UTS Philosophical View of Self PDF

UTS *Topic 1: Philosophical View of self* **Socrates- an unexamined life is not worth living "know thyself"** *Two dichotomous realms;* -Physical Realm -- changeable, transient and imperfect -Ideal Realm -- unchanging, eternal and immortal *Socratic Method or Introspection* -- carefully examin...

UTS *Topic 1: Philosophical View of self* **Socrates- an unexamined life is not worth living "know thyself"** *Two dichotomous realms;* -Physical Realm -- changeable, transient and imperfect -Ideal Realm -- unchanging, eternal and immortal *Socratic Method or Introspection* -- carefully examining one's thoughts and emotions to gain self-knowledge **Plato- The self is an immortal self** *The idea of a three-part soul/self;* -Reason -- the divine essence that enable us to think deeply -Physical Appetite -- basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst and sexual desire -Spirit or Passion -- basis emotions *World of forms* (non-physical ideas) -- Real and permanent *World of sense* (reality) -- temporary and only a replica of the ideal world -since the soul is regarded as something permanent, man should give importance to it than physical body **Aristotle -- The soul is the essence of the self** Soul is merely a set of defining feature and does not consider the body and soul as separate entities Anything with life has a soul, essence of all living things *Three kinds of soul;* Vegetative soul -- physical body that can grow Sentient soul -- sensual desire, feelings and emotions Rational soul -- what makes man human, includes the intellect that allows man to know and understand **St. Augustine: The self has an immortal soul** -An African philosopher, as a saint. (St. Augustine of Hippo) in the catholic church Body as the "spouse" of the soul -soul is what governs and defines man -everything created by God who is all good is good -self is known only through knowing God -knowledge can only come by seeing the truth that dwells within us **Rene Descartes: I think therefore I am** -French philosopher -Father of modern philosophy \- "cogito ergo sum" -- "I think therefore I am" is the keystone of his concept of self. The act of thinking about the self. -we all have an inner and outer self, inner self is comprised of our psychological state and rational state \- outer self includes our sense and the physical world **John Locke: The self is consciousness** -English philosopher -Human mind at birth is tabula rasa or a blank state -people could use power of reason to gain knowledge -Knowledge is based on careful observation of experience **David Hume: There is no self** -Scottish philosopher \- If people carefully examine their sense experience through the process of introspection, they will discover that there is no self *Distinct entities:* -Impression -- basic sensation of people's experience -Ideas -- thoughts and images from impression \- the idea of personal identity is a result of imagination **Immanuel Kant: We construct the self** -German philosopher -we all have an inner and an outer self which together form our consciousness -inner self -- psychological sate and rational intellect -outer self -- our sense and physical world **Sigmund Freud: The self is multilayered** -Austrian Psychoanalyst *Self consists of three layered;* -Conscious -- "reality principle" it consists of everything inside our awareness -Unconscious -- "pleasure principle" continues to influence behavior -Preconscious -- also acts as something of a guard, controlling the information that is allowed to enter into awareness **Paul Churchland: The self is the brain** -Canadian philosopher \- eliminate materialism or self is inseparable from the brain and physiology of the body \- mind, this means that the physical brain and not the mind exists -if the brain is gone, there is no self **Maurice Merleau-Ponty: The self is embodied subjectivity** -French philosopher -all knowledge about the self is based on phenomena of experience \- "I" is a single integrated core identity of the mental, physical and emotional structures. -self at the fundamental level of direct human experience, mind and body are unified, not separate \- physical body to be an important part of what makes up the subjective self. *Topic 2: Anthropological view of self* **Anthropology-** study of all aspects of human body **Anthropological concept of self --** self is both biological and cultural entity -traditional anthropological understanding of the self is that the self is an animal specie which underwent the process of biological evolution -the self is believed to have evolved from apes some 33 million years ago -self has better development in the terms of brain with billion neurons, and adaptation to the environment for survival ***The self is a living animal but superior to other animals due to certain factors;*** a. Physical aspects- self as the only animal with a larger brain capacity making him/her a rational animal; b. Social aspects- self uses language and symbol in dynamic, complicated and yet systematic manner, allowing him/her to communicate and preserve history, knowledge and culture ***Two concepts in anthropology;*** -Culture -- is traditionally defined as systems of human behavior and thought -Enculturation -- is the transmission of culture from one generation to the next ***The self and person in a contemporary anthropology*** Contemporary anthropologists suggest that the environmental exposure starts during conception. -The child in the mother's womb already hears language, tastes of the food and feels the mother's emotion -The growing years of a child is very crucial in anthropological perspective. This is the time when the child develops psychological construct of dependency or independency. -In many cultures where independence is the cultural emphasis, the child is usually provided with a room and trained to be independent by giving less physical contact from parents. -In contrary, in most part in Asia and Africa, children are reared in close contact with parents, especially in mother that may develop sense of dependency. ***Self-Awareness*** -Anthropology defines self-awareness as "that which permits one to assume responsibility for one's own conduct, to learn how to react to others and to assume a variety of roles. -It has been observed that a child starts to conceptualize self-awareness at age two. -conceptualized much earlier by children sleeping with parents are exposed to a variety of stimuli like touch and the like ***Self and Behavioral environment*** -in order to strengthen the identity of the self, one must be able to grasp the different behavioral orientations -these are concepts that will help situate the self in different behavioral conditions *Object Orientation* -positions the self in relation to the surrounding objects. The self should be able to act responsively to the cultural object *Spatial Orientation* -provides the self with personal space in relation to other people or things *Temporal Orientation* -endows the self with the sense of time. Time is truly relevant to cultural communities. *Normative Orientation* -provides the self with the grasp of accepted norms in the community. **Self-embedded in culture** **-**the idea of the self being embedded in culture means that who we are is shaped by the world around us-our families, communities and the traditions we grow up with. **Cultural Degradation** -the loss of a particular culture due to assimilation of loss of interest. Assimilation happens when a dominant culture is overshadowing the inferior culture, the inferior culture will eventually lose its identity. *Topic 3: Sociological View of self* **The Self as Product of Modern Society Among Others-**With Modernization, the self becomes a "delocalized Self" which is free to seek its own identity. -Clifford Geertz (1973) believes that the struggle for one\'s individuality is only possible in modern society where religio-theological traditions are gradually replaced by rational and scientific calculations; and the intimate personal affiliations are replaced by exceedingly impersonal associations brought about by urbanized way of life. Modernization or the destruction of the traditional way of life \"delocalizes\" the self. This poses certain problems as:1.The newfound freedom threatens the very authenticity of the self (e.g. love).2.Alienation (Marx) human beings haunted by the very images they have created3.Objectification of the body (e.g. medical practice)4.Dehumanization of selfSolution: For the individual to discover the \"true\" and \"authentic\" part of himself/herself to realize his/her potentials, there is a need to abolish repressive social constraints**Self as Necessary Fiction**-Self for Nietzsche, is the sum of individual\'s action, thoughts and feelings-Self is nothing more than a metaphor, a representation of something abstract; symbolic.-It is possible for us to remember something even if we have not experienced it.-Self has a continuity even if it is only in memory i.e, either heard or witnessed which did not happen to you.-A true given self is not what unites these experiences, but it is the presumed unity of these experiences that gave rise to a concept of the self.**Post-modern View of the self** -Self is a narrative, a text written and rewritten.-Self is a story. It is dynamic.-Self is a product of modern discourse that is historically and socially imprisoned by what is acceptable by norms, etc-Self in post modernity is complicated by electronic mediated virtual interaction of cyber self-such as change in appearance (in the cyberspace). -According to N. Green, self is \"digitalized\" in cyberspace, a virtual version of who we are. Tine self is seen in websites or social media face book, twitter, Instagram, etc.*The following are the manifestations:-*Information technology dislocates the self; thus, self is \"digitalized\" in cyberspace.-Global migration produces multicultural identities-Post-modern selves are \"pluralized\" selves.**Social Construction of the Self**Self is not discovered; it is made through the socialization process. BUT individuals are not just hapless victims of socialization. The individual is an active, strategizing agent that negotiates for the definition of himself. (Ikaw ang gumagawa ng kung ano ka\"). Self is acquired socially through language, like symbols. We construct ourselves based on our social roles through socialization agent's family, school, community, etc.**Rewriting the self as an artistic creation** -Nietzsche states that the unity of the self is not pre-given but accomplished through conscious effort transform self through beautiful work of art **Self creation and collective identity** -Memories play significant role in creating the self and identity **Self Creation and the struggle for cultural recognition** -This is a challenge of self, identity amidst recognition -We create ourselves by struggling with cultural hassles then owning the created self **Mead theory of self** The self, according to Mead, is made of two components: the \"I\" and the \"me.\" *Me* - is the organized set of attitudes of others which an individual assumes*I* - is the response of an individual to the attitudes of others.***According to Mead there are three stages of Development of Self**Stage 1: The Preparatory Stage*-The first stage is the preparatory stage. The preparatory stage starts from the time we are born until we are about age two.*Stage 2: The Play Stage*-From about age two to six, children are in the play stage.-During the play stage, children play pretend and do not adhere to the rules in organized games like patintero ot basketball.*Stage 3: The Game Stage*-The third stage is the game stage, which is from about age seven onwards.-In this stage, children can begin to understand and adhere to the rules of games.**The Looking-Glass Self: Our Sense of Self is Influenced by Others\' Views of Us**-The concept of the looking-glass self-states that part of how we see ourselves comes from our perception of how others see us (Cooley, 1902).-According to the American sociologist Charles Horton Cooley (1864-1929), the degree of personal insecurity you display in social situations is determined by what you believe other people think of you. -Social comparison occurs when we learn about our abilities and skills, about the appropriateness and validity of our opinions, and about our relative social status by comparing our own attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with those of others.-Social comparison occurs primarily on dimensions on which there are no correct answers or objective benchmarks and thus on which we can rely only on the beliefs of others for information **Psychological view of self** *Psychology* -- came from Greek words "psyche" and "logos" literally means "soul" and "mind study" -scientific study of behavior and mental processes \- as a science, it is concerned with how we develop our sense of self over the course of its development *William James* -American psychologist *Two categories of self;* I-self -- refers to the self that knows who he or she is which is called the "thinking self". Reflects the soul of a person or the mind which is also called the "pure ego" Me Self -- empirical self which refers to the person's personal experiences and is further divided into sub categories; the material self, the social self and the spiritual self Material self -- attributed to an individual's physical attributes and material possessions that contribute to one's selves. Social Self -- refers to who a person is and how he or she acts in social situations Spiritual Self -- refers to the most intimate and important part of the self that includes the person's purpose, core values, conscience and moral behavior Carl Rogers \*American Psychologist\*he defines the self as a flexible and changing perception of personal identity. The self is the center of experience\*Self-Concept-refers to the image of oneself.-how you perceive your behavior, abilities and unique characteristics-he suggests that the self develops from interactions with significant people and awareness of one\'s own characteristics and level of functioning. According to Rogers, human beings are always striving for self-fulfillment or self-actualization. When the needs of the self are denied, severe anxiety may arise.*Rogers suggests two components of self-concept : the real self and the ideal self.*REAL SELF - consists of all ideas, including the awareness of what one is and what one can do.IDEAL SELF - is the person\'s conception of what one should be or what one aspires to be which includes one\'s goal, ambitions in life.TRUE SELF - to describe a sense of self based on spontaneous authentic experience and a feeling of being alive, having a real self.FALSE SELF - is to hide and protect the true self.Albert Bandura -Canadian-American Psychologist-Agency is the sense of control that you feel in your life, your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behaviors and -have faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks and situations. Your sense of agency helps you to be psychologically stable, yet flexible in the face of conflict or change-Bandura\'s main features of human agency: Intentionality, Forethought, Self-Reactiveness, Self-Reflectiveness *Bandura\'s main features of human agency:*Intentionality- refers to the acts done intentionally.Forethought - enables the person to anticipate the likely consequences of prospective actions.Self-Reactiveness - involves making choices and choosing appropriate courses of action as well as motivating and regulating them. Self-Reflectiveness - gives the person the ability to reflect upon and the adequacy of hisor her thoughts and actions.Carl Jung -A Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst-Central to Carl Jung\'s theory of the self is the concept of archetypes.-ARCHETYPES are the universal models after which roles are patterned. The archetypes represent the hidden potentialities of the psyche or total personality.-Archetypes reside in personal unconscious (forgotten experiences) that is common to all human beings, known as the collective unconscious.*Four major archetypes:*PERSONA - refers to the social roles of that individuals present to others.SHADOW - refers to the repressed thoughts that are socially unacceptable.ANIMA - feminine side of the male psyche.ANIMUS - masculine side of the female psyche.Sigmund Freud -Psychoanalyst-According to Freud, the mind is composed of three structures through which self and personality is formed:-ID - Characterized by its need to satisfy basic urges and desires. -Pleasure-seeking side of the self. -Impulsive, child-like, demands instant gratification.EGO - Refers to the \"I\" - Operates reality principle and controls the id.SUPEREGO - Refers to the \"conscience\" and \"moral judge\" of one\'s conduct.*PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:*ORAL STAGE - During the first year of life, the mouth is site of sexual and aggressive gratification.ANAL STAGE - During second year of life. The child derives pleasure from elimination of body waste.PHALLIC STAGE - Occurs around ages 3 and 6. Children during this stage derive pleasure from examining, touching, fondling or display their genitals. During this stage, parents and teachers need to properly educate children about sexuality.LATENCY STAGE - Which lasts from 7 to 12 years of age. Sexual energy is repressed because children become occupied with school.GENITAL STAGE - Starts from adolescence to adulthood. During this stage, pleasure is again derived from the genital area and individuals seek to satisfy their sexual drives from sexual relationships.Erik Erikson -Danish-German-American psychologist and psychoanalyst.-proposed the eight psychosocial stages of development.-he believed that each stage is important, he gives particular emphasis on the development of the ego. Each stage consists of developmental tasks that one needs to accomplish to develop successfully.*Trust vs Mistrust (infancy o-1-year-old)* *-*According to Erikson, the child will develop trust if he or she is properly cared for. If the child is not well-cared for, mistrust is likely to develop.*Autonomy vs Shame (early childhood 1-3)-*Children begin to assert their independence during this stage. Erikson states that if parents allow their children to explore, they will become more confident and secure in their own abilities. If children overly protected, they may become overly dependent on their parents and feel sense of shame or doubt in their own abilities. Erikson believes that this stage has important implications in the development of independence and identity during adolescence.*Initiative vs Guilt (play age 3-6)-*During this period, developing a sense of responsibility among children lead lead to the development of initiative. A child who is made to feel irresponsible might develop feelings of guilt.*Industry vs Inferiority (school age 6-12)-*During this stage, children face the task developing knowledge and skills usually taught in schools. When children are encouraged in their efforts, they will develop a sense of industry. However, children who receive little or no encouragement from parents and teachers will doubt their own abilities and are likely to develop inferiority.*Identity vs Confusion (adolescence 12-19)-*At this stage, adolescents face the task of finding out who they are, what they are and what they want in life. They are confronted with many roles and responsibilities. If parents provide proper support, adolescents will develop positive identity. If they are not adequately supported, they will feel insecure and identity confusion will likely develop.*Intimacy vs Isolation (early adulthood 20-25)-*Erikson believes it is vital that people develop intimate relationships with others. Those who are successful in this stage will likely form relationship that are stable and successful. Inability to develop intimate relationships during this stage will lead to mistrust and isolation.*Generativity vs Stagnation (adulthood 26-64)*-Generativity involves a person\'s desire to contribute to the world by teaching, leading and guiding the next generation and doing activities that will benefit the community.-Developing sense of generativity is important during this stage. Those who fail to attain this generativity will feel worthless.*Integrity vs Despair (old age 65-death)*-At this stage, individuals reflect on the important events of their lives. If they are satisfied and proud of their accomplishments, they will feel a sense of integrity. Those who are unsuccessful in this stage will feel that their life has been wasted and will experience regrets and despair. ***Physical Self*** -refers to the body -individual's perception of themselves in areas of physical ability and appearance -is the concrete dimension, the tangible aspect of the person that can be directly observed and examined *Two factors affecting physical growth and development* -Physical growth and development are the product of heredity and environment. 1. Heredity -- is the biological process of the inheritance of traits from parents to offspring. 2\. Environment--refers to the factors an individual's is exposed to throughout life which includes learning and experience *Theories of Physical Self* Theory of Physiognomy -suggest that a person's physical characteristics such as facial feature and expressions and body structures could be related to a person's character and personality -according to the Ancient Chinese practice of face reading, the face is a three-dimensional reflection of "who we are" and "how life affected us" *Theory based on the performance of body fluids* \*Sanguine type -- has the prominence of red bile, they tend to be impulsive, cheerful, happy and optimistic \*Melancholic type -- has the prominence of black bile, tend to be depressed and pessimistic \*Choleric type -- prominence of yellow bile, easily angry, jumpy, and temperamental \*Phlegmatic type -- excess of phlegm, sluggish, dull and slow *Body-type theory* -developed by William Sheldon -based on physical characteristics *Three basic body types that are correlated to the personalities:* \*Endomorphic -- body type that is soft and plump, perceived to be easy going and sociable \*Mesomorphic --strong muscular body. Perceived to be energetic, adventurous, assertive and competitive and dominant \*Ectomorphic -- Small and thin. Tend to restrained, quiet, introverted Body Image -- refers how individual perceive, think and feel about their body and physical appearance Appearance -- refers to everything about a person that others observed such as height, weight, skin, color, clothes Self-Esteem -- is a person's overall evaluation of his or her own worth -Body image can affect both adolescent's physical and psychological well-being. Adolescents worry about different parts of their bodies. Adolescent boys and girls tend to experience negative self-image because they are in a stage of development that is probably confusing them. However, girls are more concerned than boys about their physical appearance and overall body image. The greatest concern that girls express about their bodies is how they conform to idealized notions of beauty.-For both boys and girls, bullying and peer pressure are associated with greater body dissatisfaction.-The result is that they try to change their physical appearance either through cosmetic surgery, dieting, or excessive diet.-Girls who have higher body dissatisfaction are likely experience depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders. *Eating Disorder* 1. Anorexia -- is an eating disorder in which the person refuses to eat for fear gaining weight which can result in severe starvation and death 2. Bulimia Nervosa -- in which the person induces purging after binging on large quantities of food *Importance of beauty* -some people desperately change their physical appearance through body modification -tattooing and piercing have been practiced across the global since ancient time. Traditionally, tattooing and piercing were considered signs of one's strength, bravery and social status -cosmetic surgery is another form of body modification which includes surgical and non-surgical procedure to restore, reconstruct or alter body parts **Sexual self** -At birth, the sexual genital (penis for male, vagina for female) is a biological feature that distinguishes males from females. Moreover, during puberty, observable changes in the human body also known as secondary sexual characteristics begin.-When physiological changes are triggered within the adolescent\'s reproductive system, he or she is likely to experience sexual urges, become more sensitive to sexual stimuli, and feel sexual arousal.-Humans are likely to engage in sexual activities to satisfy sexual urges. However, the kind of sexual activities they engage in may vary.-A person should be aware of his/her sexuality and sexual attributes in order to make responsible decisions. Adolescents need to realize the importance of having informed choices.*Primary Characteristics*Physical characteristics present at birth. These are the characteristics that distinguish male from female.*Secondary Characteristics*Develop during the onset of puberty. Secondary sexual characteristics in males include the growth of pubic hair, and facial hair and the voice deepens. Female secondary sexual characteristics include breasts develop, hips widen, and pubic hair begins to grow\*Erogenous Zone- an area or part of the body sensitive to stimulation that is a source of erotic or sexual feeling or pleasure.*Sexual Identity and gender orientations*-Biological sex is one's assignment upon birth and is dependent on physical feature. On the other hand, gender is an identity that is learned and embraced by individual-Gender roles refer to societal expectations of how men and women should act. Everyone has a basic idea of gender roles: men are assumed to be strong and dominant while women are perceived to be submissive and demure.-Sexual orientation a person\'s sexual identity or self-identification as bisexual, heterosexual, homosexual, pansexual, etc.-Gender identity is each person\'s internal and individual experience of gender. It is their sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither, or anywhere along the gender spectrum. A person\'s gender identity may be the same as or different from their birth-assigned sex. *Attraction, Love and attachment*\*Attraction - is the power of eliciting feelings of desire, interest, or liking. \*Love - involves emotions and behaviors characterized by passion, intimacy, and commitment.\*Attachment - defined as a "lasting psychological connectedness between human beings"*The consequences of Sexual Choices*-Sexual intercourse (copulation) is the reproductive act in which the male organ (penis) enters the female's reproductive tract (vagina). Adolescents couples who engage in sexual intercourse are usually overwhelmed by the sensations they feel during the act.-However, if the woman is fertile during the time of intercourse, pregnancy is likely to occur and it lasts approximately nine months before the birth of the child. -Having a child entails a big responsibility and should not merely be a consequence of an impulsive moment. Physical risks to having an early pregnancy may impact an adolescent's development, including miscarriage, emotional stress, and health risks to both mother and infant.-Aside from pregnancy, another consequence of impulsive and careless sexual intercourse is the risk of acquiring sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). Among common STDs are:\*Syphilis -- is a highly contagious disease that's mostly spread through sexual activity, including oral and anal sex.. The infected person often doesn't know that they have the disease and passes it on to their sexual partner. If it\'s not treated, syphilis can cause serious and potentially life-threatening problems including: heart problems like angina, aortic aneurysm and heart failure. brain problems like fits (seizures), memory problems, personality changes and dementia. Syphilis is simple to cure when it\'s found and treated in its early stages\*Gonorrhea - is an STD that can cause infection in the genitals, rectum, and throat. It is very common, especially among young people ages 15-24 years. Untreated gonorrhea can lead to major complications, such as: Infertility in women. Gonorrhea can spread into the uterus and fallopian tubes, causing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can result in scarring of the tubes, greater risk of pregnancy complications and infertility. In most cases gonorrhea is easily cured with antibiotics prescribed by a health care provider. \*Chlamydia - You can get it by having vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. Also, you can still get chlamydia even if your sex partner does not ejaculate (cum). A pregnant person with chlamydia can give the infection to their baby during childbirth. If chlamydia is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage. Your risk of getting other STDs, like gonorrhea or HIV, increases. In males, untreated chlamydia can lead to sterility (inability to make sperm). Chlamydia is treatable and curable. Uncomplicated chlamydia is treated with antibiotic tablets\*Genital Warts - Are small fleshy growths, bumps or skin changes that appear on or around the genital or anal area. Genital warts may go away on their own because your immune system can fight off the infection that causes it. However, they may get larger, multiply or become increasingly uncomfortable. -The most alarming sexually transmitted disease is the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It can be transmitted by contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and HIV-infected blood or blood contaminated body fluids. *CONTRACEPTIONS*-Refers to the methods used to prevent pregnancy. Some methods of contraception such as the use of condoms can be used to prevent some STDsFor example: CondomsUsing of Birth Control Pills**REMEMBER;** -It is important that everyone makes responsible decisions with regard to sexuality and sexual behavior. Responsible sexual behavior entails the following: -Respect for one's body. It means taking care of one's body and avoiding activities that undermine one's worth and respect.-Maturity in thoughts and deeds. It refers to being objective, rational, and calm, instead of being swept by one's emotion-Being guided by one's personal beliefs and core values. Everyone, especially an adolescent, should always be grounded by his/her personal principles and self-worth-Being future-oriented. Instead of focusing on the present, a person should always weigh his or her present actions with possible consequences in the future.