Understanding Self PDF

Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS The Self from Various Perspective What is Philosophy? It comes from the Greek words Philos- which means “love” Sophia - which means “wisdom” Philosopher is a lover of wisdom… SOCRATES The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing •Know Thyself •Q...

Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS The Self from Various Perspective What is Philosophy? It comes from the Greek words Philos- which means “love” Sophia - which means “wisdom” Philosopher is a lover of wisdom… SOCRATES The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing •Know Thyself •Question Everything •Only the Pursuit of Goodness Bring Happiness •Socratic Method: Question and Answer; Leads Students to think for Themselves “An unexamined life is not worth living” What pattern have you created in your life? PLATO Tripartite Soul - The Rational part desires to exert reason and attain rational decisions. The part that thinks and plans. (RULING CLASS) The Spirited part desires supreme honor, greatness and affirmation. The courageous, competitive and active part of the person. (MILITARY CLASS) The Appetite part of the soul desires bodily pleasures such as food, drink, sex, etc. (COMMONER) ARISTOTLE “All human actions have one or more of theses seven causes: chance nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire”. •Contributed the foundation of both symbolic logic and scientific thinking •The best way to gain knowledge was through “natural philosophy,” which is what we would now call science. Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, •Happiness, which is dependent in an individual’s emotion, and knowledge virtues, is the central purpose of human life and a Dichotomy of Ideal world goal in itself. Material world World of forms •Keeps on changing “Happiness depends in ourselves” •Permanent •Is what we see around us •Unchanging reality ST. AUGUSTINE •The replica of the real world (world of forms) “The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it. Let loose. It will depend itself.” Human beings are composed of: •Body – ( the changing body) what we see in the •An important figure in the development of material world, is not the real self but only a replica Western Christianity •His philosophy of man brings together wisdom of of our true self. the Greek philosophy and the divine truths •Soul – The true self, the permanent and contained in the scripture. •The absolute and immutable is the Living God, the unchanging self. Creator of the entire universe. RATIONAL(ruling class) •To love God means to love one’s fellowmen, and to SPIRITED (soldiers) love one’s fellowmen means never to do any harm APPETITIVE (working class) to another. “Do unto others, what you want others do unto you” Maybe your daily pattern in terms of: •Decision making •Pattern of what types of people you choose to be part of your life PLATO Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS Conceptualized the idea of SELF - achieving self identity Self presentation + Self realization/analysis =Understanding of Self RENE DESCARTES I doubt therefore I think, I think therefore I am •The Self is defined as a subject that thinks. •The self that has full competence in the powers of human reason. •Having distanced the self from all sources of truth from authority and tradition, the self can only find its truth and authenticity within its own capacity to think. “The fact that I am doubting, cannot be anymore open to doubt” •Cartesian Philosophy – mental acts determine physical acts. •Mind – “intellectual substance” which possess will. •“Cogito Ergo Sum” 1st theory of knowledge “The essence of yourself makes you a thinking man, engaged in all forms of mental operations with a distinct persona” JOHN LOCKE No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience •Posited the “theory of the mind” a tabula rasa, which is shaped by experience, and sensations and reflections being the two sources of all our ideas. •Personal identity (or the self) is founded on consciousness. •What is after death and immortality (life quest) •Human is liable only for the acts of which he is conscious. “Our concept of personal identity must derive from inner experience” DAVID HUME A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence •Passion rather than reason governs human behavior. •Human knowledge is solely founded on experience. •Internal and external stimulus = individual impression “The self and ones mind is like a machine that can be turned on and off ” BUNDLE THEORY •Bundle theory says an object consists of its properties and nothing more. For example, when thinking about an orange you can think about its properties. This could include the orange color, the roundness, that it is a fruit, etc. Hume, who described the self or person (which he assumed to be the mind) as 'nothing but a bundle or collection of different perceptions. IMMANUEL KANT To be do is to do •Human mind creates our experiences •Development of individuality and the self – human experience •The consciousness is divided into: 1. Internal Self - composed of psychological states and informed decisions; remembering our own state, how can we combine the new and old ideas with our mind 2. External Self - made up of ourselves and the physical world where the representation of objects •Consciousness is the central feature of the self. “Every person has an inner and outer self which comprises the consciousness” “ As a free agent, man is gifted with reason and free will” Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY SIGMUND FREUD The child is the father of man •Established “psychoanalysis” •The self continues from childhood to adulthood •Personality is determined by childhood experiences •Personality is largely unconscious •Structure of the Self •Id: animalistic self; pleasure principle •Ego: executive self; reality principle •Superego: conscience; morality principle Levels of Consciousness •The ego and superego have a conscious, preconscious, and unconscious/subconscious aspect. •Freud believed that the influences of the preconscious and unconscious reveal themselves in a variety of ways, including dreams and in slips of the tongue, now popularly known as 'Freudian slips. GILBERT RYLE We know not through our intellect but through our experience •His work is commonly associated with the philosophical movement called existentialism and its intention to begin with an analysis of the concrete experiences, perceptions, and difficulties, of human existence. •Consciousness, the world, and the human body as a perceiving thing are intricately intertwined and mutually "engaged”. •Our perception of the self is a collection of our perceptions of our outside world. •“The self is embodied subjectivity” “Primacy of Perception” There is harmony between what we aim and what is given, between intention and performance •Consciousness is primarily not a matter of “I think that” but of “I can” •Our perception of who we are is strictly tied to our own bodily development. I made it, and so I am PAUL CHURCHLAND •Rejects the theory that mental states are separable from physical states. •He concluded that adequate descriptions of human behavior need never refer to anything but the operations of human bodies •His form of Philosophical Behaviorism (the belief that all mental phenomena can be explained by reference to publicly observable behavior) became a standard view for several decades. “I act therefore I am” (The self is the way people behave) “ A person therefore lives through two collateral histories, one consisting of what happens in and to his body and other consisting of what happens in and to his mind. The first is the public, the second is the private” The Brain is the Self Known for his Eliminative Materialism Basically, if there is no brain, there would be no self. EASTERN PHILOSOPHY West vs. East WEST •“individualistic” •The “self” is perceived as distinct with God EAST •“collective existence” •The “self” is in complete unity with the Creator Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS BUDDHISM HINDUISM •“Brhaman” the true nature of the man is the “self” Main Ideas in Hinduism involves: 1.The concept of God; 2.There is reincarnation in accordance with “karma”; 3.The Atman or the soul that is also Brahman; 4.The word we are living in is comprised of varied levels of existence; 5.The paths to salvation leading to the same goal. •Lao Tzu TAOSIM “ Knowing others is wisdom, knowing the self is enlightenment” CONFUCIANISM •Personality as a product of one’s upbringing and environment. •Man as “Social Animal” •Components leading to the perfection of virtues: 1. Heart of compassion; 2. Heart of righteousness; 3. Heart of propriety; 4. Heart of wisdom. •The concept of moral relationship Man as a social being; in this doctrine it is believed that every person is born with four beginnings which lead to the formation of the self. The practice of those virtues leading to the formation of the self. -The concept of moral relationship -- Do’s rather than Don’ts •Role of the family and community in the formation of the self. •Never be idle •No need to exert effort to achieve the real nature of the self •Dao’ – the ‘way’ of the world is which is the path The family and community plays a vital role In the argument of confucius there is no need to •Humans refuse to take the simple path and opt to exert effort to achieve the real nature of the self go through that which causes discord, confusion to the happiness and harmony and suffering •“Stillness of the minds” •The blooming of the flowers analogy •Our EGO distracts us in seeing our true self EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES •Buddhism – No soul no self •Hinduism - Brahman •Taoism – Stillness of the Mind •Confucianism – practiced virtues leads to the “self” SOCRATES- Know Thyself PLATO- The “psyche” or the mind comprised of the three elements ST. AUGUSTINE – introspection or self-analysis JOHN LOCKE– “Tabula Rasa” the mind as a blank slate DAVID HUME- Human Mind as a Machine IMMANUEL KANT – primacy of experience SIGMUND FREUD – theory of Personality GILBERT RYLE -– The Concept of Mind MAURICE MERLAU-PONTY-The Primacy of Perception Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS SOCIOLOGY THE SELF IN VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES SELF-CONCEPT is a general term used to refer to how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves. Personal knowledge about the self. SELF-ESTEEM Is an individual's subjective evaluation of their own worth. SELF-KNOWLEDGE Is knowledge and understanding of internal concepts (such as one's own motivations, strengths, and weaknesses) that have been gleaned through reflection and honesty. SOCIAL-SELF The concept of the looking-glass self SELF a person's essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action; the set of someone's characteristics, such as personality and ability, that are not physical and make that person different from other people; the self is the distinct identity which is the summation of the experiences of the individual. It is related to the awareness and consciousness of a rational being. What is the self? Answer: It depends. •Self and the significant others. •Rosenberg (1979) “self concept” •Gecas and Burke (1995) Self composed of various identities, attitudes, beliefs, values, motives and experiences •Symbolic – interactionism of Mead. “ in – group” ANTHROPOLOGY •Self concept as a product of cultural practices •The self as a reflection of his cultural environment and diverse social experiences. •Erickson (1972) “identity” as unique and distinctively different from all others. •The identity can be revealed through different elements (dress, overt behaviour, communicate) PSYCHOLOGY •Awareness of the self is similar to having a conception of the self. •Erik Erickson Psycho-social theory Identity is the a goal leading to self- realization •A strong sense of self is developed as we integrated onto the society and institutions to which he is socialized PREMISE Personality of normal adults and kids is composed of a group of sub selves or parts Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS WILLIAM JAMES Self is the essence of a person: his thoughts, feelings and actions, experiences, beliefs, values, principles and relationships. “ME” Selfrefers to the aspects of someone that come from that person's experiences. ‘I’ Self classified as the thinking self THE ME-SELF AND I-SELF CREATES ONE COHESIVE SELF. “ME” SELF 4 Sub-sections of the Me-self •The Material Self •The Social Self •The Spiritual Self •Pure Ego MATERIAL SELF It consists of things that belong to us or that we belong to. Things like family, clothes, our body, and money are some of what makes up our material selves. SOCIAL SELF This is the self in a given social situation. For James, people change how they act depending on the social situation that they are in. People had as many social selves as many as the social situations they participate in. SPIRITUAL SELF The spiritual self is our subjective and most intimate self. It includes one’s personality, core values, and conscience that do not typically change throughout their lifetime. It is more concrete or permanent than the other two selves PURE EGO The pure ego is the “most puzzling aspect of the self,” . This is the sub-category of the self that is capable of recognizing its own thoughts. It is the self that synthesizes its thinking and brings all thoughts together. “I” SELF •Features of the I Self: •A sense being the agent or initiator of behavior (I vs Me) •A sense of being unique •A sense of continuity •A sense of awareness James’ concept of the Me- self and I-self facilitates self-reflection thereby minimizing bias. GLOBAL SELF Global Self-Awareness is the process through which students develop an understanding of the relationships between and interconnectedness of the self, local and global communities, and the natural and physical world. The Differentiated Self: Creating Healthy Relationship Being well differentiated does not mean being emotionally closed off or cold hearted, but quite the opposite. It means being so in touch with how you feel and why you feel it, that you make the difficult choice of doing what is best for you. This is not a selfish act; knowing which emotions are yours to bear and which are not is a sign of emotional maturity and growth. Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS GLOBALIZATION AND THE POLITICS OF IDENTITY THOMAS HYLLAND ERIKSEN (1999) CARL ROGER’S HUMANISTIC THEORY Carl Rogers believed that humans in their daily lives are creative and active people who stay in the present and are concerned with situations, interpersonal relationships and perceptions, only in the present. Roger's theory of personality development gives emphasis to human potential and free will for goodness. “The present human world is more tightly integrated than at any earlier point in history. In the age of the jet plane and satellite dish, the age of global capitalism, the age of universal markets and global mass media, various commentators have claimed that the world is rapidly becoming a REAL SELF single place. Although this slightly exaggerated description has an important point to make, a The real self is who we actually are. perhaps even more striking aspect of the post-cold It is how we think, how we feel, look, and war world is the emergence -- seemingly act. everywhere -- of identity politics whose explicit The real self can be seen by others, but aim is the restoration of rooted tradition, religious because we have no way of truly knowing fervour and/or commitment to ethnic or national how others view us, the real self is our selfidentities.” image. Global self is that sub-self that is considered as the IDEAL SELF “citizen of the world”. The ideal self is how we want to be. It is an idealized image that we have developed over time, based on what we have learned and experienced. The ideal self could include components of what our parents have taught us, what we admire in others, what our society promotes, and what we think is in our best interest. THE SELF-CONCEPT CLARITY SCALE (SCC) The Self-Concept Clarity scale (SCC) measures "the extent to which self-beliefs are clearly and confidently defined, internally consistent, and stable." LOW SCORERS tend to have lower self-esteem, ruminate more, and their self-descriptions are less stable over time. HIGH SCORERS tend to have higher self-esteem, more consistent self-descriptions, and less chronic selfanalysis. ROGER’S REAL SELF AND IDEAL SELF Psychological Concept of the Self For Carl Rogers, the real self and the ideal self are terms used to describe personality domains. JOSHUA L. LIETMAN Self-understanding rather than self-condemnation is the way to inner peace and mature conscience Understanding Self Sir Fernando Garcia| PRELIMS Although it is healthy, to some extent, to have an ideal self, it can become a problem when our ideal self is too far removed from what we really are. This incongruence can lead us to become demoralized and discouraged because we have in fact set ourselves up for failure. It can lead to stress and anxiety because the real self never seems good enough and the ideal self seems impossible to attain. DONALD WOODS WINNICOTT For Winnicott, the self is a very important part of mental and emotional well-being which plays a vital role in creativity. He thought that people were born without a clearly developed self and had to "search" for an authentic sense of self as they grew. TRUE SELF True self is also known as real self, authentic self, original self and vulnerable self; This is rooted from early infancy in the experience of being alive. Out of this, the baby creates the experience of a sense of reality, a sense that life is worth living. -emerges if the mother is responsive to the needs of the child. FLASE SELF MULTIPLE SELF Multiple Self The self that resides in the dimension of the mental and cultural and is not really reducible to the physical and biological. 3 Domains: 1.The Experiential Self. This is the ‘theater of consciousness’ and the first person felt experience of being using our senses. (awareness) It includes the felt consistency of being across periods of time. In that sense, it is tied very closely to memory. This is the part of you that disappears” when you enter a deep sleep, flickers on and off as you dream, and then comes back on line as you wake up. 2. The private self-consciousness system. This is called the “narrator” (or interpreter), because is the portion of your being that verbally narrates what is happening and why and tries to make sense of what is going on. It is also the part that includes your reportable self-concept and explicit beliefs and values about the way the world works (e.g., your religious and political beliefs). 3. The public self or persona. It refers to the public image that you attempt to project others, which in turn interacts with how other people actually see you. UNIFIED SELF Unified Self The self that consists of unified consciousness of acts of experiencing. False self is also known as fake self, ideal self, perfect It is present when, for the current acts of experiencing that one is self, superficial self and pseudo self. doing, consciousness of one act of experiencing (consciousness of When the person has to comply with external rules, how one is experiencing something, for example seeing it, such as being polite or otherwise following social imagining it, ...) provides consciousness of other acts of codes, then a false self is used. The false self constantly experiencing. (This explication is structured to be neutral as to whether unified conscious states include a multiplicity of seeks to anticipate demands of others in order to conscious states. maintain the relationship. We speak of ‘consciousness of acts of experiencing’ rather than ‘consciousness of an experience’ for the -The self that is obedient to parents’ wishes and same reason.) demands. Ex. We talk depending on the setting