The "self" from various Philosophical Perspectives:

The Philosophical Self

A.)SOCRATES

Brief Background and Significant Events

• He was accused of disrespecting the city of gods and corrupting the youth of Athens. He caused the
youths to question all things including many traditional beliefs. He was a controversial figure in Athens
because of his argumentative skill.

• Socrates' way of searching for meaning and truth was abrasive (ex. endless process of asking
questions). This gives birth to the "Socratic method of questioning".

• Philosophical Statement: "Know thy self" The unexamined life is considered as not worth living,
humans must strive to seek their purpose and value.

B.) PLATO

Brief Background and Significant Events

The death of Socrates was a turning point in the life of Plato because he elaborated on Socrates' ideas
after the former's death.

• He contributed original ideas on a wide range of issues such as morality, politics, metaphysics, and
epistemology.

• Definition of the SELF:

The self is an immortal soul that exists over time

THE THREE-PART SOUL (The Three-Part Self)

1. Reason-it enables the individuals to think deeply, make choices, and achieve true understanding.

2. Physical Appetite- this refers to basic biological needs such as thirst, hunger, and sexual desire. 3.
Spirit or Passion- this refers to basic emotions like love, anger, aggressiveness, and empathy.

The three-part self may act in consonance or may act in conflict with each other. For example, You may
have a relationship with someone intelligent (reason); with whom you are passionately in love (spirit)
and whom you find sexually attractive which ignites your desires (appetite). Another example, you fall in
love with a person (spirit) who is sexually attractive (appetite) and does not satisfy your ideal type,
he/she is the total opposite of the person you are looking for (reason). In this case, the selves are in
CONFLICT. Genuine happiness can be achieved when REASON is in control of SPIRITS and APPETITES
ILLUSTRATION: "The Chariot Analogy"- the soul is likened to a chariot drawn by two powerful winged
horses.

Noble horse - spirit

Wild horse - embodying the appetite

Charioteer - reason; the task is to guide the chariot to the eternal realm by controlling the two
independent, minded horses.

C.) ST. AUGUSTINE

Brief Background and Significant Events

Plotinus (Roman Philosopher) influenced the thinking of St. Augustine. Plotinus based his views on
Plato's core concepts. He believes that "The soul possesses superiority over the body". He is committed
to his Platonic ideas regarding the imperfection of his physical body; in contrast to the perfection of his
eternal soul. He refused to celebrate his birthday because he was ashamed that his immortal soul had to
be contained in an imperfect vessel as his body. Plotinus ideas had a profound influence on St.
Augustine

Definition of the SELF:

The self is an immortal soul that exists over time Relationship of body and the soul

He considers the body as a "slave" to the soul Then he alters his view that "the soul makes war with the
body" He changed it again into "the body as the spouse of the soul" with both attached by a natural
appetite. He finally concluded that "The body is united with the soul so that man maybe entire and
complete".

What is a virtuous life for St. Augustine?

To live a virtuous life is to live in LOVE, all sins are the result of turning away from love and God. Plato's
vision of immortal souls striving to achieve union with the eternal realm through

INTELLECTUAL ENLIGHTENMENT became transformed by Augustine into IMMORTAL SOULS STRIVING TO

Brief Background and Significant Events

• Founder of Modern Philosophy

• He was a mathematician and a scientist

• He is a rationalist who emphasizes that thinking must follow a logical and rational process

Philosophical Statement: Cogito Ergo Sum "I think therefore I am"- this is is the essence of your SELF,
humans are thinking things! Descartes believed that man is a thinking being, and genuine knowledge
must be based on independent rational inquiry and real-world experimentation. Performing mental
operations was essential to being a human self. To arrive at knowledge, a human must use their thinking
abilities (investigate, analyze, experiment, and develop well-reasoned conclusions)

Definition of the SELF: The self is a thinking thing, distinct from the body

Dualistic View of the Self

The thinking self (or soul): non-material, immortal, conscious being and independent of the physical
laws of the universe. The conscious self is part by the laws of reason and God's will. The physical body is
of the spiritual realm governed s a material, mortal, non-thinking entity governed by the physical laws of
nature. Rationalist View: Reasoning ability provides the origin of knowledge Rationalism m- - the view
that reason is the primary source of all knowledge and that only our reasoning abilities can enable us to
understand sense experience and reach accurate conclusions.

Can one truly know the self?

• The history of philosophy is replete with men and women who inquire into the fundamental nature of
the self. The greeks were the ones who seriously questioned myths and moved away from them in
attempting to understand reality and respond to perennial questions of curiosity.

• The different perspectives and views on the self can be best seen and understood by revisiting its
prime movers and identify the most important conjectures made by philosophers from the ancient
times to the contemporary period.

UNIT 1: THE SELF FROM THE VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES

Lesson 2. SOCIOLOGY

Sociological Perspective THE SELF AS A PRODUCT OF MODERN SOCIETY AMONG OTHER

is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.

MODERNIZATION has significantly changed society and this has affected how an individual builds and
develops his/her "identity". PREMODERN SOCIETY- centered on survival, people behaved according to
social rules and traditions.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERNITY:

1. Industrialism- the social relations implied in the extensive use of material power and machinery in all
processes of production. (ex. people are more and more dependent on machines)

2. Capitalism- a production system involving both competitive product markets and the commodification
of labor power.

3. Institutions of surveillance- the massive increase of power and reach by institutions, especially in
government.

4. Dynamism- the most evident characteristic of modern society. Dynamism is characterized as having
vigorous activity and progress. In modern society, it is a society that is full of possibilities, everything is
subject to change. (Ex. Liquid Society- nothing is permanent; living in times of uncertainty!)

MODERNIZATION- has improved people's living conditions; a person in the modern society is free to
choose where to live, what to do, and who to be with. In modern societies, individualism is dominant
and developing one's self- identity is central.

- MODERNIZATION is also called the destruction of the traditional way of life "delocalized" the self
(Mannheim, 1950). The self is dislocated and deracinated from its traditional attachment to the
community.

DELOCALIZATION- the self is released from time- honored traditions and communal attachments and
faces infinites possibilities (i.e. free to seek its own identity).

Note: The self as a product of modern society is free to seek its own identity and free from customary
constraints.

WHAT IS A SOCIAL GROUP?

Is described as having two or more people interacting with one another, sharing similar characteristics,
and whose members identify themselves as part of the group. (ex. family, barkada, classmates)
- TWO TYPES OF SOCIAL GROUP:

A.) ORGANIC GROUPS- it is naturally occurring, and it is highly influenced by your family. This is usually
formed in traditional societies. You joined these groups because your family is also a part of it (organic
motivation)

B.) RATIONAL GROUPS- it occurs in modern societies. Modern societies are made up of different people
coming from different places. Rational groups are formed as a matter of shared self-interests; people
join these groups out of their own free will (rational).

WHAT IS A SOCIAL NETWORK?

refers to the ties or connections that link you to your social group. (ex. The connection you have with
your family is your blood relation, the connection you have with your barkda is your friendship)

The SOCIAL SELF according to George Herbert Mead:

Mead was a sociologist from the late 1800s. He is well known for his "theory of the Social Self"

Mead's work focused on how the "self" is developed. His theory is based on the perspective that the self
is a product of social interactions and internalizing the external (i.e., other people's) views along with
one's personal view about oneself. Mead believed the "self" is not present at birth; rather it developed
over time through social experiences and activities.

Developing the SELF:

Mead developed a concept that proposed different stages of self- development. These stages are:

a.) Language- through shared understanding of symbols, gestures and sound, language gives the
individual the capacity to express himself or herself while at the same time comprehending what other
people are conveying. Language sets the stage for self-development.

b.) Play- at this level, individuals role-play or assume the perspective of others. Role-playing enables the
person to internalize some other people's perspectives.

c.) Game- is the level where the individual not only internalize the other people's perspectives, he/she is
also able to take into account societal rules and adheres to it. According to Mead, the self is developed
by understanding the rule, and one must abide by it to win the game or be successful at an activity.

TWO SIDES OF SELF: "I" and "Me":

- The "I" and "Me" have a didactic relationship, which is like a system of checks and balances.
- "Me" is the product of what the person has learned while interacting with others and with the
environment. Learned behaviors, attitudes, and expectations comprise the "me". The 'me' exercises
control over the self, it sees to it that rules are not broken.

The "I" is that part of the self that is unsocialized and spontaneous. It is the individual's response to the
community's attitude toward the person. The 'I' presents impulses and drives.

- The 'l' enables the person to express individualism creativity and It does not blindly follow the rules.