensionalit...

S.E.L.F  Scholars in different fields have attempted to explain and thoroughly expound on several issues and controversies about the nature, existence, and dimensionality of the self. The most prevalent issues on the self are: ○ Nature vs. Nurture ○ Identity vs. Self ○ Dimensionalities of the Self Nature Vs. Nurture What do you know about this debate? Nature: ○ The natural basis of the self is anchored on Biology and explains that human traits are passed from one generation to another. ○ These transmitted traits serve as a blueprint of the self and predispose one to certain self-expressions. Nurture: ○ Argues that the self should be principally viewed as an outcome of various nurturing factors in the context of one’s life. ○ Group life affects an individual’s behavior and attitude and emphasize the impact of various social institutions on a person’s construal. Identity vs. Self The terms “self” and “identity” have been loosely interchanged in various literature. Identity ○ The qualities or beliefs that make a particular person or group of people different from others. ○ Distinguishes or compares one from another Self ○ Refers to the person that someone normally or truly is. ○ The entire person of an individual ○ Refers to the total characteristics or qualities of a person, both known and unknown to others (but known to oneself) Dimensionalities of the Self/Identity Social Factors ○ Influence of significant people in one’s life ○ Strong foundations of one’s being ○ The characteristics that were acquired from the influences of the social groups during the formative years are integrated to form one’s identity. Includes the nursery of human nature Peers and playmates Teachers and mentors  Environmental Factors ○ Broadly includes the physical and communal elements present in everyday surroundings and is invariably dealt with by individuals in a specific geographic region or area Hereditary Factors Person-Volition Factors ○ Inclination of a person to form and construct a specific identity that will set him apart from others The self from the various philosophical perspectives Introduction ▪ Explain the role of philosophy in understanding the self; ▪ Discuss the different concepts of the self from the philosophical perspective; ▪ Differentiate the various concepts of the self and identify their similarities; and ▪ Develop your own philosophy of the self.  Reflect of the ff: 1. What do we even mean by the “self”? 2. Are we souls, bodies, or fragments of someone else’s imagination? 3. Are we just minds or a combination of mind and body? 4. Will I survive bodily death or is it the end when my bodily self die? 5. Am I a robot controlled by some entity? Socrates ▪ Socrates was concerned with the problem of the self. ▪ Dualistic - every man is composed of body and soul. ▪ “An unexamined life is not worth living.” ▪ “One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.” Socrates ▪ There is a soul before the body, existing in the realm of ideas. ▪ Once the soul comes into the material world, he forgot everything. ▪ This knowledge is brought out by Socractic approach Socrates Socrates said existence is of two kinds: ▪ The visible – our body, which is prone to change ▪ The invisible – the soul which remains constant Plato ▪ Founded the Academy; considered as prototype of today’s universities ▪ Dichotomy between ideal (World of Forms) and material world. ▪ The body is a replica of the True self (the soul). ▪ Contemplation free the soul from the body.  Plato ▪ Three components of the soul: 1.) Appetitive (sensual) - The element that enjoys sensual experience, such as food, drink, and sex. 2.) Rational (reasoning) - The element that forbids the person to enjoy the sensual experience; that loves truth, hence, should rule over the other parts of the soul through the use of reason 3.) The spirited (feeling) - The element that is inclined toward reason but understands the demands of passion; loves honor and victory. Aristotle The soul is the essence of the self Body and soul are one thing The rational nature of the self is to lead a good, flourishing, and fulfilling life. Without the body, the soul cannot exist. Anything with life has a soul. 3 kinds of soul: ○ Vegetative ○ Sentient ○ Rational St. Augustine ▪ A self-confessed sinner from North Africa who later became the Bishop of Canterbury. ▪ Initially abandoned Christianity ▪ He returned to Christianity after his encounter with Neo-Platonist. St. Augustine ▪ Man is of a bifurcated nature. ▪ Two aspects: (1) Imperfect (earthly), and (2) capable of reaching immortality ▪ Goal of the person: To attain communion with the divine. St. Augustine ▪ The world of materials is not our final home but only a temporary one. ▪ The real world is the one where God is. St. Augustine ▪ Man is created in the image of God. Thus, his purpose is to have everlasting life with God. ▪ There is an eternal law – conscience. St. Thomas Aquinas ▪ Man is composed of matter and form. ▪ Matter (hyle) – common stuff that makes up everything. ▪ Form (morpe) – essence of the living. Rene Descartes ▪ “I think, Therefore I Am.” ▪ Father of Modern Philosophy ▪ Doubts the existence of his own physical body. ▪ Hyperbolical doubt John Locke ▪ Our identity is not locked in the mind, soul or body only. He included the concept of person’s memory. ▪ Identity is explained in terms of psychological connection between life stages. ▪ Tabula rasa David Hume ▪ “All knowledge is derived from human senses” ▪ Influenced by empiricism ▪ Bundle theory – collection of impressions ▪ Impressions – vivid; products of direct experience. ▪ Ideas – copies of impressions; imagination. Immanuel Kant ▪ The self is outside the body (spiritual realm). ▪ We are not simply composed of impressions ▪ Apparatuses of the mind - The mind organizes these impressions Sigmund Freud ▪ “The ego is not master in its own house” ▪ Man is governed by 2 drives: Eros and Thanatos ▪ Three provinces of the mind: id, ego, superego Gilbert Ryle ▪ Denies the existence of internal, non-physical self. ▪ The self is NOT an entity one can locate. It is a name we use to refer to all behavior. Paul Churchland The self is inseparable from the brain and the physiology of the body The mind does not really exist The self is the brain. Merleau-Ponty ▪ Denies the dualistic ideas. ▪ The mind and the body cannot be separated.  Do you truly know yourself? 1. How would you characterize yourself? 2. What makes you stand out from the rest? 3. How has your self transformed itself? 4. How is yourself connected to your body? 5. How is your self connected to others? 6. What will happen to your self after you die?