PRELIM

Chapter 1

Lesson 1: The Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives

Objectives:
At the end of the Lesson, you should be able to understand the self ;

1. explain why it is essential to understand the self;

2. describe and discuss the different notions of the self from the points of view of
the various philosophers across time and place;
3. compare and contrast how the self has been represented in different
philosophical schools; and
4. examine one’s self against the different views of the self that were discussed in
class.

Philosophy – study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality and existence especially in
an academic discipline. A particular theory that someone has about how to live or how to deal
with a particular situation.
- Academic discipline concerned with investigating the nature of significance of
ordinary and scientific beliefs
- Investigates the legitimacy of concepts by rational argument concerning their
implications relationships as well as reality, knowledge, moral judgment etc.
- Much of philosophy concerns with the fundamental nature of self.

The Greeks were the ones who seriously questioned myths and moved away from them to
understand reality and respond to perennial questions of curiosity, including the question of the
self. The following are discussion of the different perspective and understandings of the self-
according to its prime movers. From philosophers of the ancient times to the contemporary
period.

THE PRE-SOCRATICS

The Pre- Socratics (Thales, Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitus, Empedocles, etc.) were
concerned with answering questions such as
 What is the world really made up of?
 Why is the world the way it is?
 What explains the changes that happen around us?
 Arche- origin of the source the “soul” the primal matter
 The soul’s movement is the ultimate arche of all other movement
 Arche has no origin outside itself and cannot be destroyed
 Explains the multiplicity of things in the world.

Activity Question 1

1. Do you agree that there is a difference between the body and the soul?

1
 2. Do you think you have both?
3. What is the Difference between the two?

Socrates
 Concerned with the problem of the self
 “ the true task of the philosopher is to know oneself”
 “ the unexamined life is not worth living”
 Underwent a trial for corrupting the minds of the youth
 Succeeded made people think about who they are
 The worst thing that can happen to anyone is to live but die inside
 “Every person is dualistic”

Socrates
 Man= body + soul
 Individual = imperfect/ permanent (body)
 +perfect & permanent (soul)

Plato
 3 components to the soul

rational soul- reasons & intellect to govern affairs

spirited soul- emotions should be kept at bay
appetitive soul – base desires (food, drink, sleep, sexual needs, etc)

 When these are attained , the human person’s soul become just & virtuous

Activity Question 2

What happens to a person whose 3 components of the soul are imbalance?

(ST.) AUGUSTINE
 ‘spirit of man in medieval philosophy
 Following view of plato but adds Christianity
 Man is of a bifurcated nature
 Part of man dwells in the world (imperfect) and yearns to be with the divine
 Other part is capable of reaching immortality
 Body- dies on earth soul- lives eternally in spiritual bliss- with “God” (lifegoals)

Activity Question 3

 Do you believe in the concepts of the soul coming to heaven after death?
 What makes us people different from animals?

(St.) THOMAS AQUINAS

 Man= matter + form
 Matter (hyle) – “common stuff that makes up everything in the universe”
2
  Form (morpe) – “essence of a substance or things’’ (what makes it what it is)
 The body of the human is similar to animals/ objects, but what makes a human is his
essence
 “The soul is what make us human”

MODERN PHILOSOPHY

RENE DESCARTES
 Father of modern Philosophy
 Human person = body+ mind
 “there is so much that we should doubt”
 If something is so clear and lucid as not to be doubted, that’s the only time one should
believe.”
 the only things one can’t doubt is existence of the self
 “I think, therefore I am”
 The self = cogito (the thing that thinks) + extenza (extension of mind/ body)
 The body is a machine attached to the mind
 It’s the mind that makes the man
 “I am a thinking things… A thing that doubts, understands, affirms, denies, wills, refuses,
imagines, perceives.”

Activity Question 4

1. Do you agree with the statements about the self (body & soul) so far?
2. What seems to be questionable in their conjectures?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAVID HUME
 Disagrees with the all the others aforementioned philosophers
 “ one can only know what comes from the senses & experiences” (he is an empiricist)
 “the self is not an entity beyond the physical body”
 You know that other people are humans not because you have seen their soul, but
because you see them. Hear them, feel them etc.
 “ the self is nothing but bundle of impressions and ideas”
 Impression –
-Basic objects of our experience/ sensation
-forms the core of our thoughts
 Idea-
- Copies of impressions
- Not as “real” as impressions
- Feeling mo lang yun!
 Self-= a collection of different perceptions which rapidly succeeds each other
 Self-= in a perpetual flux and movement
 We want to believe that there is a unified, coherent, self, soul. Mind. Etc. but – actually –
it is all just a combination of experiences.
3
IMMANUEL KANT

 Agrees with HUME that everything starts with perceptions/ sensations of impressions
 There is a MIND that regulates these impressions
 “time, space, etc. are ideas that one cannot find in the world, but is built in our minds
 “apparatus of the mind”
 The self-organizes different impressions that one gets in relations to his own existence
 We need active intelligence to synthesize all knowledge and experience
 The self is not only personality but also the seat of knowledge

Activity Question 4

How do you feel about the discussion so far?

GILBERT RYLE

 Denies the internal, non- physical self

 “ what truly matters is the behavior that a person manifests in his day-to-day life.’’
 Looking for the self is like entering LU and looking for the “university”
 The self is not on entity one can locate and analyze but simply the convenient name that
we use to refer to the behaviors that we make

MERLEAU –PONTY

 A phenomenologist who says the mind- body bifurcation is an invalid problem

 Mind and body are inseparable
 “ one’s body is his opening toward his existence to the world”
 The living body his thoughts, emotions, and experiences are all one.

If you hate this subjects, Merleau – Ponty understands you.

Application and Assessment # 1

In your own words, state what “self” is for each of the following philosophers. After
doing so, explain how your concept of “self” is compatible with how they conceived of the
“self.”

1. Socrates 6. Kant
2.Plato 7.Ryle
3.Augustine 8.Merleau- Ponty
4. Descartes
5. Hume
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4
 LESSON 2

The Self, Society and Culture

Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Explain in the relationship between and among the self, society and culture;
2. Describe and discuss the different ways by which society and culture shape the self.
3.Compare and contrast how the self can be influenced by the different institutions in the
society; and
4. Examine one’s self against the different views of self that were discussed in the class.

SELF

What is Self?
 The self, in contemporary literature and even common sense, is commonly defined by the
following characteristics:
 Separate means that the self is distinct from other selves. The self is always unique and
has its own identity?
 Self- contained and independent because in itself it can exist. Its distinctness allows it
to be self-contained with its own thoughts, characteristics and volition.
 Consistency means that a particular self traits, characteristics tendencies and potentialities
are more or less the same.
 Unitary in that it is the center of all experiences and thoughts that run through a certain
person.
 Private means that each person sort out information, feelings and emotions and thought
processes within the self. This whole process is never accessible to anyone but the self.

The SELF and CULTURE

 According to Marcel Mauss every self has two faces:

 Moi refers to a person’s sense of which he is his body, and his basic identity, his
biological givenness.
 Personne is composed of the social concepts of what it means to be who he is.
 Language is another interesting aspect of this social constructivism; it is a salient part of
culture and ultimately, has a tremendous effect in our crafting of the self.
 If a self is born into particular society or culture, the self will have to adjust according to
its exposure.
 The Self and the Development of the Social World.
 More than his givenness (personality, tendencies and propensities, among others) one is
believed to be in active participation in the shaping of the self.
 Men and women in their growth and development engage actively in the shaping of the
self.
 The unending terrain of metamorphosis of the self is mediated by language.
o Mead and Vygotsky
 For Mead and Vygotsky the way that human persons develop is with the use of language
acquisition and interaction with others.

5
  Both Vygotsky and Mead treats the human persons develop with the use of language
acquisition and interaction with others.
 Both Vygotsky and Mead treat the human mind as something that is made constituted
through language as experienced in the external world and encountered in dialogs with
others.

SELF in FAMILIES

 The kind of family that we are born in the resources available to us (human, spiritual,
economic) and the kind of development that we will have will certainly affect us.
 Human beings are born virtually helpless and dependency period of human baby is to
parents for nurturing is relatively longer than the most other animals.
 In trying to achieve the goal of becoming a fully realized human a child enters system of
relationships, most important of which is the family. It is what a family initiate a person
to become that serves as the basis for this person’s progress.

GENDER and the SELF

 Gender is one of those loci of the self that is subject to alteration, change and
development.
 The sense of self that is being taught make sure that an individual fits in a particular
environment, is dangerous and detrimental in the goal of truly finding one’s self, self-
determination and growth of the self.
 It is important to give one the leeway to find, express, and live his identity.
 Gender has to be has to be personally discovered and asserted and not dictated by culture
and the society.

APPLICATION AND ASESSMENT #2

Answer the following questions cogently but honestly. Write your answer in the space
provided.

1. How would you describe yourself?

2. What are the influences of family in your development as an individual?
3. Think of time when you felt you were your “true self”. What made you think you were truly
who you are during this time of your life?
4. Following the question above, can you provide a time when you felt you were not living
your “true self”? Why did you have to live a life like that? What do you do about it?
5. What social pressures help shape yourself? Would you have wanted it otherwise?
6. What aspects of yourself do you think may be changed or you would like to change?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

LESSON 3

The Self as Cognitive Construct

Lesson Objective
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to;
1. Identify the different ideas in psychology about the self;
2. Create your own definition of the “self” based on the definition from psychology; and
3. Analyze the effects of various factors identified in psychology in the formation of the “self”.
6
  There are various definitions of the “self” and other similar or interchangeable concepts
in psychology.
 Other concepts similar to self are identify and self-concept.
 Identify is composed of personal characteristics, social roles responsibilities, as well as
affiliation that define who one is.
 Self – concept is what basically comes to your mind when you are asked about who you
are.
 Self-identity and self –concept are not fixed in one time frame.
 Carl Rogers captured this idea in his concept of self- schema or our organized system or
collection of knowledge about who we are.
 Theories generally see the self and identify as mental construct, created and recreated in
memory.
 Freud saw the self and identity as mental construct, created and recreated in memory.
 Freud saw the self, its mental processes, and one’s behavior as the results of the
interaction between the Id. The Ego, and the Superego.
 There are 3 reasons why self and identity are social products:
 1. We do not create ourselves out of nothing. Society helped in creating the foundations
of who we are.
 2. Whether we like to admit it or not, we actually need others to affirm and reinforce who
we think we are.
 3. What we think is important to us may also have been influenced by what is important
in our social or historical context.
 Social interaction and group affiliations are vital factors in creating our self- concept
especially in the aspect of providing us, with our social identity.
 There are times when we are aware of our self-concepts; this is also called self –
awareness;

You Through Others Eyes; How do you think others see you? “I AM WHO I AM” – IF YOU
ARE WHO YOU ARE, THEN WHO YOU ARE THAT’S MAKES YOU WHO YOU ARE?”

According to….
William James (1890) Self has a two Aspects- I and ME
According to….
Carl Rogers – I- The one who acts and decides
ME – What you think or feel about yourself as an object

Other concepts similar to self are IDENTITY and SELF – CONCEPT

IDENTITY is composed of personal characteristics, social roles and responsibilities as well as
affiliation that define who one is.
SELF CONCEPT is what basically comes to your mind when you are asked about who you
are.

SELF IDENTITY and SELF CONCEPT ARE not fixed in one time frame.

7
 Hobbies

Family
SELF Religion

Naturality

Symbolic Interactionism – The self is created and developed through human interaction

The three reasons why self and identity are social products
 We do not create ourselves out of nothing
 We do not create ourselves out of nothing
 We need others

Important to us

Self-awareness – is having a clear perception of your personality including strengths,

weaknesses, though, beliefs, motivation and emotions.
- Allows you to understand other people, how they perceive you, your attitude
and your responses to them in the moment.

Carver and Scheier identified 2 types of self that we can aware of:
 The private self or your internal standards and private thoughts and feelings.
 The public self or your public image commonly geared towards having good
presentations of yourself to others.

SELF- AWARENESS
- Actual
- Ideal
- Ought

Self-awareness can be Positive/ Negative

According to the social comparison theory, we learn about ourselves, the appropriateness
of our behavior, as well as our social status

Downward Social Comparison

8
 Is the more common type of comparing ourselves with others.

Upward Social Comparison

Comparing ourselves with those who are better off than us.

Self-Evaluation Maintenance

 States that we can feel threatened when someone out performs us so we react in three
ways
 We distance ourselves from that person or redefined our relationship with them
 We may also reconsider the importance of the aspect or skill in which you were
outperformed.
 We may also strengthen our resolve to improve that certain aspect of ourselves.

However in the attempt to increase or maintain self-esteem, some people become

NARCISSISTIC
NARCISSISM is a trait characterized by overly high self –esteem, self- admiration, and Self –
centeredness.

APPLICATION and ASSESSMENT

Do a research and list ten (10) things to boost your self-esteem or improve your self-
concept. Cite your sources. Analyze which of those tips are more likely to backfire and makes
someone conceited or narcissistic and revise them to make the statements both helpful to the
individual as well as society in general.

LESSON 4

The Self in Western and Eastern Thoughts

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson you should be able to:
1. Differentiate the concept of self-according to western through against Eastern/ Oriental
Perspectives;
2. Explain the concept of the self as found in Asian thoughts; and
3. Create a representation of the Filipino Self.

Activity

Two Sides of the same Planet

Write top five (5) differences between Western and Eastern society, culture individuals in the
table below. Cite your sources.

Western Eastern
9
Exercise
Complete this sentence five times:

“I am________________________________”
“I am________________________________”
“I am________________________________”
“I am________________________________”
“I am________________________________”

Did you know that Filipinos are more likely to talk about their relationships with people
when completing this sentence.

Western Concept of the Self

Ancient Greek philosopher see humans as bearers of irreplaceable values.

St. Thomas Aquinas believed that the body constitutes individuality

Rene Descartes is famous for his quotes “I think therefore I am”

Frank Johnson’s Four Categories of the SELF

 Analytical
 Monotheistic
 Individualistic
 Materialistic/ Rationalistic

Four Pillars of the Indian Psychology

 Dharma refers to the rules that describe goodness and appropriate behavior.
 Karma refers to the movement from past incarnations that affects the present and the
future.
 Maya refers to distorted perceptions of reality and experience that can be identified as
such only with direct attention to our own processes of awareness that come about
through internal concentration or mediation.
 Atman refers to concepts of university in which the self is seen not as individual but as
part of the entire cosmos.

Eastern concept of the Self

Buddhism
 In Buddhist traditions, the self is not an entity, a substance or an essence.
 The Self is a dynamic process and ever- changing,
 Anata – a doctrine which is often defined as no-self or no- soul.

10
Confucianism
 The self is something that is formed through upbringing and the environment. Personality
is achieved through moral excellence.
 Four beginnings of the self:
Jen – heart of compassion
Yi - heart of righteousness
Li - heart of propriety
Chih – heart of wisdom

Naikan Therapy
Views self- centeredness as a problem many people need to overcome.

Three guide questions;

1. What did I receive from this person?

2. What did I return to this person?
3. What troubles and worries did I cause this person?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Individualism Vs. Collectivism

Independent Interdependent
Identity is Personal defined by individual Social defined by connections
traits and goals with others
What matters Me- personal achievement We – group goals and
and fulfillment my rights and solidarity; our social
liberties responsibilities and
relationships
Disapproves of Conformity Egotism

The Filipino Self

Kapwa – core value of the Filipino according to Virgilio Enriquez (Father of Sikolohiyang
Pilipino).

 The self and the others combined

 Shared Inner Self
 Negative: walang kapwa tao
 Pakikiramdam- shared inner perception
Japanese students – happiness comes with positive social engagement – with feeling close,
friendly; and respectful

American students; happiness comes with disengaged emotions- with feeling effective,
superior, and proud.
11
Conflict in collectivist cultures often takes place between groups; individualist cultures breed
more conflict between individuals.

BAUMEISTER’S THREE ASPECTS OF THE SELF CONCEPT

1. Private- mental processes that perceive one’s own traits or behaviors.

2. Public – generalized view of the self; perceptions of how others view you.
3. Collective – view of self in the collective context.

APPLICATION AND ASSESSMENT

Create a representation, diagram or concept map of the SELF according to Filipino

culture. Provide a brief explanation of your output. You can also cite books and researches about
Filipino culture, self and identity to further elaborate on the topic.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12
San Jose Community College
San Jose Malilipot Albay

Understanding the Self

Ge 1
(prelim)

Ms. Jessa B. Vibar

Bsba Instructor

13