Gilbert Ryle

Descartes' Myth - YouTube

(4) GILBERT RYLE | PHILOSOPHY - YouTube

– He used behavioristic approach to self. According to him, self is the behavior presented by the person.
The behavior that we show, emotions, and actions are the reflection of our mind and as such is the
manifestation of who we are. He does not believe that the mind and body are two separate entities
which is said to be evident in the unexplainable phenomenon or abilities of the mind where the soul is
considered; however, to some they can co-exist.

He explained that the self is exemplified in his "ghost in the machine" view (man is a complex machine
with different functioning parts, and the intelligence, and other characteristic or behavior of man is
represented by the ghost in the said machine. His idea is saying that the things that we do, how we
behave and react and all other components like the way we talk, walk and look is generally who we are
as a person

British philosopher Ryle believed that the self is best understood as a pattern ofbehavior,
the tendency for a person to behave in a certain way in certain circumstances. Ryle’s concept of the
human self thus provided the philosophical principle, “I acttherefore I am”. Ryle considers the
mind and body intrinsically linked in complex and intimate ways. In short, the self is the same as bodily
behavior. Ryle is convinced that the mind expresses the entire system of thoughts, emotions, and
actions that make up the human self.

Mental process are intelligent acts, how you act, how your actions are depicts what you are or what
yourself is,

He does not believe that the mind and body are two separate entities which is said to be evident in the
unexplainable phenomenon or abilities of the mind where the soul is considered

His explanation of self is further exemplified in his“ghostin themachine”view.This viewsaid the man is a
complex machine with different functioning parts, and theintelligence, and other characteristics or
behaviour of man is represented by the ghostin the said machine.He gave further explanation using an
example imagining that if you are touring avisiting friend to the university that you are studying and you
brought him to the athleticcentre, library,buildings and classrooms, but then your friends ask“butwhere
is theuniversity? As such is the point of Ryle, all those places, buildings and offices are theuniversity
which supports his idea thatthe mind and body is not necessarily separateentities. So considering that
analogy, the idea of Ryle is saying that the things that wedo, how we behave and react and all other
components like the way we talk, walk, andlook is generally who we are as a person.

Paul Churchland

Dualism
So here's a question. Why do people say 'read my mind' instead of 'read my brain'? Along the
same lines, why is it 'brain surgery' instead of 'mind surgery'?

Interestingly, we can find an answer in today's lesson as we explore the works of Paul
Churchland, specifically his theories on self and the brain. Since Churchland is a modern-day
philosopher who studies the brain, let's first take a look at some older philosophical theories on
the subject.

For much of history, many western philosophers have held to the theory of dualism. When it
comes to discussing human life, dualism is the idea that the mind and the body are separate.

In other words, we all have a physical brain, but we also have a separate mind. Adding to this
distinction, dualists have historically asserted the mind is the seat of our consciousness. On the
contrary, the brain is really just an organ similar to the heart or lungs.

Because the mind is the seat of our consciousness, it's what gives us our identity. No, we can't
see it, taste it, or touch it, but it does exist. Not only does it exist, but it is what makes self, self.

Materialism
To this assertion, Paul Churchland has come along and pretty much said, 'I don't think so!'
Tossing aside the concept of dualism and the brain, Churchland adheres to materialism, the
belief that nothing but matter exists. In other words, if it can't somehow be recognized by the
senses then it's akin to a fairy tale.

Applying this argument to the mind, Churchland asserts that since the mind can't be
experienced by our senses, then the mind doesn't really exist. Based on this assertion,
Churchland holds to eliminative materialism. Stated simply, eliminative materialism argues
that the ordinary folk psychology of the mind is wrong. It is the physical brain and not the
imaginary mind that gives us our sense of self.

- A Canadian philosopher whose focus is on the idea that people should improve our association and use
of worth in identifying the self. The self is defined by the movement of our brain. A constant movement
of the brain can be the basis of who the person is (emphasized by Churchland and his wife in the
statement "the brain as the self"). He focuses on the philosophy of "eliminative materialism" and
understanding the different neural pathways, how they work, and what implications are those
movement to people is a measurable classification on one's behavior

Patricia Churchland, What is eliminative materialism? - YouTube

maurice jean jacques merleau-ponty

Merleau-Ponty's Main Ideas About the Self - Bing video

Maurice Merleau-Ponty (Understanding the Self) - YouTube

– A French philosopher. He is known for his works on existentialism and phenomenology. He coined the
idea of phenomenology of perception (unity of the function of the mind and the body) which is divided
into three division. Merleau-Ponty regarded that the body and mind are not separate entities but rather
those two components are one and the same. His idea of perception follows the idea of Gestalt
psychology (gives importance on the whole rather than the sum of its parts). The perception guides our
action based from our experiences. The body perceives while our consciousness provides the meaning
or interprets the various perception we have in the world and the self could be established by the
perceptions we have in the world. One's actions, behavior and language used could be said to be the
reflection of our united perception of the world.

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas – Toward a Deeper Sense of Self | FifteenEightyFour | Cambridge University Press
(cambridgeblog.org)

ST THOMAS AQUINAS PHILOSOPHY ABOUT SELF - YouTube

The most eminent 13th century scholar and stalwart of the medieval philosophy, appended something
to this Christian view. He explained that Man is composed of two parts: Matter or hyle in Greek, refers
to the “common stuff that makes up everything in the universe.” and Form or morphe in Greek refers to
the “essence of a substance or thing”. In the case of human person, the body of the human person is
something that he shares even with animals. The cells in man's body are akin to the cells of any other
living, organic being in the world. However, what makes a human person a human person and not a dog,
or a tiger is his soul, his essence. To Aquinas, the soul is what animates the body; it is what makes us
humans.