Lesson 1: “An unexamined life is not satisfaction in life is derived from

Philosophical Perspective of worth living”. happiness)

The Self - Socrates Two aspects of a person
Plato 1. soul
Philosophy • Was the student of Socrates and - capable of reaching immortality, a
• Combination of two Greek word supported his ideas about the world where we should strive to be
Philia and Sophia which means dualistic nature of man in because that is the world where
love for wisdom • Founded The Academy God is
• Study of fundamental nature of (considered as prototype of today’s 2. body
knowledge, reality, and existence universities) - dwells in the world and is
especially in academic discipline • Real name was Aristocles, he imperfect
• a particular theory that someone was nicknamed Plato (because of How to be happy?
has, it is about how to live or how his body To love and observe justice
to deal with a particular situation built) which means “wide/broad”
• Academic discipline concerned • Dichotomy between ideal/real Rene Descartes
with investigating the nature of world (Theory of Forms) and the • Father of modern philosophy
significance of ordinary and world of • He stated that the self is
scientific beliefs materials composed of body and mind
• Theory of Forms • Considered as one of the
Socrates - refers to what are real and not Rationalist Philosopher of Europe
• Father of Philosophy and was a objects that are not encountered • Mind and body problem
Greek philosopher with senses but can only be Mind is a thing that thinks while
• Was concerned with the problem grasped Body is extension of the mind that
of the self intellectually. works for its thoughts, it is like a
• Dualistic approach Three components of the soul machine that is controlled by the
- every man is composed of 1. The reason (mind) will and aided by the mind
body and soul (-Focus to the soul - rational and is the motivation for “I think,
because our body isn’t permanent. goodness and truth Therefore I Am”
-Feed our souls) 2. The spirited (emotions) - Rene Descartes
• Wanted to discover the essential - non-rational and the will or the • Hyperbolical Doubt
nature of knowledge, justice drive toward action, is initially • also known as cartesian doubt
beauty, and goodness. neutral but • to doubt is to think and to think is
• However, he was not a writer, a can be influenced or pulled in two to live or to exist
lot of his thoughts were only known directions (body follows whatever the mind
through Plato’s writing (The 3. The appetites (wants/needs) tells it
Dialogues) - are irrational and lean towards Doubt is to think and to think is to
• There is a soul before the body, the desire for pleasures of the live)
existing in the realm of ideas body
• Once the soul comes into the John Locke
material world (world where we Aristotle- one of the big three • His interest is on the workings of
exist), the soul forgets everything -student of plato the human mind, particularly the
acquisition of knowledge
Socratic Method/Dialectic St. Augustine of Hippo • He believed that knowledge
Method • Was a Christian philosopher results from ideas produced a
• The concern was with God and posteriori (objects that were
• Is considered to be the man’s relationship with God experienced)
foundation of critical thinking • The world of materials is not our Tabula Rasa
• This is his way of discovering final home but only temporary one - blank state; nothing exists in the
what is essential in the world and because mind that was not first in the
in people the real world is the one where senses
• It involves the search for the God is 2 forms of how we attain
correct/proper definition of a thing • The self is in search of happiness knowledge:
• Teaching by asking questions because humans have 1. sensation
(Psychology) eudaemonic characteristics (our – experienced through senses
2. reflection experiences and unconscious neuroscientific experiments or
– how the mind looks at the behavior studies to the philosophy of the
objects that were experienced • For Freud, a person is governed mind
by two unconscious drives, Eros Maurice Merleau-Ponty
Davide Hume (sex/pleasure) and Thanatos • Denies the dualistic ideas
• After reading the philosophy of (death/pain/aggression) • He stated that the mind and body
Locke, he never again entertained Three provinces of the mind cannot be separated because both
any belief in (probably inspired by Plato) give humans a sense of self
religion 1. Id- pleasure principle (ex: • Phenomenology of Perception
• He was an empiricist and was reason why you want to sleep - one of his written works where he
given credit for giving empiricism during discussion) described the nature of man’s
its clearest formulation 2. Ego- reality principle, one in perceptual contact with the world
• His analysis proceeded that the contact with reality. Allows you to Phenomenology
mind receives materials from the think about something before - it provided a direct description of
senses and called it perceptions doing it) human experiences Perception
Perception -make up together the 3. Superego – morality principle, -forms the background of
content of human mind tells you what to do and what experience which serves to guide
Two types of perceptions should not do man’s conscious actions
1. Impressions Gilbert Ryle
- are immediate sensation of • Contradicted Cartesian Dualism Lesson 2:
external reality • He argued that dualism involves Sociological Perspective
- all begins here, without it, there category mistake and is a of the Self
will be no formationof ideas philosophical nonsense
2. Ideas • Argued that what truly matters is Sociology
- recollections of these the behavior that a person • One of the disciplines in the
impressions manifests in his day-to-day life social sciences which aims to
• According to Hume, words are • Distinguished between discover the ways by which the
only meaningful if and only if they knowing-that and knowing-how social surrounding or environment
can be traced to impressions and Knowing-that influences people’s thoughts,
ideas or ideas that copy -knowing facts or information feelings and behavior
impressions Knowing-how • Though the main focus is in
Immanuel Kant - using facts in the performance of understanding, the need to know
• Argued that the mind is not just a some skill or technical activities and be aware of social processes
passive receiver of sense (behavior) may make people see themselves
experience but rather actively Just knowing better when they realize how
participates in knowing the objects -that is considered as the social world impacts on their
it experiences empty intellectualism existence
• Instead of the mind conforming to Patricia and Paul Churchland George Herbert Mead
the world, it is the external world Patricia Churchland • His main interests were
that conforms to the mind - known for her claims that a philosophy and psychology
• For Kant, a self must exist or person’s brain is responsible for • Wrote and published many
there could be no memory or the identity known as self, the articles and book reviews but did
knowledge biochemical properties of the brain not publish any book, it was his
• Transcendental apperception is responsible for man’s thoughts, students who put together his
- term Kant used for the feelings and behavior numerous writings and edited them
experience of the self and its unity Neurophilosophy for publication
with objects - was coined by Patricia • Used Social behaviorism to
Sigmund Freud Churchland who together with her describe the power of the
• Is NOT the father of Psychology husband, environment in shaping
• Is the father of Psychoanalytic Paul Churchland human behavior
Theory - the study of philosophy of the • Described the self as
• He believes that the behavior of a mind, philosophy of science, “dimensions of personality that is
person is influenced by childhood neuroscience and psychology made-up of the individual’s self
- Aims to explore the relevance of awareness and selfimage”
• Stated that the self can’t be Charles Horton Cooley Anthropology
separated from the society • Was an American sociologist who • Field of social sciences that
Theory of the Social Behaviorism made use if the sociopsychological focuses on the study of man
• Self is not present at birth but approach to understanding how • Does not pertain only to one
begins as a central character in a societies work aspect of man but rather on the
child’s world • In his written work Human Nature totality of what it means to be
• Children see themselves as the and The Social Order, he human
center of their universe and is discussed the formation of the self • Physical and biological
having difficulty understanding through interaction characteristics, social relationships
other around them • He stated that people learn who and influences of his culture from
• As these children grow and they are though their social the dawn of civilization to
mature, there is a change in the interaction with other people the present
self, they begin to see other people Looking-glass self 4 subfields of Anthropology
and is now concerned about • The self that is a product of • Suggests that human beings are
people’s reactions social interaction the same and very different at
Stages of Mead’s Social Self • Asserts that the view we have of the same time
1. The preparatory stage ourselves comes from the 1. Archaeology
• Children’s behavior are primary contemplation of personal qualities • Its focus is the past and how it
based on imitation and impressions of how others may have contributed to the
• Children become familiar with the perceive us present ways of how people
symbols (verbal and non-verbal) 3 phases of process of conduct their daily lives
that people use in their interactions developing • Archaeological data suggest that
• Symbols are the basis of 1. People imagine how they in many places around the world
communication present themselves to others homo sapiens did not become
2. The play stage 2. People imagine how others extinct because of their ability to
• Skills at knowing and evaluate them think, use tools and learn from
understanding the symbols of 3. People develop some sort of experience , they have adapted
communication is important feeling about themselves as a and gained dominance over all of
for this constitutes the basis for result of those impressions earth’s creatures
socialization “Today, I am not what I think I • Survival- most important aspect
• Children begin to role play and am; I am not what you think I am; I of human nature
pretend to be other people am what I think you think I am”
Role-taking (role playing) is the -Charles Cooley 2.Biological Anthropology
process of mentally assuming the Erving Goffman • Focus primarily on how the
perspective of another person to • Was a Canadian-American human body adapts to the different
see how this person might behave sociologist known for his role in the earth environments, how biological
/respond in a given situation development of Modern American characteristics of human beings
3. The game stage Sociology Dramaturgical Approach affect how they lived their life
• The child is about eight or nine -people doing real social • Looks at the probable causes of
years old and does more than just interaction like that of a theatrical disease, physical mutation and
a roletake presentation death
• The child begins to consider Impression management • Knows how human beings might
several tasks and various types of - process of altering how the have evolved from their early
relationships simultaneously person presents himself to others forms
• The child now has the ability to Face work • Where comparative studies on
respond not just to one but several - usually observed in situations human beings both dead and living
members of his social environment where face-saving measuresare and other primates are done
Generalized others resorted to in he maintenance of a 3.Linguistics
- was what Mead used to explain proper image of the self in • Study how language and modes
the behavior of the person when frustrating and embarrassing of communication change over
he/she sees considers other situations time
people in the course of his actions Lesson 3: • Language identifies a group of
Anthropological Perspective of people, the words, symbols,
the Self
writings and signs that are used Lesson 4: • Wrote many articles on both
are reflections of a group’s Psychological Perspective of Philosophy and Psychology
culture the Self 5 CHARACTERISTIC OF
• Focuses on using language as a Psychology THOUGHTS
means of to discover a group’s • Field of the social sciences that 1. All human thoughts are owned
manner of social interaction and deals with the description, by some personal self
his world view explanation, prediction and control 2. All thoughts are constantly
4.Cultural Anthropology of behavior changing or are never static
• Culture • Believes that the world of 3. There is a continuity of thoughts
– described as a group of people’s material things including people as its focus shifts from one object
way of life, including behavior, exists independently of the to another
beliefs, values, and symbols that perceiving human mind 4. Thoughts deal with objects that
they accept that are socially Psychology are different from and independent
transmitted through • Connected to the study of human of consciousness itself
communication and imitation from behavior is the concept of the self 5. Consciousness can focus on
generation to generation • Psychologist have provided their particular objects and not others
• Interested in knowing what own explanation of the self to have THE ME AND I
makes one group’s a clearer and better understanding Me self/empirical me
manner of living particular to that of the individual and human • Can be considered as a separate
group and forms as essential part behavior object or individual that the
of the member’s personal and Nature vs Nurture person refers to when discussing
societal identity • Are we born with our capabilities, or describing their personal
Theory of Cultural Determinism knowledge, morals and values or experiences
• the contention that culture has a does society shape, cultivate and • Ex: The gifts were sent to ME.
strong impact on how a person support our infant into a full The person is smiling at ME.
view himself member of humanity? I self/pure ego/thinking self
• Human nature is determined by • One of the most controversial • Self that knows and recognizes
the ideas, meanings, beliefs and debates/issues in psychology who they are and what they have
values learned as member of a • the basic tenet of this debate is done
society centered on whether the child is • Similar to the person’s soul/mind
Ways in which culture may born with the capacities and • Comprises the totality of the
manifest itself in people abilities that develop naturally over person’s identity; takes into
1. Symbols time regardless of upbringing, or account the past, present and
• Are the words, gestures, pictures whether the child needs social future selves of the individual
or objects that have a interaction and society in order to • Ex: I borrowed the book from the
recognized/accepted meaning in a shape them library. I won the game.
particular culture Nature 3 components of the ME self
• Can be shaped or copied by -the role of genetics in forming our 1. The Material Self
other cultures behavior, personality or any other • Things/objects that belong to the
2. Heroes part of ourselves person or entities that a person
• Are persons from the past or Nurture belongs to
present who have characteristics - the role of family, society, Ex: person’s body(is the core of
that are important in a culture; education and other social factors material self), family, clothes,
models for behavior; may be real in forming our behavior, our books, money
or fictitious personality or any other part of 2. The Social Self
3. Rituals ourselves • Who the person is in a particular
• Are activities (may be William James social situation depending on who
religious/social) participated in by a • Was an American philosopher is he/she with 3 components of the
group of people for the fulfillment and psychologist known for being ME self
of desired objectives and are one of the greatest pragmatists 3. The Spiritual Self
considered to be socially essential • Known for his Theory of the Self, • Self that is more
4. Values written in his published book concrete/permanent when
• Considered to be the core of entitled, “The Principles of compared to the other 2
every culture Psychology”
• Most subjective and intimate part ideal self then the person will development
of the self experience dissatisfaction and may • Looked into the significance of
Ex: personality, values, morals see itself as a failure. play in child development
Introspection (self-observation) Self-concept • He observed children/people as
• A process where the spiritual self • Used to refer to how a person having true and false selves
is always engaging thinks about or perceives himself through play
• A method that includes reflecting 2 types of self-concept • True and false selves are present
or looking inward to study and 1. Real self-concept (Who am I?) in all individuals
understand the how and why of the • All information and perception of True and False Selves
self the person has about himself; who True Self
Global and Differentiated Self he/she is • One in which the self is seen as
Global Self 2. Ideal self-concept (Who do I creative, spontaneously
– represents the overall value that want to be?) experiencing each day of their
a person places upon himself; this • Model version the person has of lives, appreciating being alive, real,
affects how he/she views and feels himself, what the person aims to integrated and connected to the
about himself/herself be whole of existence
Differentiated Self E. Tory Higgins • Characterized by a high level of
- can separate feelings and The Self-Discrepancy Theory awareness of
thoughts though still affected by • Stated that people use a person of who he is and what he
the presence of others; enables self-guides but when the self is is capable of and is not afraid to let
the person to develop and found to be deviating/diverting others know his weaknesses and
sustain unique identity, make own from these, the result is imperfections
choices and accept responsibility self-discrepancy False Self
but still able to stay emotionally Self-guides • May be manifested as a form of
connected with significant people • Provide directions for how a defense; lacks spontaneity and is
Murray Bowen person should present himself dead and empty
• Was an American Psychiatrist • internalized standards to which • Mask that hides the true person
and Professor of Psychiatry people compare themselves for fear of the pain of rejection and
• Was among those who Self-discrepancy failure
developed Family Therapy and • May cause emotional discomfort • Usually surface when the person
Systematic Therapy to the individual and can be is forced to comply with existing
2 forces affecting a person manifested as guilt or worst as social norms and standards
1. Togetherness indifference • At times, this enables the person
2.Individuality Multiple and Unified Selves to form superficial but productive
A balance should be maintained Multiple Selves Theory social relationship
between these two. • Suggests that there are different Albert Bandura
• Too much togetherness creates aspects of the self existing in each • Proponent of the personality
friction and conflict and prevents individual theory known as The Social
the development of the sense of • Makes sense that the self is a Cognitive Theory
self whole made up of parts • Human agency is the essence of
• Too much individuality results in Unified being being human
distant and estrange feelings • Essentially connected to Triadic Reciprocal Causation
towards other people consciousness, awareness and Paradigm
Carl Rogers agency • Where he explained how human
• An American Psychologist who • A person who is able to deal with beings are affected by the
proposed the personality theory and accept the complexities and interaction among environmental
known as the Person-Centered the perceived unfairness that exist events, behavior and personal
Theory in life factors
• Stated that there should be • Able to adjust, adapt, evolve and The Social Cognitive Theory
congruence between self concepts survive well • In his theory, the person is seen
for a person to be happy and D.W. Winnicot as proactive and agentic which
satisfied with his/her life; if Donald Woods Winnicott means that he has the capacity to
the real self is very different from • Was and English pediatrician and exercise control over his life
the psychoanalyst who studied child
• The basic principle involved in a wiser and self-actualized 5. Culture
human learning is learning through individual The Self in Confucian Thought
observation Lesson 5: Confucius
• Suggested that human beings Self in Western and Eastern • The name Kong Zhongni of
are proactive, self-regulating, Thought China was known
selfreflective and self-organizing Introspection/Reflection • Also known as Master Kong and
4 Features of Human Agency • Through this process, man as Great Sage and Teacher
1. Intentionality begins to search for clues as to the • Was born in the period of Zhou
– refers to the actions performed probable purpose of his existence Dynasty in the small state of Lu
by the person intentionally or with and the role he plays in the • Had a proper education
full awareness of his behavior general order of the things of • Has a philosophy known as
Ex: Kenneth went online to apply the world Humanistic Social Philosophy
for a passport because he wants to • As a result of this, he/she decides Zhou Dynasty
travel outside of his country. that since he has only one life to • Was characterized by political,
2. Forethought live and that death is inevitable, social and moral disintegration of
– refers to the person’s anticipation he/she should make the most of China.
of likely outcomes of his behavior; his/her life Humanistic Social Philosophy
allows him to select from a Individualistic Self • The primary focus is on human
repertoire of behaviors and • A person seeing himself as being beings and the society he finds
determine which one will lead to a capable of living his own life, doing himself in
positive outcome the things that he loves to do and • Considers the society and its
Ex: Kenneth chose an interview making his own mistakes and communities as the main source of
date for his passport application learning from his experiences values of both human beings and
where most likely he will be but still aware that he is not alone the society
on-leave. and that he exists with others in Confucianism
3. Self-Reactiveness the society • Way of life propagated by
– refers to the process in which the • The development of this begins Confucius which is centered on the
person is motivated and regulates after birth and is observed in the ren which make human beings
his behavior as he observes his child-rearing practices of parents in different from beasts
progress in achieving his goals. the West Ren
Ex: Kenneth saves a larger portion Collective Self • has no specific definition because
of his salary in the back so he can • Identity of individual is lost and Confucius believed that this
have enough cash to travel to does not exist except as a part of reflects the person’s own
Japan. the group. understanding of humanity
4. Self-Reflectiveness • The family and society control • Guides human actions and to go
– refers to the person looking how the group members should against this means abandoning
inward and evaluating his think, act and generally conduct what is truly human
motivations, values, life goals and themselves in society • Makes life worth living
other people’s effect on him The Self in Western Thought Ren
Ex: Kenneth believes that he has Ecological Self • involves feeling and thinking
to enjoy and experience life a little - Sees the self as a process that is which serves as the foundation of
while still able and capable undergoing development all human relationships
Self Efficacy introduced by the West • signifies the Chinese culture’s
– important aspect of - Self is seen as dynamic, different emphasis on feelings or the heart
self-reflectiveness which is the and unique and is constantly as the most important instead of
person’s belief that he is capable exposed to an ever-changing world the head in human nature
of behavior that will produce Factors that influence Ren can only be realized through:
desired positive results self-development are human 1. Li (Propriety)
Self Regulation biological and environmental • In order to guide human actions,
- Allows the person to set goals characteristics such as rules of propriety should be
that are better and higher that the 1. Race followed; conforms to the norms of
former, 2.Gender humanity
challenging his capabilities and 3. Social status 2. Xiao (Filiality)
making him 4. Education
• Virtue of reverence and respect
for family
3. Yi (Rightness)
• Right way of behaving;
unconditional and absolute
• Right is right and what is not right
is wrong
• Li, Xiao, and Yi are virtues
observed in a person whose
humanity developed, morally
cultivated and aware.
• The cultivation of these 3 will lead
to a person of virtue.
• According to Confucianism,
virtuous people result in a
well-rounded, civilized, humane
society.