The Self from Various Perspectives PDF

GE2405 THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Hey there, fellow explorer! Ever felt like you're on a quest to uncover the secrets of who you really are? Well, buckle up because,...

GE2405 THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Hey there, fellow explorer! Ever felt like you're on a quest to uncover the secrets of who you really are? Well, buckle up because, in this module, we're diving headfirst into the world of the self—from philosophical ponderings to everything in between. THE SELF FROM PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES The self is like a puzzle that philosophers have been trying to solve for ages. As you read this module, experience a journey full of big questions and ideas into the world of philosophy to uncover some insights about the self. Socrates Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who emphasized the importance of self-knowledge. He mentioned the philosophical maxim, “Know thyself.” He believed that true wisdom comes from introspection and self-examination. Acknowledging ignorance improves receptivity to new perspectives, situational adaptation, and personal development. Socratic dialogues, such as "The Apology" and "The Phaedrus," illustrate his teachings on the self. Example: Maria is unsure about her career path. She thinks about what she loves and what matters to her, as Socrates suggested. Despite pressure to choose a well-paying job she doesn’t like, Maria picks a career that matches her interests and values. This shows Socrates’ idea of knowing yourself and living true to who you are. Plato Plato was an ancient Greek philosopher who argued that the self is immortal and independent of the body, with the highest knowledge derived from contemplating the Form of the Good. Plato believed that the self comprises three parts: reason, spirit, and appetite. Plato's tripartite theory of the soul suggests that harmony among these parts leads to a virtuous life and a just society. Example: Jack is torn between studying for an important exam or playing video games. His mind says to study, but his desires pull him to play. He listens to his mind and chooses to study. This shows Plato’s idea that our soul has different parts: the rational part and the desire-driven part. In this case, Jack’s rational part wins, showing how we balance our desires with what’s right. Aristotle Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher and polymath. He was also a student of Plato for twenty years but is widely recognized for rejecting Plato's Theory of Forms. Aristotle argued that the self or the human person is a composite of body and soul and that the two are inseparable. Aristotle’s concept of self was constructed in terms of hylomorphism. We cannot discuss the self with a soul only or a self with a body only. Indeed, for Aristotle, the self is a unified creature. Example: Toby loves dancing. According to Aristotle, when Toby dances, his physical movements express not just his skills (body) but also his emotions and passion (soul). This shows how his body and soul are inseparable—they work together to convey his inner feelings and creativity through dance. 01 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 1 of 4  GE2405 Saint Augustine Augustine of Hippo was a theologian and philosopher who viewed the self as deeply intertwined with God. He believed that the human soul longs for union with God, its ultimate source of fulfillment and happiness. Augustine's concept of the self is rooted in the idea of original sin inherited from Adam and Eve, which leads to a sense of spiritual longing and discontent. Through God’s grace, we find self- fulfillment. Example: Emma is struggling to tell the truth or keep a secret. Part of her feels the urge to be honest, while another part fears the consequences. After reflecting on her values, Emma chooses honesty. This reflects Augustine’s view that our inner conflict between selfish desires and moral convictions influences our choices and shapes our character. René Descartes Descartes was a French philosopher, scientist, and mathematician who proposed dualism, which separates the self into distinct entities: mind and body. He famously declared, “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am), asserting that self-awareness proves one's existence. Descartes associated the mind with consciousness and the body with mechanical processes, locating the self in the mind. Example: You’re unsure if everything around you is real. But then you realize the fact that you’re thinking about it proves you exist. This is Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am.” It means your ability to think shows you’re a real person with thoughts and awareness. John Locke Locke was an English philosopher and physician who proposed a theory of the self based on consciousness and personal identity. He believed that people begin life as a Tabula rasa or a blank slate. He viewed the self as knowing and experiencing our own existence. He thought that as long as you remember being yourself at different times, you're still the same person, even if your body changes. For Locke, the self is shaped by our life experiences. Example: David reflects on his childhood memories and favorite activities and how those experiences shaped their beliefs and preferences today. This process of connecting past memories with their present identity illustrates Locke’s concept of self as a continuous stream of consciousness linked by memories and personal experiences. David Hume Hume was a Scottish Enlightenment philosopher, historian, economist, librarian, and essayist who rejected the notion of a fixed and enduring self. In his Bundle Theory, he argued that the self is nothing but a bundle of perceptions, thoughts, and sensations. Hume proposed that the sense of self is an illusion created by the mind from the flow of experiences. Example: Barbara enjoys various hobbies and changes her opinions as she grows older. According to Hume, there isn’t a single, unchanging “self” behind these changes. Instead, our sense of self is like a collection of experiences and feelings that shift over time. This idea means our identity isn’t fixed; it evolves as we go through life’s experiences and learn new things. 01 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 2 of 4  GE2405 Immanuel Kant Kant was a German philosopher and one of the central Enlightenment thinkers. Kant’s concept of self revolves around the idea of the inner self (transcendental self) and the outer self (empirical self.)The inner self includes our emotions and rational intellect. The outer self is our physical body and how we engage with the world through our senses. It’s what others can see and perceive about us. In short, the inner self is about our mind and intellect, while the outer self is about our body and how we interact with the physical world. Example: You’re learning how to play the piano. According to Kant, your inner self –the thinking subject or “I think” – is what allows you to be aware of yourself as the one learning and playing the music. It’s like the part of you that’s conscious of your thoughts and actions, guiding your learning process. Meanwhile, your outer self is your observable aspect, including your physical body as you sit at the piano, your movements as you play the keys, and the sounds you produce. Others can see and hear your outer self as you interact with the piano and the music. In this example, Kant’s concept of self involves both the inner self, which is aware of your learning and actions, and the outer self, which others can observe as you engage with the external world. Sigmund Freud Freud was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. Freud’s concept of self focused on the ego, which is one of the three parts of the psyche according to his psychoanalytic theory. The ego served as a mediator between the superego (societal rules) and the id (instinctual drives) demands. It seeks to satisfy the id’s desires in socially acceptable ways. Thus, the dynamic interaction between societal standards, unconscious wants, and logical decision-making processes is highlighted by Freud's idea of the self. Example: Chester wants to eat a lot of cake but decides to eat a little because he knows it’s healthier. This shows Freud’s idea of the self, where our decisions balance what we want (like eating cake) with what we know is right (like being healthy). Gilbert Ryle Ryle was a British philosopher known for his critique of Cartesian dualism, for which he coined the phrase “ghost in the machine” and argued that the self isn’t a hidden entity inside us. Instead, he said our self is shown through our actions and behaviors. He believed that talking about an inner self is a mistake – it confuses things. He believed the self is just how we act and behave in the world, not some hidden ghost inside us. Example: Sarah always helps others without expecting anything in return. According to Ryle, Sarah’s self isn’t some mysterious inner essence; it’s simply her helpful actions and behaviors. So, when we talk about Sarah’s self, we’re really talking about how she behaves and interacts with others, not some hidden part of her. 01 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 3 of 4  GE2405 Paul Churchland Churchland is a Canadian philosopher known for his studies in neurophilosophy, or the philosophy of mind. He viewed the self as a product of brain activity rather than a separate entity. He believed that science could explain how we understand ourselves by studying the brain. Example: Benedict tries learning how to play the guitar. As he practices, his brain physically changes and adapts. According to Churchland, these changes in the brain shape how the person sees himself and what they’re capable of, showing our sense of self is tied to our brain’s physical processes. Maurice Merleau-Ponty Merleau-Ponty was a French philosopher who believed the self is shaped by our physical body and how we experience the world through our senses. He emphasized that our sense of self is connected to our interactions with the environment rather than a separate entity. For him, the self develops over time, influenced by past experiences and future aspirations. He rejected the idea of dualism. Example: Joseph expresses himself through dance. For Merleau-Ponty, their sense of self isn’t just in their thoughts but is shaped by the sensations, movements, and interactions they experience while dancing. The dance becomes a way for them to embody and express their identity, showing how our sense of self is inseparable from our bodily experiences and interactions with the world. References: Ashcroft, R. (2023, April 8). What does “I think, therefore I am” really mean? The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/what-does-i-think-therefore-i-am-mean/. Blog, J. (2019, March 28). Hume’s theory on the enduring self. Medium. https://medium.com/@jeevanv/humes- theory-on-the-enduring-self-d591f30b90cc. Fruhling, Z. (2020, May 26). Being a stranger to yourself — The many meanings of “Know Thyself”. Zachary Fruhling.https://www.zacharyfruhling.com/philosophy-blog/being-a-stranger-to-yourself-the-many-meanings-of- know-thyself. Theepak.(2022, December 24). Socrates’ view on Self-Development. Medium. https://medium.com/@theepak/socrates-view-on-self-development-c0fb9753a2f9. 01 Handout 1A *Property of STI Page 4 of 4