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L1. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE attempted to understand reality and respond to SELF constant questions of the self. Philosophy The most well-known symbol representing philos...

L1. PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE attempted to understand reality and respond to SELF constant questions of the self. Philosophy The most well-known symbol representing philosophy Cambridge Dictionary is the ancient Greek letter Phi (Φ). This symbol the use of reason in understanding such things as represents the initial letter of the Greek word the nature of the real world and existence, the use "Φιλοσοφία," which means "philosophy." and limits of knowledge, and the principles of moral judgment Pythagoras was credited with many mathematical a particular system of beliefs, values, and and scientific discoveries, the Theory of Proportions, principles the sphericity of the Earth, and the identity of the the way that someone thinks about life and deals morning and evening stars as the planet Venus. with it Originally, philosophers were known as sophist or Sage/wise man. The Origins and Branches of Philosophy (2008) "Philosophy is the love of wisdom" IN THE NATURE OF PHILOSOPHY 1. COMPREHENSIVE: views or beliefs is about The rather vague definition of 'love of wisdom life and the universe comes from the origin and etymology of the Greek 2. SCIENTIFIC: the process of reflecting on and word 'philosophy': Philo ("love") and Sophia criticizing ("wisdom"). According to an ancient tradition, 3. INTEGRAL: The attempt to look at the world Pythagoras of Croton (born on the Greek island of as a whole Samos, c. 580 B.C.) coined the Greek word 4. LOGICAL: Through analysis of language, 'philosopher' meaning 'lover of wisdom' to clarification of the meaning of the world and contrast with 'wise man' (sophist), saying of concept himself that he was only a man who loved wisdom (a wisdom-loving man), not a wise man. And the For the Greeks: there are example of Socrates -- whose only wisdom was THREE KINDS OF LOVE that he did not think he knew what he did not know Agape: --i.e. that he did not think himself wise when he Unconditional love, like the care you have for family was not (Plato, Apology 23b) -- further suggests and friends without expecting anything back. that it was modesty that invented the word Eros: 'philosopher' ("lover of wisdom"), a word from Romantic love, full of passion and desire for a partner. whence the word 'philosophy' ("the pursuit of Philia: wisdom [by the lover of wisdom]") came. Deep friendship love, marked by mutual respect and connection. Philosophy employs the inquisitive mind to discover the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles, of In Philosophy, there is love of wisdom; Sophism, everything. It goes beyond scientific investigation by exploring all areas of knowledge such as religion, there is wisdom without love, argument that is used to psychology, politics, physics, and even medicine. deceive someone. Hence, the etymological definition of philosophy as "love of wisdom" could pertain to the desire for truth The philosophical framework for understanding the by formulating never-ending questions to provide self was first introduced by the ancient great Greek answers to every inquiry about the nature of human philosophers: existence. Socrates Plato Inquiry on the self has preoccupied the earliest Aristotle thinkers in the history of philosophy: the Greeks. They asked big questions about life, existence, and the universe because they were intrigued by how things work and why they happen. This sense of wonder and curiosity is what sparked the beginning of philosophical thinking. The Greeks were the ones who SOCRATES “Affirmed that the unexamined life is not (470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous worth living” figures in world history for his contributions to the Most men, in his time, were not really fully development of ancient Greek philosophy which aware of who they were and the virtues that provided the foundation for all of Western they were supposed to attain in order to Philosophy. He is known as the "Father of Western preserve their souls for the afterlife. He Philosophy" for this reason. (Mark, 2009) thought that this is the worst that can happen "An unexamined life is not worth living." to anyone: “to live but die inside”. "Know thyself." For Socrates, “every man is composed of body The self is synonymous with the soul. and soul.” this means that every human Every human possesses an immortal soul that person is dualistic. survives the physical body. He was the first to focus on the full power of PLATO reason on the human self: who we are, who we (429–347 B.C.E.) is, by any reckoning, one of the should be, and whom we will become. most dazzling writers in the Western literary tradition Reality consists of two dichotomous realms: and one of the most penetrating, wide-ranging, and physical and ideal realms. The physical realm influential authors in the history of philosophy. An is changeable, transient, and imperfect. Athenian citizen of high status, he displays in his The ideal realm is unchanging, eternal, and works his absorption in the political events and immortal. intellectual movements of his time, but the questions The physical world and the human body he raises are so profound and the strategies he uses belongs to the physical realm. for tackling them are so richly suggestive and The intellectual essences of the universe, provocative that educated readers of nearly every concepts such as truth, goodness, beauty, period have in some way been influenced by him, and the soul belong to the ideal realm. and in practically every age there have been Socrates explains that the essence of the self philosophers who count themselves Platonists. - the soul - is the immortal entity. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2004) The soul strives for wisdom and perfection, "The self is an immortal soul." and the reason is the soul's tool to achieve an Socrates’ basically student, took off from his exalted state. master supported the idea that “Man is a dual As long as the soul is tied to the body, the nature of body and soul.” quest for wisdom is inhibited by the Like Socrates, Plato believes that the self is imperfection of the physical realm, where it synonymous with the soul. wanders and is confused. He introduces the idea of a three-part Man must live an examined life and a life of soul/self: reason, physical appetite, and spirit purpose and value. or passion. A person can have a meaningful and happy life Reason is the divine essence that enables us only if he becomes virtuous and knows the to think deeply, make wise choices, and value of himself that can be achieved through achieve a true understanding of eternal truths. incessant soul-searching. He must begin at The physical appetite includes our biological the source of all knowledge and significance - needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual the self. desire. The Socratic method, the so-called The spirit or passion includes basic emotions introspection, is a method of carefully such as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, examining one's thoughts and emotions - to and empathy. gain self-knowledge. These three elements of ourselves are in a concerned with the problem of the self. dynamic relationship with one another, The first Philosopher who ever engaged in sometimes in conflict. a systematic questioning about the self. When conflict occurs, it is the responsibility of To Socrates, “the true task of the Philosopher Reason to sort things out and exert control, is to know oneself” restoring a harmonious relationship among the three elements of ourselves.  Genuine happiness can only be achieved by The soul is the essence of all living things. people who consistently make sure that their Thus, the soul is the essence of the Reason is in control of their Spirits and self. Appetites. Humans differ from other living things This harmonious integration under the control because of their capacity for rational thinking. of Reason is the essence of Plato's concept of Aristotle's discussion about the self centers justice. If a man lives in accordance with his on the kinds of souls possessed by man. Thus, nature, then he is giving justice to his he introduces the three kinds of soul: existence. vegetative, sentient, and rational. In his Theory of Forms, he introduces the The vegetative soul includes the physical body concepts of the two worlds: the world of forms that can grow. (non-physical ideas) and the world of sense Sentient soul includes sensual desires, (reality). feelings, and emotions. While the world of forms is real and Rational soul is what makes man human. It permanent, the world of sense is temporary includes the intellect that allows man to know and only a replica of the ideal world. and understand things. Thus, Aristotle The sensible world is dependent on the ideal suggests that the rational nature of the self is world where the concept of the real world to lead a good, flourishing, and fulfilling life belongs. (self-actualization). Since the soul is regarded as something The pursuit of happiness is a search for a good permanent, man should give more life that includes doing victorious actions. In importance to it than the physical body which saying this, he posits that part of the rational resides in the world of sense. soul is characterized by moral virtues such as Plato added that there are three components justice and courage. of the soul: 1) rational soul, 2) spirited soul, 3) appetitive soul. ST. AUGUSTINE Rational soul is forged by reason and intellect St. Augustine of Hippo was perhaps the greatest has to govern the affairs of the human person; Christian philosopher of Antiquity and certainly the Spirited soul is in charge of emotions should one who exerted the deepest and most lasting be kept at bay; Appetitive soul is in charge of influence. He is a saint of the Catholic Church, and his base desires like eating, drinking, sleeping and authority in theological matters was universally sex. accepted in the Latin Middle Ages and remained, in When this ideal state is attained, then the the Western Christian tradition, virtually uncontested human person’s soul becomes just and till the nineteenth century. The impact of his views on virtuous. sin, grace, freedom and sexuality on Western culture can hardly be overrated. (Stanford Encyclopedia of ARISTOTLE Philosophy, 2019) Aristotle is a towering figure in ancient Greek "The self has an immortal soul." philosophy, who made important contributions to The African Philosopher, Augustine, is logic, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, regarded as a saint in the Catholic Church. He psychology, mathematics, metaphysics, ethics, and integrates the ideas of Plato and the teachings politics. In his lifetime, he wrote dialogues and as of Christianity. many as 200 treatises, of which only 31 survive. As the Agreed that “man is of a bifurcated / divided father of western logic, Aristotle was the first to nature.” develop a formal system for reasoning. (Humphreys, The body is bound to die on earth and the soul n.d.) is to anticipate living internally in a realm of "The soul is the essence of the self." spiritual bliss in communion with God. The soul is merely a set of defining features He believes that the physical body is radically and does not consider the body and the soul different from and inferior to its inhabitant, the as separate entities. immortal soul. As his thinking matured, he Anything with life has a soul. developed a more unified perspective on the body and soul. He ultimately viewed the body as  the "spouse" of 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. BODY – can only thrive in the imperfect, physical reality that is the world. SOUL – can only stay after death in an internal realm with the all transcendent God. As a religious philosopher, he contemplates on the nature of man with emphasis on the soul as an important element of man. He believes that the soul is what governs and defines a man. In his work, Confessions, Augustine describes that humankind is created in the image and likeness of God. Everything created by God who is all good is good. Therefore, the human person, being a creation RENÉ DESCARTES of God is always geared towards the good. René Descartes was a French philosopher, scientist, Augustine is convinced that the self is known and mathematician, widely considered a seminal only through knowing God. figure in the emergence of modern philosophy and science. Father of Modern Philosophy, conceived of Accordingly, self-knowledge is a consequence the humanpersonas having a body and a mind. of the knowledge of God. Augustine espouses the significance of reflection and the Descartes asserts that the "thinking self" and importance of prayers and confessions to "physical body" are distinct, they are arrive at a justification for the existence of complete opposites. God. For him, "knowledge can only come by He says that the mind houses our seeing the truth that dwells within us." The understanding, intellect, and passion. While truth of which Augustine speaks refers to the our body is just a shape with different sizes truth of knowing God. God is transcendent and that showcase motion. the self seeks to be united with God through "I think, therefore I am". (Cogito ergo sum) faith and reason. This phrase was first seen in his literary work In his mission to discover the truth on the “Discourse on Method” and became the existence of God, Augustine develops the first step in his demonstration on the fundamental concept of the human person, attainability of certain knowledge. For him, and thus provides the philosophical principle, the act of thinking about the self (or being "I am doubting, therefore I am." self conscious) is in itself proof that there is a self. THOMAS AQUINAS "I am existing. I am existing. I am existing. I am Man is composed of two parts: Matter and existing. I am existing.” Form” Your thoughts confirm your existence, which MATTER (hyle in greek) – refers to the means you are truly existing, just as Descartes “common stuff that makes up everything in proposed with "I think, therefore I am." the universe” Cogito ergo sum, “I think therefore I am.” FORM (morphe in greek) – refers to the means that if you are able to think and “essence of a substance or thing.” It is what question, you must exist. It’s like saying, makes it what it is. “Because I can think about my own existence, it proves that I exist.” This is the ultimate proof of your own existence, as thinking itself confirms that there’s a ‘self’ doing the thinking. The self for Descartes is a combination of two distinct entities: (1) the cogito - the thing that  thinks (mind); (2) the extenza- extension of the Who you are is made up of all your experiences mind (body) and feelings. Imagine a bundle of different “The body is nothing else but a machine that is things, like your memories, thoughts, and attached to the mind. ” sensations. Together, they form your sense of self. So, your identity isn’t something separate JOHN LOCKE or fixed; it’s created by all the things you’ve "The self is consciousness." experienced and felt. According to John Locke, we construct the In reality, what one thinks is a unified self is self. Because we are conscious, thinking and simply a combination of all experiences with a rational beings, we are able to come up with particular person. (e.g. Sarah meets Mateo for the concept of having a self. Locke bases the first time. Over time, she experiences his argument on his conception that human various moments with him—shared laughter, minds are blank slates or—tabula rasas—at deep conversations, and even conflicts. Each birth. of these experiences shapes her perception of So, to develop a sense of ‘self’, we must Mateo. She might think of him as a unified experience and create memories. We do person who is always kind and insightful. these through sensory experiences. From However, in reality, Mateo’s identity as there, after having gathered these perceived by Sarah is simply a reflection of the experiences, we are able to mold and shape combination of all those experiences she’s the self because we slowly become conscious had with him. If she’d had different of our abilities to think, reason, and experiences, her view of Mateo might be quite introspect; we have developed a sense of different) → Sarah's view of Mateo as a unified ‘self’. If one remains unconscious, they are person is shaped not by who he truly is, but by unable to construct their self. the combination of every moment they’ve Therefore, the ability to be conscious of shared together. oneself constitutes one of having a self. In his “Essay Concerning Human IMMANUEL KANT Understanding,” not only does this essay talk "We construct the self." about his theory on the blank slate. But he also Where does the order and organization of our shares here his political theory of government world come from? According to Kant, it comes by the consent of the governed as a means in large measure from us. Our minds actively to protect the three natural rights of “life, sort, organize, relate, and synthesize the liberty and estate” deeply influenced the fragmented, fluctuating collection of sense United States’ founding documents. His data that our sense organs take in. essays on religious tolerance provided an To Kant, “there is a mind that organizes the early model for the separation of church and impressions that men get from the external state. world.” The unity of consciousness is a phrase DAVID HUME invented by Kant to describe the fact that the "There is no self." thoughts and perceptions of any given mind David Hume is a Scottish philosopher that suggests are bound together in a unity by being all when people carefully examine their sense contained in one consciousness—my experience through the process of introspection, to consciousness. discover that there is no self. Hume says that that in For Immanuel Kant, the self is the one that the content of ones experience, there will be two makes experiencing an intelligible world distinct entities ; impressions and ideas. Hume talks possible for the self is the one responsible for about how the self is just an illusion, he asks us how synthesizing the raw data of sense experience we view ourselves. we think of ourselves as stable into a meaningful whole. entities that exists overtime. Kant disagrees with the notion that the self is Conceived of the human person as having a formed or developed through experiences. He body and a mind. doesn’t believe that experiences and the self “Self is nothing else but a bundle of must co-exist for there to be a self. the self impressions.” already pre-exists before we experience  anything. It is the one that processes our experiences and synthesizes them into something familiar, orderly, and meaningful. Imagine you're at a busy carnival with many sights and sounds – (1) Observation: Noticing and experiencing many different things at the carnival (bright lights, music, laughter, and people); (2) Reception: Your senses pick up all these impressions— flashing lights, the rhythm of the music, the sound of voices, and the colors of the rides; (3) Organization: Your mind acts like a director, organizing these impressions. It separates the music from the "The self is multilayered." laughter, identifies the lights as part of the The "reality principle" controls the conscious Ferris wheel, and understands the crowd as self. The conscious self is structured in a way people having fun; (4) Integration: Your mind that is sensible, useful, and environment- combines these organized elements into a appropriate. The conscious self typically coherent experience. You see the carnival as a considers the situation's practical fun and lively place; (5) Understanding: This requirements, the effects of different choices, organized experience helps you make sense of and the primary necessity to maintain the what’s happening around you, allowing you to equilibrium (balance) of the complete enjoy and interact with the carnival effectively. psychodynamic system of the self. In summary, according to Kant, your mind The unconscious part of the self contains helps you make sense of the chaotic world by the basic instinctual drives including organizing the sensory information it receives, sexuality, aggressiveness, and self- turning it into a structured and destruction; traumatic memories; unfulfilled understandable experience. wishes and childhood fantasies; and thoughts “Without the self, one cannot organize the and feelings that would be considered socially different impressions that one gets in relation taboo. The unconscious level is characterized to his own existence. “ by the most primitive level of human motivation and human functioning which is SIGMUND FREUD governed by the “pleasure principle.” Freud Sigmund Freud, an Austrian psychotherapist, is not a argues that much of the self is determined by philosopher, but his ideas about the nature of the self the unconscious. had a significant influence on philosophical thought The preconscious self contains material that as well as other disciplines including psychology is not threatening and is easily brought to and sociology. According to Freud, the self has three mind. According to Freud, the preconscious layers to the self: the conscious, unconscious, and part is located between the conscious and preconscious. To define the characteristics of the the unconscious parts of the self. features of the structure and operation of the mind, Freud created a topographical model of the mind. Structures of Personality Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to describe the Id three levels of the mind. – (internal desire) called internal drives. It consists of the body’s primitive biological drives and urges which are concerned only with achieving pleasure and self-satisfaction. Id lives completely in the unconscious. Ego – (reality) it is the I part of the individual that gives him/her the sense of his/her own identity. The ego is the rational part of the personality.  Superego However, Ryle is certain that the complete – (conscience) is the part of personality system of feelings, thoughts, and behaviors concerned with morals, percepts, standards, that comprise the human self is expressed by and ideas. The superego is also critical faculty the mind. of the personality. “What truly matters is the behavior that a person manifests in his day-to-day life.” Ryle Freudian Stages of Psychosexual thinks that the "self" isn't a real thing you can Development find and study. Instead, it's just a term people Stage 1: ORAL use to talk about all the things someone does. – 0-1.5 years of age: Fixation on all things oral. Consider someone who’s always optimistic, If not satisfactorily met there is the likelihood loves cooking, and is dedicated to their job. If of developing negative oral habits or you were to describe this person to a friend, behaviors. The mouth becomes part of the you’d talk about their positive attitude, body through which gratification is secured. culinary skills, and work ethic. In this way, the Stage 2: ANAL "self" is like a character in a story—it's not – 1.5-3 years of age: as indicated this stage is something tangible you can touch, but it's primarily related to developing healthy toilet defined by all the actions and traits that shape training habits. their identity. Stage 3: PHALLIC – 3-5 years of age: the development of healthy PAUL CHURCHLAND substitutes for the sexual attraction boys and "The self is the brain." girls have toward a parent of the opposite Eliminative materialism, or the idea that the self is gender. Oedipus Complex and Electra inseparable from the brain and the body's Complex. physiology, is supported by Canadian philosopher Stage 4: Latency Paul Churchland. The brain is all that a person has, – 5-12 years of age: the development of therefore if it is lost, the person is no longer there. healthy dormant sexual feelings for the According to Churchland, a person's concept of opposite sex. Sexual motivations recede in self is given by their actual brain, not their fictional importance as child becomes preoccupied mind. Since the mind cannot be perceived by the with developing skills and other activities. senses, it does not actually exist. Stage 5: Genital – 12-adulthood: all tasks from the previous MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY four stages are integrated into the mind "The self is embodied subjectivity." allowing for the onset of healthy sexual All self-knowledge, according to French feelings and behaviors. After puberty, the philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty, is derived deeper feelings of pleasure after presumably from the "phenomena" of experience. The "I" is a come from homosexual relations composite of mental, physical, and emotional components formed around a central identity of GILBERT RYLE the self. He goes on to say that individuals will "The self is the way people behave." realize that the mind and body are one and not According to British philosopher Gilbert Ryle, separate when they evaluate who they are at their the self is best defined as a pattern of most basic level of direct human experience. He behavior, or as a person's tendency or notes in his book, Phenomenology of Perception, disposition to behave in a particular way that everything that people are aware of is under specific conditions. Ryle’s concept of contained within the consciousness. the human self thus provides the Consciousness is a dynamic form that actively philosophical principle, “I act therefore I am.” structures conscious thoughts and actions. According to Ryle, there are complex and Asserts that the “mind and body are so personal connections between the body and intertwined that they cannot be separated mind that are inherent. In essence, body from one another.” activity and the self are the same. He says that Think of the mind and body like a team behavior reveals the full range of human working together. If one part of the team is dispositions, which make up the mind. tired or hurt, it affects the other. For  example, if you’re stressed or sad (mind), inseparable from the brain and the physiology you might feel physically sick or tired of the body. (body). They influence each other so much 12. According to Merleau-Ponty, all knowledge that you can’t really separate them. about the self is based on the “phenomena” of experience. DISCOVER 1. Socrates suggests that the self is synonymous ADDITIONAL READING TO HELP YOU FULLY with the soul. He believes that every human UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSOPHER’S PERCEPTION possesses an immortal soul that survives the OF THE SELF physical body. 2. For Plato, the three elements of the soul/ self Socrates are the reason, physical appetite, and spirit or “Every man is composed of body and soul.” passion. The reason is the divine essence that In a busy city, Mark the artist looked at a statue of enables people to think deeply, make wise Socrates and thought about how every person is made choices, and achieve a true understanding of of both body and soul. Feeling inspired, he created a eternal truths. The physical appetite includes statue that showed both physical strength and deep the basic biological needs while the spirit or emotions. When people saw his statue, they didn’t passion includes the basic emotions. just see a shape of a person; they saw a reflection of 3. Aristotle suggests that the rational nature of their own inner selves, showing how body and soul the self is to lead a good, flourishing, and work together to make a complete person. fulfilling life. 4. Augustine believes that the body is united with Plato the soul, so that man may be entire and “Every man is composed of body and soul.” complete. In a busy city, Mark the artist looked at a statue of 5. Descartes suggests that the act of thinking Socrates and thought about how every person is made about the self or being self- conscious is proof of both body and soul. Feeling inspired, he created a that there is a self. There are two dimensions statue that showed both physical strength and deep of the human self: the self as a thinking entity emotions. When people saw his statue, they didn’t and the self as a physical body. just see a shape of a person; they saw a reflection of 6. Locke believes that conscious awareness and their own inner selves, showing how body and memory of previous experiences are the keys soul work together to make a complete person. to understanding the self. He believes that the essence of the self is its conscious awareness of itself as thinking, reasoning, and reflecting identity. 7. To Hume, the idea of personal identity is a result of imagination and that if the person carefully examines his sense experience through the process of introspection, he will discover that there is no self. 8. According to Kant, the self constructs its own reality, actively creating a world that is familiar and predictable. 9. Freud holds that the self consists of three layers: conscious, unconscious, and preconscious. 10. Ryle believes that the self is best understood as a pattern of behavior, the tendency or disposition for a person to behave in a certain way in certain circumstances. 11. Churchland advocates the idea of eliminative materialism or the idea that the self is L2. PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF PSYCHOLOGY Psychology comes from the Greek words "psyche," meaning "soul" or "mind," and "logos," meaning "study”. The scientific study of the human mind and its Cognitive Approach functions Modern Psychology is the scientific study of It is concerned with mental processes, such as behavior and mental processes. perceiving, remembering, reasoning, deciding and problem solving. THE GOAL OF PSYCHOLOGY The goal of psychology in understanding the self is to Psychoanalytic Approach explore how people see themselves and their This approach, founded by Freud, states that much of experiences, helping them grow, understand man’s behavior stems from unconscious processes. themselves better, and improve their mental health. People may be unaware of their fears or desires but these influence behavior. (traumas, fears, passions, & WILHELM MAXIMILIAN WUNDT (1832-1920) childhood events) Father of Psychology who distinguished psychology as a science from philosophy and biology, was the first Phenomenological Approach person ever to call himself a Psychologist. He said that Focused on the subjective and personal experiences psychology is a branch of science. of events. It is concerned more with describing the inner life and experiences of individuals rather than APPROACHES IN PSYCHOLOGY developing theories. Biological Approach It is concerned with the neurobiological processes that underlie behavior and mental processes. Neuro-Chemical Imbalance In The Brain, where brain controls the body, and its chemicals can control our moods.... Neurochemicals like dopamine, serotonin, or norepinephrine –are crucial for mood stabilization imbalance can cause depression & other mental illness (too much or little of it)- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL brain dysfuntion DEVELOPMENT Behaviors are activities of people or other organisms that can be observe by others. Developmental Psychology When we attempt to understand an event, we studies the way humans develop and change over need to look at the observable behavior. time. ˗ Greeting Others: Shaking hands, waving, or saying "hello." Developmental Stages ˗ Active Listening: Nodding, maintaining How a person changes and stays the same; Nature vs. eye contact, and responding Nurture Argument appropriately during conversations. ˗ Sharing: Offering food, resources, or information with others. ˗ Complimenting: Giving positive feedback or praise to someone.  The superego can be divided into two parts: The EGOIDEAL is our idealistic view of what is right. You can think of it as an imaginary picture of how you ought to be. The ego ideal is made up of all of our rules for good behavior. The CONSCIENCE is our view of what is considered wrong. You can think of it as an internal set of rules. When we break one of these rules, the superego considers our behavior to be bad. When we do things that our conscience considers bad, it leads to feelings of guilt or regret. SIGMUND FREUD ADDITIONAL READINGS One of the most influential theorist of Psychology. Basically, Freud saw the Self, “its mental process and PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT STAGES one’s behavior as the results of the interaction Prenatal between the Id, the Ego, the Superego (Structures of The prenatal period is the period of time before birth.- Personality). ” A woman's nutritional needs are high during this time. Because a woman may not know that she is pregnant, ACCORDING TO SIGMUND FREUD, the id, ego, and she may be poorly nourished. She may also consume superego have most commonly been conceptualized alcohol or caffeine in excess, which may affect the as three essential parts of the human personality. growing embryo or fetus. Infancy Pleasure Principle From the ages of two months to one year, the baby is Id is associated with antisocial and childish in the infancy stage and can be referred to as an infant. behavior because it seeks immediate gratification that cannot be satisfied in socially Babyhood approved and acceptable fashion. Babyhood is the stage that follows infancy and extends between two weeks to two years. During Id is present at birth - Freud believed that the babyhood rapid physical and intellectual Id is based on pleasure principle because Id development takes place as evidenced by increase in wants whatever feels good at the time, with no height, weight and body proportions. Increased consideration for the reality situation. independence and individuality mark babyhood. All of Id’s energy is spent for one purpose – to Socialization begins during babyhood as the baby seek pleasure without regard for what is shows increasing desire to be a part of the social proper or just. group of the family and extend the basic relationship with the mother or mother substitute to others as well. Realistic Principle The ego’s goal is to satisfy the demands of the Early Childhood Id in a safe and socially acceptable way. Early childhood can be taken to range from the As the sole region of the mind in contact with completion of 2 years to 6 years. In this section, the the external world, the Ego becomes decision- skills acquired by the child, speech development and making or executive branch of personality. play development, personality development are outlined. Happiness during childhood is derived from Idealistic Principle parental acceptance and ways of extending Represents the moral and ideal aspects of acceptance are presented. Early childhood is also personality and is guided by moralistic called as preschool stage. principle. Superego is determined by the standards that Late Childhood were taught to us by our parents and society. The period of late childhood ranges from 6 years to the attainment of sexual maturity, around 12- 13 years. During this stage children develop marked negativism and because of their desire for independence seldom develops through a series of stages during childhood, obey the parents. The child begins going to school and each characterized by the focus of pleasure on learns the rudiments of knowledge essential for different areas of the body. successful adult life. Oral Fixation: If someone has unresolved issues during the oral stage (birth to about 18 months), they Puberty might develop habits such as smoking, overeating, or Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes excessive talking in adulthood. sexually mature. It is a process that usually happens Anal Fixation: Issues during the anal stage (18 between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 months to 3 years) might lead to behaviors related to for boys.It causes physical changes, and affects boys orderliness or messiness, control, or stubbornness. and girls differently. Phallic Fixation: Fixation during the phallic stage (3 to 6 years) could result in difficulties with authority Adolescence figures or sexual identity issues. literally means 'to grow to maturity'. The most important change that takes place during adolescence is sexual maturity which occurs at puberty. The stage is full of 'storm and stress'. The hormones, the growth spurt and the reproductive maturity all these are not merely physical for they also have an emotional impact. Adulthood Adulthood is the stage where growth is complete and the person assumes various responsibilities. Starting around I 8 years. It extends until middle age which is around 45 years. Like all earlier stages adult too has certain developmental tasks, except they are referred to as 'Vital roles". For example, the status of being a son, or an officer. According to the status one occupies, one needs to perform certain duties or certain responsibilities, which are termed as 'roles'. A role is the dynamic side of the status. Middle Age Middle age is an intermediary stage between adulthood and old age. Beginning around 45 years it ends when old age begins. It is a period of transition from adulthood to old age. It is characterized by achievements, professional and otherwise. Old Age Old age, often referred to as the evening of life. begins around 65 years. The old person is called as senior citizen. Old age is a period of decline in physical strength and social participation. It is not welcomed unlike other phases of life. The adjustment of older people is often poor. The problems of old age stem from disability, diseases, dependence and death. Freud's concept of "fixation" refers to a psychological condition where an individual becomes stuck at a particular stage of psychosexual development. According to Sigmund Freud, the human personality L3. THE SELF AS A COGNITIVE CONSTRUCTION GLOBAL SELF VS. DIFFERENTIATED SELF The concept of "global vs. differentiated models of The Self as a cognitive construction means that our self" is not typically attributed to a single founder, sense of self is shaped by our thoughts and as it involves ideas from various fields such as experiences. Instead of being something fixed, our psychology, sociology, and cultural studies. identity is created and influenced by how we think, Global Self what we experience, and how we interpret the world The self-knowledge that a person labelled around us. for his/her self is the global self such as telling to the self that. (“I’d act the same way at home, at school, and with friends.” Differentiated Self The differentiated self on the other hand is the person’s ability to hold on to his self. “who he is and who he is not” For example, you might be serious in class, fun with friends, and more relaxed at home. REAL SELF & IDEAL SELF By Carl Rogers Carl Rogers viewed self as the person’s inner personality that is influenced by his/her experiences ME-SELF AND I-SELF as well as the interpretation he/she made out of such By William James experiences. William James, a pioneering psychologist and The interpretation of self may lead that person to feel philosopher, introduced the concepts of the “I-self” self worth / pagpapahalaga sa sarili based on the and “Me-Self” as part of his broader theory of the self. congruency of that experience to his/her real self and I-Self ideal self. Carl Rogers, a well-known psychologist, This is the subjective self, the thinker, or the introduced the concepts of the "real self" and the part of us that experiences and is aware. It's "ideal self" as part of his theory of personality. the active agent that is doing the thinking, Real Self feeling, and perceiving. “This is who you actually are” your true ME-SELF thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It's how This is the objective self, which refers to the you see yourself right now, including both aspects of our identity that we can reflect your strengths and weaknesses. (here and upon and describe. now) James further divided the "Me-Self" into Ideal Self three components: “This is who you wish to be” Your hopes, 1. Material Self - This includes our body, dreams, and aspirations. It's the person possessions, and physical you want to become, which might be surroundings. influenced by your goals, societal 2. Social Self - This is how we are expectations, or the people around you. perceived by others and our various (futuristic thoughts) social roles. Incongruence 3. Spiritual Self - This encompasses our When there's a big gap between your real inner thoughts, beliefs, and feelings, self and your ideal self, which can lead to including our sense of purpose or feelings of dissatisfaction or frustration morality. The real self is your true, authentic self, while the ideal The I SELF according to James is the ego self is your vision of who you want to be. and the thinking self. It is the decision maker and determines the next ME SELF. MULTIPLE SELF & UNIFIED SELF L4. THE SELF IN WESTERN & EASTERN THOUGHT Unified Self Despite the various roles or behaviors a person might There are significant differences in belief systems display in different contexts, there is a central, between Western and Eastern cultures. These coherent self that ties everything together. differences are influenced by a variety of factors, including traditions, cultural practices, historical Multiple self developments, geographic location, and diverse Suggests that a person’s identity can vary depending experiences. Students should pay attention to these on the context. According to this view, people might differing perspectives between the West and the East have different "selves" that emerge in different situations, and these selves might not always align WESTERN THOUGHT perfectly with one another. Here are key countries associated with Western thought: 1. Greece 2. Italy 3. France 4. Germany 5. England 6. United States 7. Spain 8. Portugal Western thought often sees the world in terms of separate pairs: you are different from other people, and the creator is separate from what they make UNDERSTANDING THE SELF IN WESTERN THOUGHT Ancient Philosophy (3000 BC – AD 500) Early Western thought, influenced by figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, often focused on the self in relation to virtue. Socrates famously emphasized self- knowledge ("Know thyself"), Plato saw the self as a combination of the rational soul, spirited soul, and appetitive soul Aristotle saw the self as made up of both body and soul. “with a focus on achieving eudaimonia (flourishing or happiness)”. He believed that to be truly happy and fulfilled, a person needs to live a good, virtuous life. Medieval Philosophy Contemporary Views During the medieval period, thinkers like Augustine Today, how we understand ourselves is shaped by the and Aquinas integrated Christian theology with world around us. classical philosophy. Our sense of self can change based on our Augustine explored the self in terms of its social background, cultural stories, and the relationship with God and inner psychological digital world we live in. states Aquinas incorporated Aristotelian ideas into a In Western thought, the idea of the self has evolved. It Christian framework, emphasizing the self's started with viewing the self as just a rational and role in achieving divine purpose. He focused moral being. Over time, it has grown to include how on how the self can fulfill its purpose by the self interacts with identity, culture, and personal following God's plan and living according to freedom, showing how these factors shape who we Christian values. "Tungkulin ng sarili sa are. pagtupad ng banal na layunin." EASTERN THOUGHT Modern Philosophy René Descartes' famous dictum "Cogito, ergo sum" Here are key countries associated with Eastern ("I think, therefore I am") highlighted the self's role in thought: philosophical inquiry, centering the thinking subject 1. China as the foundation of knowledge 2. India Later, Immanuel Kant developed this idea that “there 3. Japan is a mind that organizes the impressions that men get 4. Korea from the external world.” 5. Vietnam 19th and 20th Century Philosophy (Existentialism) From an Eastern perspective, you see other people as Existentialists like Jean- Paul Sartre and Friedrich connected to you. What you do affects both yourself Nietzsche focused on “how individuals can create and them, and vice versa. So, your actions and their their own purpose and make their own decisions, actions are all part of a bigger, shared whole despite the universe’s indifference” Existentialism is the quest for meaning amidst Collectivistic Culture the chaos. Even in the darkest situations, Group and social relations is given more small signs of hope and perseverance can importance that individual. lead to profound personal growth and look after the welfare of their groups and understanding values cooperation. People emphasize their connectedness and Psychological Perspectives work toward common goals Sigmund Freud talked about how our hidden, Exhibit strong “interpersonal relatedness” or unconscious thoughts and inner conflicts shape who how their behavior impacts relationships. we are. (Example: an Asian pursuing a career by Carl Jung explored shared, universal symbols and migrating to another country will always experiences that affect our personalities, calling this consider how this will affect his family and the collective unconscious. social ties at home) Collective consciousness reflects how individuals in a community come together CHINA with a shared understanding and commitment Confucianism to challenge, address a showcasing significant Confucius was a Chinese teacher and philosopher. their interconnectedness and common He was the founder of the religion Confucianism. human experience The goal of Confucius was to bring peace and Collective consciousness is the idea that order to China. He lived during a time where groups of people share common thoughts, Chinese kingdoms were fighting for control. beliefs, and values. It’s like a shared mindset Confucius believed that if people could or understanding within a group. behave correctly toward one another, peace would come.  Confucianism can be seen as Code of ethical meditation and following your life’s purpose or conduct of how one should properly act duties (dharma). according to other relationship with other people. Buddhism Focused on harmonious social life. Followers of Buddhism don't acknowledge a supreme Confucianism believes that it is the duty of god. They instead focus on achieving enlightenment— human beings to work hard to improve the life a state of inner peace and wisdom. here on Earth. Buddhism teaches that the self is an illusion “ If there is righteousness in the heart, there (Anatta) and that understanding the self will be beauty in the character. If there is involves recognizing the impermanence of all beauty in the character, there will be harmony things and the interconnectedness of all life. in the home. If there be harmony in the home, Who we are means realizing that everything is there will be order in the nation. If there be constantly changing and that all life is order in the nation, there will be peace in the connected. world.” In Buddhism, understanding who we are means recognizing two key ideas: Taoists Impermanence (Anicca): Everything in life is Taoism, also known as Daoism, is a major traditional always changing. Nothing stays the same Chinese philosophy. Its name comes from the forever, including ourselves. Realizing this concept of the Dao, which represents a fundamental helps us let go of attachments and find peace. reality that is beyond what we can see or understand. Interconnectedness: All beings and things are Taoists believe that this reality is closely connected to connected and affect each other. We are not nature and how the world naturally works. Taoism is isolated individuals but part of a larger, living in the way of the Tao or the universe. Taoism interrelated web of life. rejects the hierarchy and strictness brought by In Buddhism, the idea that we have a separate, Confucianism and would prefer a simple lifestyle and unchanging self is not real (ILLUSION). its teachings thus aim to describe how to attain that Instead, when we understand this, we see our life. true nature and realize how we are connected “The self is not just an extension of the family with everything around us. or the community; it is part of the universe.” “True peace comes from understanding that “The universe is sacred. You cannot improve it. there is no permanent self, only the flow of If you try to change it, you will ruin it. If you try change and the connection we share with all to hold it, you will lose it.” –Laozi life.” Laozi’s quote means that the universe is already perfect as it is. Trying to make changes Jainism or control it will only mess things up. Instead Jains do not believe in Gods, They do, however, believe of trying to improve or hold onto things, it’s in a higher power (devas) that are mortal. better to let things be and go with the flow. Jains also worship the images of their divine teachers (Tirthankaras) INDIA Jainism teaches that to achieve freedom and Hinduism purity of the self, we should follow non- Brahma - the god responsible for the creation violence, truth, and self-discipline, because of the world and all living things. (the creator) our soul can be cleansed of negative karma Vishnu - the god that preserves and protects through these practices. the universe. (the preserver) In Jainism, karma is like a sticky substance Shiva - (the transformer/destroyer). that attaches to the soul from our actions, Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva is the Hindu trinity, also thoughts, and intentions, and it can make our called the Trimurti journey through life harder and cause Hinduism explores the self (Atman) as part of suffering. the universal soul (Brahman). The goal is to purify the soul by eliminating Emphasizes self-realization – It means finding karma through right conduct, knowledge, and out the self (Atma) by doing things like discipline. JAPAN and qualities. In other words, people in Western Shintoism cultures personal identity often believe that and In Shinto, gods are called kami, and they can be freedom are really important. elements of nature, ancestors, or spirits that represent various aspects of life and the natural world Rationalism and Self-Identity Shinto often focuses on harmony with nature and Influenced by philosophers like René Descartes, ancestors, with a more implicit understanding of the Western thought often focuses on rational self- self as part of a larger, spiritual community. awareness and the ability to think and reason as central to understanding the self. Descartes' famous Zen Buddhism assertion, "I think, therefore I am," underscores the Zen Buddhism emphasizes direct experience and idea that self-identity is tied to consciousness and mindfulness, teaching that the self can be understood rational thought. through meditation and experiencing the present moment. Psychological Theories Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud) examines the self in terms of unconscious drives and conflicts. Humanistic Psychology (Carl Abraham Maslow) emphasizes Rogers, selfactualization and personal growth, focusing on the self as a dynamic and evolving entity. Cognitive Psychology explores how selfperception and identity are influenced by cognitive processes and social interactions. Western thought often prioritizes individual achievements and logical analysis, while Eastern thought values harmony and seeing the bigger picture ADDITIONAL READINGS EASTERN THOUGHT Korean & Vietamese In Korea, understanding the self means focusing on family and getting along with others, with Buddhism and shamanism Existentialism adding a spiritual touch. Existentialist thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert In Vietnam, understanding the self involves a Camus focus on the self in terms of individual mix of ethical behavior, spiritual practices, freedom, responsibility, and the “search for meaning.” and living in harmony with nature from “Individuals create their own essence through Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. choices and actions.” CONCEPTS AND MOVEMENTS WITHIN WESTERN Social and Cultural Influences PHILOSOPHY AND INTELLECTUAL HISTORY Western thought also considers how the self is shaped by social and cultural contexts. Social Individualism psychology how identity is explores formed through Western thought usually focuses on the idea that each interactions with others and societal person is unique and independent. It sees the self as a separate, individual entity with its own set of traits Postmodernism Postmodernism is a broad and complex movement that emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to the principles of modernism. It spans various fields, including philosophy, art, literature, architecture, and cultural theory. “Who we are is not constant but can change and be influenced by different social and cultural factors. In other words, our sense of self is made up of many pieces and can shift depending on our experiences and environment.”