Understanding The Self: Philosophical Perspectives PDF

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Page 1 of 2 LESSON PROPER Philosophical inquiry into the nature of the self has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with various thinkers offering distinct...

UNDERSTANDING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Page 1 of 2 LESSON PROPER Philosophical inquiry into the nature of the self has a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with various thinkers offering distinct perspectives on what constitutes the self and how it should be understood. This lesson explores these perspectives, starting with the classical views of Socrates and Plato. Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher, is often credited with laying the groundwork for the concept of the self in Western philosophy. He believed in the immortal soul and the idea that self-knowledge is the key to wisdom. For Socrates, the true self is not the body, but the soul, which he viewed as eternal and capable of attaining knowledge beyond the physical world. His method of dialectic questioning, known as the Socratic method, was designed to lead individuals to a deeper understanding of their true selves, emphasizing the importance of introspection and the pursuit of virtue. Plato, a student of Socrates, expanded on his mentor's ideas and introduced the concept of the self as a dualistic entity consisting of the physical body and the immortal soul. According to Plato, the soul is the true essence of a person, which exists before birth and after death. He argued that the soul is divided into three parts: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive, each corresponding to different aspects of human experience. The rational part is responsible for reasoning and wisdom, the spirited part for emotions and courage, and the appetitive part for desires and bodily needs. Plato’s dualism has had a profound influence on subsequent philosophical and religious thought, particularly in the development of Christian theology. St. Augustine, an early Christian theologian, integrated Platonic philosophy with Christian doctrine, emphasizing the internal struggle between the self’s spiritual and carnal desires. Augustine believed that the true self is found in the soul, which seeks unity with God. He viewed the body as a temporary vessel that can lead the soul astray through sinful desires. Augustine's confessions reflect his deep introspection and his belief in the importance of divine grace for the soul's salvation. His work laid the foundation for the Christian understanding of the self, which emphasizes the soul's relationship with God as central to personal identity. Moving to the modern era, Rene Descartes, often called the father of modern philosophy, introduced a new way of thinking about the self with his famous dictum, "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). Descartes viewed the self as a thinking, non-material substance distinct from the body. He argued that the mind, or the thinking self, is the foundation of all knowledge, as it is the only thing that can be known with absolute certainty. Descartes' dualism, which separates the mind from the body, has been highly influential in the development of Western philosophy, particularly in discussions about consciousness and the nature of personal identity. John Locke, an English philosopher, offered a different perspective on the self by emphasizing the role of memory and consciousness in the continuity of personal identity. Locke argued that the self is not an immutable substance but a continuous identity that is based on the recollection of past experiences. For Locke, personal identity is not rooted in the substance of the soul or body but in the continuity of consciousness. This view shifted the focus from metaphysical discussions of the soul to psychological considerations of memory and self-awareness, influencing later empirical and psychological approaches to the self. In contrast, David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, was skeptical about the existence of a permanent self. Hume argued that what we call the self is nothing more than a bundle of perceptions, constantly changing and lacking any true unity. According to Hume, there is no underlying self that remains the same over time; rather, our identity is constructed from the various sensory experiences and mental states that we encounter. Hume's radical empiricism challenges the notion of a stable, enduring self and raises questions about the nature of personal identity. UNDERSTANDING THE SELF MODULE 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Page 2 of 2 Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, offered a more complex view by distinguishing between the empirical self, which we experience in the world, and the transcendental self, which is the necessary condition for experience. Kant argued that the transcendental self, or the "I" that thinks and unifies experiences, is not something that can be directly known or observed. Instead, it is the organizing principle that makes perception and knowledge possible. This dual aspect of the self—empirical and transcendental—adds depth to the discussion of identity by linking it to the structure of human cognition and experience. Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, introduced a model of the psyche that includes the id, ego, and superego, which interact to form the self. According to Freud, the id is the source of instinctual desires, operating on the pleasure principle, while the superego represents internalized societal norms and morals. The ego mediates between these two forces, functioning according to the reality principle to manage the demands of both the id and the superego. Freud's model highlights the complexity of the self, suggesting that it is a dynamic structure shaped by unconscious drives and external influences. Gilbert Ryle, a 20th-century British philosopher, critiqued Cartesian dualism and proposed a behaviorist view of the self. Ryle rejected the idea of the self as a distinct mental entity separate from the body, famously referring to the Cartesian concept of mind as "the ghost in the machine." Instead, he argued that the self is better understood as a collection of behaviors and dispositions, observable through our actions and interactions. Ryle's perspective shifts the focus from internal, subjective experiences to external, observable behaviors, contributing to the development of philosophical behaviorism. Merleau-Ponty, a French phenomenologist, emphasized the role of the body in shaping self-identity. He argued that the self is not a detached mind or consciousness but is deeply rooted in our bodily experience of the world. According to Merleau-Ponty, our perception of the world and our place within it is fundamentally embodied, meaning that our sense of self is inextricably linked to our physical presence and our interactions with the environment. This perspective challenges the traditional mind-body dualism and offers a more integrated view of the self as an embodied being. Finally, Paul Churchland, a contemporary philosopher and neuroscientist, approaches the concept of the self from the standpoint of neuroscience. Churchland suggests that the self is not a non-physical entity but is instead rooted in the brain's neural processes. He argues that advances in neuroscience are gradually revealing the mechanisms underlying our sense of self, challenging the traditional philosophical notions of a non-material soul or mind. Churchland's view represents a shift towards a more scientifically grounded understanding of the self, emphasizing the role of brain function in shaping our identity and consciousness. Reference: Magpantay, C.D., & Danao, R.R. (2018). Understanding the Self. Rizal: Jenher Publishing House. Reference: https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/philosophicalperspectiveofselfpptx/261028626