Understanding the Self Notes PDF

Module 1 in charge of base desires like eating, drinking, Philosophical perspective of the self slee...

Module 1 in charge of base desires like eating, drinking, Philosophical perspective of the self sleeping, and having sex Socrates are controlled as well in his magnum opus, “The Republic” The first philosopher to who ever (Plato 2000), Plato emphasizes that engaged in a systematic questioning justice in the human person can only about the self – the SOCRATIC be attained if the three parts of the METHOD soul are working harmoniously with An idea will be tested by asking series one another. of questions to determine underlying beliefs and extent of knowledge St Augustine of Hippo toward better understanding. he agreed that man is of a bifurcated The true task of a philosopher is to nature know oneself the body is bound to die on earth and The unexamined life is not worth the soul is to anticipate living living eternally in a realm of spiritual bliss The goal of life is to be happy in communion with God. Every man is composed of body (imperfect and impermanent) and St Thomas Aquinas soul (perfect and permanent) man is composed of two parts: Plato 1. Matter Or hyle in Greek, refers Socrates student, best known for his to the common stuff that Theory of Forms that asserted the makes us everything in physical world is not the real world the universe. Man’s body because the ultimate reality exists is part of this matter beyond the physical world, basically 2. Form took off from his master and Or morphe in Greek supported the idea that man has a dual refers to the essence of a nature of body and soul. substance or thing. It is There are three components of the what makes it what it is. soul: The soul is what animates the body; it 1) the rational soul is what makes us humans. forged by reason and intellect has to govern Rene Descartes the affairs of the human French philosopher, mathematician, person scientist, and Father of Modern 2) the spirited soul Philosophy in charge of emotions Conceived of the human person as should be kept at bay having a body and a mind 3) the appetitive soul  in his famous treatise, The To Kant, there is necessarily a mind Meditations of the First Philosophy, that organizes the impressions that he claims that there is so much of men get from the external world, he what we should doubt. calls these the apparatuses of the mind The only thing that one cannot doubt John Locke is the existence of the self Cogito ergo sum, “I think therefore I Human mind at birth is tabula rasa am” because people are born without the The self is a combination of two innate mental content, which means distinct entities: the cogito, the thing that knowledge is derived from that thinks, which is the mind, and the experience. extenza or the extension of the mind, He expanded the idea of Descartes which is the body that self is a thinking thing The self consists of memory David Hume A person is held accountable for past A Scottish philosopher, an empiricist behaviors he/she can only remember who believes that one can know only Gilbert Ryle what comes from the senses and experiences Solves the mind-body dichotomy by Empiricism is the school of thought blatantly denying the concept of an that espouses the idea that knowledge internal, non-physical self can only be possible if it is sensed and What truly matters is the behavior that experienced a person manifests in his day-to-day The self is nothing else but a bundle life of impressions He suggests that “self” is not an entity Experiences can be categorized into one can locate and analyze but simply two: impressions and ideas. the convenient name that people use Impressions are the basic objects of to refer to all the behaviors that our experience or sensation while people make ideas are data formulated or conceptualized based upon the Maurice Jean Jacques Merleau-Ponty previously perceived impressions a phenomenologist who asserts that Self is “a bundle or collection of the mind-body bifurcation that has different perceptions, which succeed been going on for a long time is a each other with an inconceivable futile endeavor and an invalid rapidity, and are in perpetual flux and problem movement” (Hume and Steinberg the mind and body are so interwind 1992) that they cannot be separated from Immanuel Kant one another Cartesian problem is nothing else but Everything starts with perceptions plain misunderstanding. The living and sensation of impressions  body, his thoughts, emotions, and imagination in which society creates experiences are all one opportunities for him/her to think and act as well as limiting his/her thoughts and actions Module 2 Sociological Theories of the Self Sociological perspectives of the self A. The Looking Glass Self by Charles Cooley Introduction Individuals develop their concept of Self is emphasized as social by nature self by looking at how to perceive Beginning from birth, it continuously them, hence, coined his theory as interacts with its external world that “The Looking Glass Self” determines what it might be, what it Understanding of self is socially can be and what it will be constructed. Through social interaction, one’s sense of self is Self as a Social Construct mirrored from the judgements they Derived from the idea that society receive from others to measure their which takes part in its shaping is own worth, values, and behaviors social construction An individual in a social Through social interaction and active situation imagines how understanding of the social reality by they appear to others collective actions of people, living That individual imagines together and their relationships others’ judgement of that become meaningful appearance By active understanding, it means that The individual develops individuals are not only passive feelings and responds to participants in their social life. This those perceived creates a pattern that shapes and judgements influences who they are, how they Not all judgements or view of other behave and think people to one’s self may affect how he/she measures his/her worth, values The Self and Society and behavior. 1996 – self has been characterized as B. Theory of the Self-Development by separate, self-contained, independent, George Herbert Mead consistent, unitary and private. Steven (cited by Alata, EJ et. Al.,2018) Gave emphasis to other’s perspective Self is distinct to others in view of one’s self Society is linked to the individual as The “self” in such case is not being they are inherently connected and developed (theory of Self- dependent on each other Development, nd) An individual is capable of seeing By stages, Mead states that self through his/her experiences and the develops through social interaction larger society called sociological  1. Preparatory stage: children body and his basic identity, his in this stage are only capable biological givenness. It is a person’s of imitating actions of others. basic identity. Personne – composed They have no ability to of the social concepts of what it imagine yet how others see means, to be who he is. Shifts from things time to time to adopt to his social 2. Play stage: begin to try to take situation (Alata, EJ et. Al., 2018) the role of other person Various personne: 3. Game stage: learn to Filipino personne understand complex interactions involving Territory – perennial: “tapat different people with variety ko, linis ko” of purpose. Language – love: “mahal 4. Generalized other: children kita”, Sanskrit origin “lubh” develop, understand and learn means desire the idea of the common Gender Neutral – “siya” , “El” behavioral expectations of the in Spanish refers to male general society. The “self” in while “ella” is referred to this stage is being developed. females The Self and Culture Shows how one regards oneself differently from others The self should not be seen as a static The “I” and the “Me” Self entity which remains constant through time. George Herbert Mead Self is considered as multi-faceted Characterized the self as “I” and The Moi and Personne Self “Me” Marcel Mauss An individual imports from the social process Anthropologist and sociologist The process involves the creation of Claimed that society is a result of a the two facets of self process whereby actions of humans is Me built upon everyday and social - Social self continuity - Results of the “I” Self adapts to its everyday social - known condition I Cultural identity is intertwined with - Response to the “me” space and time (Airton Jose - Responds to the attitudes Cavenaghi,2016) making one’s self of others determined according to its - Learns about the “me” circumstances and context - Knower Every self has two faces: Moi – refers to a person’s sense of who he is, his Lev Vygotsky aware and self-reflective about his or her place in society Stressed the important role of language acquisition and interaction Anthropology with others in human development the study of human societies and Mind is made or constituted through cultures and their development language that one acquires pr it is concerned with how cultural and experiences with his/her external biological processes interact to shape world human experience For Mead, role-playing of children indicates that they create scripts in Self as Embedded in Culture their head, thus a manifestation of Self-concept internal dialogue within self For Vygotsky, a child internalizes real all understanding and knowledge of life dialogues that he/she had with oneself others by recycling this during one of components – psychological, their mental and practical problem physical and social attitudes, ideas solving. (Alata, et. Al, 2018) and beliefs that one has Self in Families most influence – family history a study carried out by Erdman(2006) Family is the primary provider or using American and Chinese students, source of a child’s needs (human, requesting to recall memories and social, economic) events of their early years of child learns basic ways of living, childhood. He found out that early language, values, etc. by the imitating childhood memories were a big part or observation or teaching by an adult of self-concept member of the family culture has such a greater influence on learning self in the family is an individual’s life contributing to the conscious and unconscious self-concept of an individual Culture Module 3 is the set of unwritten norms of conduct that guide the behavior of a Anthropological Perspective of the self group Introduction Edward Taylor the origin of the self explores the role defined the culture that it is a that selfhood plays in defining human complex whole which includes society knowledge, believe, art, morals, law, self-came to be understood as a customs, and any other capabilities process that orchestrates an and habits acquired by man individual’s personal experience following which he/she becomes self- Material and Non-material Culture Anthony Wallace and Raymond Fogelson Material Culture Coined the term “identity struggles” refers to the physical objects, Identity Struggles – a term coined by resources, and spaces that people use Wallace and Fogelson to characterize to define their culture interaction in which there is a discrepancy help to define its members behaviors between the identity a person claims to and perceptions possess and the identity attributed to that person by other Non-material Culture Self-Identification – in order to attain this, refers to the nonphysical ideas that individuals have to overcome many obstacles people have about their culture, including beliefs, values, rules, Katherine Ewing – formulated the “Illusion norms, morals, language, of Wholeness” organizations, and institutions Illusion of Wholeness – implies that the processes – symbols, language, cohesiveness and continuity of self are only values, and norms illusory Cultural Differences – exists when groups To Anthropological Perspective of the Self of people assign different meanings to different life events and things Egocentric Key terms a concept of the self where the self is seen as an autonomous and distinct Social identities – people construct their self- individual identity from the similarities and differences in characteristics among individuals Socio-centric Family Membership – the most significant according to this view, there is no feature to determine a person’s social identity intrinsic self that can possess enduring qualities Language – viewed as an essential for the maintenance of group identity 3 phased rite of passage by Arnold Van Gennep Religious Affiliation – an important marker for the group identity in a given society 1. Separation Phase – people detach from their former identity to another Name – an important device to individualize 2. Liminality Phase – a person a person and legitimize him or her as a transitions from one identity to member of a social group another 3. Incorporation Phase – he change in one’s status is officially incorporated Module 4 1. id – driven by principle, which strives for immediate gratification of all Psychological perspective of the self desires, wants, and needs I. The self as a cognitive construction 2. ego – operates based on the reality principle, which strives to satisfy the William James (1842-1910) id’s desire in realistic and socially - Was one of the first to postulate a appropriate ways theory of the self in The Principles of 3. superego – aspect of personality that Psychology holds all of our internalized moral - James described two aspects of the standards and ideals that we acquire self that he termed the “I Self” and from both parents and society – our “Me Self” sense of right and wrong - The I self reflects what people see or The 3 levels of awareness perceive themselves doing in the physical world 1. the conscious – consists of what - The Me Self is a more subjective and someone is aware of at any particular psychological phenomenon, referring point in time. It includes what you are to individuals’ reflection about thinking right now, whether it is in the themselves front of your mind or the back. - Other terms such as Self-view, self- 2. The preconscious – contains image, self-schema, and self-concept information that is just below the are also used to describe the self- surface of awareness. It can be referent thoughts characteristics of retrieved with relative ease and the Me Self. usually can be thought of as memory - James further distinguished three or recollection components of the Me Self: 3. The unconscious – contains thoughts, The material self (tangible memories, and desires that are buried objects or possessions we deep in ourselves, well below our collect for ourselves) conscious awareness. Even though The social self (how we we are not aware of their existence, interact and portray ourselves they exert great influence on our within different groups, behavior situations, or persons) The spiritual self (internal dispositions) II. True Self - There is true self that has a sense of integrity, connected wholeness that Sigmund Freud harks to the early stage - Human personality is complex and False self has more than a simple component - Personality is composed of three - When the person has to comply with components: external rules  - Constantly seeks to anticipate - the ideal self in childhood is not the demands of others in order to ideal self in our teens or late twenties maintain the relationship Real self concept - In early development, the false self is split off as an adaptation to a mother - the real self is our self-image or career who reflects her own - the knowledge, attitudes, and defenses onto the infant rather that perceptions people have about reflecting the infant’s actual moods themselves as they actually are Two kinds of false self Carl Rogers 1. Healthy false self humanistic psychologist when the false self is the personality is composed of the functional and for society Real Self and the Ideal self feels that it is still being true Your Real Self is who you to the true self actually are, while your Ideal Self when the situation become is the person you want to be difficult, the true self can still override the true self and go acts as an effective conscience IV. Unified Self or superego 2. unhealthy false self - It is the integration of the sub selves a self that fits in but through a into one, however, integration is a feeling of forced compliance task for the later part of life rather than loving adaptation - “each version of self includes when the false self wins cognitive elements as well as feelings, debates against the true self, drives, values, and behaviors the person finds that they are organized around certain point of unable to be guided by their view” true self and so has to adapt to Multiple self the social situation rather than assert its self - It contains different modes of the self never gains independence “appear, one after another and side- from the mother, and so never by-side in the consciousness” gets to transition to independence V. Agentic Self and Proactive Self Agentic self III. Ideal Self-concept - The aspect of human personality that - this the person who we would like to is determined by future assessment of be. It consists of our goals and one’s goals, objectives, and actions ambitions in life, and is dynamic - Its functions are adversely affected by degenerating planning, selecting, and  implementing the capabilities of an The “Me” concept individual - Eternal reality of the universal truth: Proactive self self-liberation through getting rid of the false “Me” and discovering the - Make things happen, instead of true “Me” waiting for them to happen to you - Active means “doing something” the Search for absolute truth prefix pro- means “before” - HOLISTIC approach – all events in - If you are proactive, you are ready the universe are interconnected before something happens - Searching INSIDE YOURSELF – by Proactive Attitude becoming part of the universe through meditation and right living Personality characteristic - “Though he should live a hundred which has implications for years, not seeing the Truth Sublime; motivation and action yet better, indeed, is the single day’s It is a belief in the rich life of one who sees the Truth potential of changes that can Sublime.” – Buddha be made to improve oneself and one’s environment Individualism/collectivism The self in western and orientational/eastern - A human being is an integral part of thoughts the universe and the society - People are fundamentally collected EASTERN - COLLECTIVISM is stronger Main principles Achievements and winning 1. Cosmological unity - Winning is inside yourself 2. Life is a journey towards eternal - “though he should conquer a realities that are beyond the realities thousand men in the battlefield a that surround us thousand times, yet he, indeed, who 3. Circular view of the universe, based would conquer himself is the noblest on the perception of eternal victor” – Buddha recurrence - “he who conquers others is strong; he 4. Inner-world dependent who conquers himself is mighty” 5. Self-liberation from the false “Me” – Lao Tzu and finding the true “Me”. The - “the most excellent Jihad is that for highest state is believed to be a state the conquest of self” – Mohammad of ‘no-self’, where neither self-worth nor self-importance have any real Leadership meaning - SPIRITUAL – walking behind 6. Behavioral ethics people; silence is golden - “In order to guide people, the leader must put himself behind them. Thus  when he is ahead they feel no hurt” - “You’re not a star until they can spell – Lao Tzu your name in Karachi” – Roger Moore WESTERN - “Life affords no higher pleasure than Main principles that of surmounting difficulties, passing from one stop of success to 1. Feeling oneself as an element of the another, forming new wishes and divine seeing them gratified” – Samuel 2. Life is a service Johnson 3. Linear view of the universe and life, - “It is not because things are difficult based on the Christian philosophy that we do not dare; it is because we where everything has its beginning do not dare that they are difficult” and the end 4. Outer-world dependent Leadership 5. Self-dedication to the goal - HANDS-ON – walking ahead of The “Me” concept people; speech is golden - “Leadership is done from in front, - “Me” is here and now never ask others to do what you, if - The true “Me” in every human being challenged, would not be willing to do is a part of the Divine that need to yourself” – Xenophon become apparent - True “Me” is given and doesn’t have to cognizable THE CONCEPT OF SELF IN THE Search for absolute truth CONFUCIAN THOUGHT - More focused on INDIVIDUAL Self or No-Self EVENTS and the role of the person - The notion of the self in Confucian - Searching outside yourself – through thought is very similar to what Ames research and analysis expresses in above quote, and to the - “The truth that survives is simply the understanding of self in our examples lie that is pleasantest to believe” of the Maori. Although it is by – H.L.Mencken westerns often understood that there Individualism/collectivism is no self in Confucian thought, (because in Confucianism one dies - A human being has an individualistic talk of the concept of “no self”) this nature and is an independent part of concept may be misunderstood when the universe and the society taken into western paradigms of - INDIVIDUALISM is stronger thinking Achievement and winning - But what is really meant by the idea of “no self”, is this”: “if one had no - Winning is OUTSIDE yourself selfish motives, but only the supreme virtues, there would be no self, … if he serves selflessly, he does not know what service is. If he knows what service is, he has a self… only of parents but not of yourself…is what I call no self.”