Philosophical Perspective of the Self PDF

Philosophical Perspective of the Self - the rational nature of the self is to lead a good, Prepared by: Bianca Patricia Reyes, RPm flourishing, and fulfilling life Philosophy MEDIEVAL PERIOD -...

Philosophical Perspective of the Self - the rational nature of the self is to lead a good, Prepared by: Bianca Patricia Reyes, RPm flourishing, and fulfilling life Philosophy MEDIEVAL PERIOD - Philia = love - Sophia = wisdom I. ST. AUGUSTINE - Pursuit of wisdom; a search for a general understanding of values and reality by chiefly - man is created in God’s image – a man is created by speculative rather than observational means God and happiness can be achieved in God alone - since we are created in His image, we are innately good. However, we are also the ones who brought evil to ANCIENT GREEK the world because albeit being innately good, we also have free will. I. SOCRATES - and our goodness is determined on our capability to return to God. - “know thyself.” - he suggested that the path to God (to return to Him) - an unexamined life is not worth living could be found by introspection. - the self exists in two parts: MODERN PHILOSOPHY ⮚ Soul – immortal & perfect and ideal; belongs to the ideal realm I. RENE DESCARTES ⮚ Body – mortal & impure; belongs to the physical realm - “I think therefore I am.” - the act of thinking about the self is in itself a proof that - He believed that when we are in the physical realm, we there is a self. are alive and our body and soul are attached, therefore - he concluded that an individual’s capacity to think is making both parts of our “self” present in the physical indicative of their existence, setting them apart from realm. When we die, our body stays in the physical other individuals. realm while our soul travels to the ideal realm, therefore making our souls immortal. Self – is a thinking entity that doubts, understands, analyzes, questions, and reasons Socratic Method – carefully examining one’s thoughts and emotions to gain self-knowledge - For Descartes, the primary method for acquiring knowledge is to subject everything to doubt. And that an II. PLATO individual could doubt everything except their thinking. - according to him, the self (soul) has 3 parts: - two dimensions of the self: 1. Reason 1. thinking entity - your capacity to think, rationality 2. physical body 2. Spirit/Passion - basic emotions; emotional side Mind-Body Dichotomy – they are independent from 3. Physical appetite one another, they can exist & function without the other - hunger, thirst, desire, etc. but somehow, they are still conjoined with one another. > Genuine happiness can only be achieved by people II. JOHN LOCKE who constantly make sure that their reason is in control. - tabula rasa = blank slate - the self or our identity is constructed primarily from our III. ARISTOTLE experiences - our consciousness, specifically, our memory is the - the body and the soul are one thing foundation of personal identity or the self. - unlike the first two, he does not believe in the afterlife, - the self is a collection of our memories organized by so when the body dies, the soul dies along with it. our consciousness. - 3 kinds of souls: III. DAVID HUME 1. Vegetative – physical body, allows things to grow - we are nothing more than a collection of perceptions or 2. Sentient – sensual desires, feelings, and emotions mental contents that are associated with one another. 3. Rational – what makes us human; intellect Impressions – are direct, vivid, and powerful products VI. GILBERT RYLE of immediate experience - the way we do things defines the self Ideas – are weak copies of the original expressions - “I act therefore I am.” - our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions make up the - he argued that there is no permanent and unchanging various aspects of our self. self that persists overtime. VII. PAUL CHURCHLAND IV. IMMANUEL KANT - the brain is the self - the man is a free agent, capable of making a decision - it is the physical self and not the “imaginary” mind that for himself. gives us our sense of self. - all we have is the brain and so if the brain is gone, MORAL PERSON – driven by duty and acts towards the there’s no self. fulfillment of that duty. VIII. MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY - argued that since a man has free will and reason, he can organize the data that he has gathered. Thus, these - the self is embodied subjectivity, which suggests that data, and the way he organized that data, he can now our experience of the world is deeply intertwined with our have a good idea of his “self.” physical and emotional existence, and that we cannot fully understand ourselves or the world around us - for Kant, the self is comprised of both: without taking into account our bodily experiences and subjective experiences. 1. Outer self - is primarily concerned with material things (e.g., appearance), social groups, or the roles we assume. - it is preoccupied with the demands of daily life (e.g., work, studies) 2. Inner self - pertains to the intangible aspects (e.g., beliefs, emotions, thoughts, values, spirituality, personality, desire, etc.) - if you have a robust inner life, you can manage your emotions effectively, have self-awareness, have a clear understanding of your values, and have a sense of purpose in life. V. SIGMUND FREUD - according to his theory, the first 5 years of our lives have a significant impact on our adult lives, molding our personality - 3 levels of the mind: ⮚ Conscious ⮚ Preconscious ⮚ Unconscious - 3 provinces/structures of the mind: ⮚ Id ⮚ Ego ⮚ Superego - The ego is considered as the ‘self’ SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF - it represents the “internalized” attitudes, expectations, Prepared by: Bianca Patricia Reyes, RPm and demands of other people about us that we assume Sociology – according to the University of Carolina’s > The fully development of the self is attained when the CAS, it is the study of human social institutions and I and the Me are united – who you really are and what relationships. others see you as are aligned. The Self as a Product of Social Interaction The Self as Product of Postmodern Society - So, the self is not present at birth and the “self” only GERRY LANUZA develops with social experience wherein language, gestures, and objects are used to communicate - is a postmodern sociologist meaningfully. - according to him, in modern societies the attainment - The sociological perspective assumes that human and stability of self-identity is freely chosen. It is no behavior is influenced by group life. longer restricted by customs and traditions. - A particular view of the oneself is formed through - and in postmodern societies, our self-identity interactions with other people, group, or social continuously changes due to the demands of multitude institutions. of social contexts, new information technologies, and globalization CHARLES HORTON COOLEY – THE LOOKING GLASS SELF - these freedom and changes offer opportunities for self-cultivation but problems may also arise (e.g., - States that a person’s self grows out of society’s alienation and dehumanization) interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others. Postmodern Self - The people whom a person interacts with become a mirror in which he views himself. People shape their JEAN BAUDRILLARD identity based on the perception of others. - Three main components of the looking glass self: - according to Baudrillard, individuals achieve self-identity through the prestige symbols that they > First, we imagine how we must appear to others. consume > Second, we imagine the judgment of that appearance. - the cultural practices of advertising and mass media > Finally, we develop our self through the judgments of greatly influence individuals to consume goods not for others. their primary value and utility but to give them a feeling of goodness and power when compared with other GEORGE HERBERT MEAD – I AND ME people. - The postmodern self has now become an insatiable - Mead believed that the self is not innate but develops consumer and may never be satisfied in his life. gradually through social experiences and activities. - Thus, the self may be a never-ending search for prestige in the postmodern society. “I-self” - is the subjective element and the active side of the self - it is the evaluator side of you - is the response of an individual to the attitudes of others - it is who you are and all that you know about yourself “Me-self” - is the objective element of the self