PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE SELF
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF PHILOSOPHY IN UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
2. DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF THE SELF FROM THE PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
3. DIFFERENTIATE THE VARIOUS CONCEPTS OF THE SELF AND IDENTIFY THEIR SIMILARITIES
4. DEVELOP YOUR OWN PHILOSOPHY OF THE SELF
ACTIVITY 1:
1. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR SELF?
2. WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM THE REST?
3. HOW HAS YOUR SELF TRANSFORMED ITSELF?
4. HOW IS YOUR SELF CONNECTED TO YOUR BODY?
5. HOW IS YOUR SELF RELATED TO OTHER SELVES?
6. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR SELF AFTER YOU DIE?
ANALYSIS
WERE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ABOVE WITH EASE? WHY? WHICH QUESTIONS DID YOU
FIND EASIEST TO ANSWER? WHICH ONES ARE DIFFICULT? WHY?
QUESTIONS EASY OR DIFFICULT TO ANSWER? WHY?
CAN ONE TRULY KNOW THE SELF? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SELF?
WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?
PHILOSOPHY IS ABOUT:
FINDING ANSERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT OURSELVES AND ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN:
WHAT IS MORALLY RIGHT AND WRONG? AND WHY?
WHAT IS A GOOD LIFE?
DOES GOD EXIST?
WHAT IS THE MIND?
….and much more
Questioning existing knowledge and intuitions to get closer to the truth
WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF PHILOSOPHY?
The skills are;
critical thinking
argument skills
communication
reasoning
analysis
problem solving
Which allow you to:
justify your opinions
spot a bad argument, no matter what the topic
explain the people why they are wrong and you are right
philosophy basically teaches you how to think
PYTHAGORAS
The first to use the term philosophy
PHILO-Greek word for LOVE
SOPHIA-Greek word for wisdom
LOVE OF WISDOM
ORIGIN OF PHILOSOPHY + LOGIC
search for truth
search is to look for something
search for meaning
importance
significance
value
relevance
philosophy ask a lot of questions
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SELF
ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHERS
SOCRATES
PLATO
ARISTOTLE
SOCRATES – KNOW THY SELF
PHILOSOPHERS agree that self- knowledge is a prerequisite to a happy and meaningful life.
1. SOCRATES – AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING
Every man is dualistic
composed of body and soul
2 aspects of his personhood
body – imperfect and impermanent
soul – perfect and permanent
SOCRATES 2 DICHOTOMOUS REALMS
PHYSICAL REALM: changeable, transient and imperfect
The body belongs to this realm.
IDEAL REALM: unchanging, eternal and immortal
The soul belongs to this realm.
SOCRATES was the first thinker to focus on the full power of reason on the human self:
who we are, who we should be, and who we will become
The soul strives for wisdom and perfection, and reason is the soul’s tool to achieve an
exalted state of life.
Our preoccupation with bodily needs such as food, drinks, sex, pleasure, material
possessions and wealth keep us from attaining wisdom
A person can have a meaning and happy life only if he becomes virtuous and knows the
value of himself that can be achieved through constant soul-searching.
For him, this is best achieved when one tries to separate the body from the soul as much
as possible.
2. PLATO: THE SOUL IS IMMORTAL
a student of Socrates
philosophy of the self can be explained as a process of self-knowledge and
purification of the soul
He believed in the existence of the mind and soul
Mind and soul is given in perfection with God
SOUL HAS 3 PARTS
1. RATIONAL SOUL
reason and intellect
Divine essence that enable us to think deeply, make wise choices and
achieve a true understanding of eternal truths.
2. SPIRITED SOUL
emotion and passion
basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, empathy and
aggressiveness
3. Appetitive soul
basic needs
Includes our basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst and sexual
desire.
These 3 elements of our selves are in a dynamic relationship with one another,
sometimes in conflict.
When conflict occurs, Plato believes that it is the responsibility of our
REASON/RATIONAL to sort things out and exert control, restoring a harmonious
relationship among the 3 elements of our selves.
Plato believes that genuine happiness can only be achieved by people who
consistently make sure that their REASON is in control of their SPIRITS and
APPETITES
3. ARISTOTLE: THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF THE SELF
A student of Plato
the body and soul are not 2 separate elements but are one thing
the soul is simply the FORM of the body and is not capable of existing without the body
The soul is that which makes a person. The soul is the essence of the self.
Aristotle suggests that the rational nature of the self is to lead a good life, flourishing, and
fulfilling life.
Without the body the soul cannot exist. The soul dies along with the body
Soul and body, I suggest react sympathetically upon each other. A change in the state of the soul
produces a change in the shape of the body produces a change in the state of the soul.
Aristotle suggested that anything with life has soul.
His discussion about the self centers on the kind of soul possessed by a man.
He introduced the 3 kinds of soul.
1. vegetative – includes the physical body that can grow.
2. sentient – includes the sensual desires, feelings, and emotions
3. Rational – is what makes man human. It includes the intellect that makes man know and
understand things
4. St. Augustine: I AM DOUBTING, THEREFORE I AM
integrated ideas of Plato and Christianity
Augustine’s view of the human person reflects the entire spirit of the medieval world
The soul is united with the body so that man may be entire and complete.
Believed human kind is created in the image and likeness of God.
Therefore, the human person being a creation of God is always geared towards the good.
The self is known only through knowing God.
Self-knowledge is a consequence of knowledge of God.
“Knowledge can only come by seeing the truth that dwells within us.” St. Augustine
(TRUTH OF KNOWING GOD)
5. RENE DESCARTES: I THINK THEREFORE, I AM.
DESCARTES’ 2 DISTINCT ENTITIES
5. JOHN LOCKE: THE SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS
6. DAVID HUME: THERE IS NO SELF
7. IMMANUEL KANT: WE CONSTRUCT THE SELF
8. GILBERT RYLE: THE SELF IS THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE
I act therefore, I am
9. PAUL CHURCHLAND: THE SELF IS THE BRAIN
10. MAURICE MERLEAU PONTY: THE SELF IS EMBODIED SUBJECTIVITY
