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Chapter 1-1

The document discusses different philosophical perspectives on the concept of self from ancient Greek philosophers to modern philosophers. It summarizes the key views as: - Socrates believed the self is the immortal soul and that an unexamined life is not worth living. He used introspection to gain self-knowledge. - Plato elaborated that the soul has three parts: reason, physical appetite, and spirit or passion. He also distinguished between the physical world and ideal world of forms. - Aristotle viewed the soul as the essence of living things, distinguishing between vegetative, sentient, and rational souls in humans. - Augustine integrated Platonic and Christian ideas to view the immortal soul as governing the

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733 views10 pages

Chapter 1-1

The document discusses different philosophical perspectives on the concept of self from ancient Greek philosophers to modern philosophers. It summarizes the key views as: - Socrates believed the self is the immortal soul and that an unexamined life is not worth living. He used introspection to gain self-knowledge. - Plato elaborated that the soul has three parts: reason, physical appetite, and spirit or passion. He also distinguished between the physical world and ideal world of forms. - Aristotle viewed the soul as the essence of living things, distinguishing between vegetative, sentient, and rational souls in humans. - Augustine integrated Platonic and Christian ideas to view the immortal soul as governing the

Uploaded by

Marjorie O. Malinao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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KNOW THYSELF

SOCRATES
KNOW THYSELF
-SOCRATES

• Philosophy employs the inquisitive mind to discover the ultimate causes, reasons and principles of everything.
It goes beyond scientific investigation by exploring all areas of knowledge such as religion, psychology, politics,
physics, and even medicine. Hence,the etymological definition of philosophy“Love of wisdom“ could pertain to
the desire for truth by formulating never ending question to provide answers to ever inquiry about the nature
human existence. The nature of the self is a topic of interest among philosophers
• The philosophical framework for understanding the self was first introduced by the ancient Greek philosophers
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. In particular Socrates. “Know thyself”
SOCRATES:AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT
WORTH LIVING
For Socrates the self is synonymous with the Soul. He believe that every
human possess an immortal soul that survives the physical body. Socrates was
the first to focus on the full power of reason on the human self: Socrates
suggests that reality consist of two dichotomous realms: physical and ideal
realms.
Socrates explains that the essence of the self-the-soul-is the immortal
entity. The soul strives for wisdom and perfection, and reason is the soul’s tool
to achieve this exalted state. Socrates thus suggests that man must live an
examined life and a life of purpose and value. For him an unexamined life is
not worth living. The individual person can have a meaningful and happy life
only if he becomes virtuous and knows the value of himself that can be
achieving through incessant soul searching. The socratic method, the so-called
introspection, is a method of carefully examining one’s thoughts and
emotions-to gain self-knowledge.
THE TWO DICHOTOMOUS REALMS ARE:

• 1. PHYSICAL REALM- is unchangeable, transient and imperfect


• 2. IDEAL REALM- is unchanging, eternal and immortal

• *Physical World (physical realm)


• *Soul (ideal realm)
PLATO:THE SELF IS AN IMMORTAL SOUL
Another ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, elaborates on Socrates‘consept of the soul. Like Socrates, Plato
believes that the self is synonymous with soul. His philosophy can be explained as a process of self-
knowledge and purification of the soul. He introduces the idea of a three part soul/self:Reason, Physical
appetite and Spirit or passion.

REASON- the divine essence that enables us to thing deeply, make wise choices, and achieving a true
understanding of eternal truths.
*PHYSICAL APPETITE- Includes our basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual
desire.
*SPIRIT OR PASSION- Includes the basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition,
aggressiveness, and empathy.
These three elements of our selves are in a dynamic relationship with one another, somethimes in
conflict.

In his Theory of Forms the Two world he consent

*World of forms (Non-physical Idea) – is real and permanent.


*World of Sense (Reality) – temporary and only a replica of the ideal world.
ARISTOTLE:THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF THE SELF

• Another Greek philosopher, Aristotle, believe that the soul is merely a set of defining features and does
not consider the body and soul as separate entities. He suggests that anything with life has a soul.
Aristotle holds that the soul is the essence of all living things. The soul is the essence of he self. However
human ls differ from other living things because of their capacity for rational thinking.

• There Are Three kinds of Soul:


• 1. VEGETATIVE SOUL- Includes the physical body that can grow.
• 2. SENTIENT SOUL- Includes sensual desires, feelings, and emotions.
• 3. RATIONAL SOUL- is what makes man human.
ST. AUGUSTINE:THE SELF HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL

• The African philosopher, Augustine, is regarded as a saint(I. E., St. Augustine of hippo) in the Catholic
Church. He integrates the ideas of Plato and teachings of Christianity. Augustine believes that the
physical body is radically different from and inferior to its inhabitant, the immortal soul. As his thinking
matures, he developed a more unified perspective of the body and soul. He ultimately came to view the
body as spose of the soul. He believes that the body is united with the Soul, he contemplates on the
nature of man with emphasis on the soul as an important element of man. He believes that the soul is
what governs and defines man. Augustine describes that humankind is created in the image and
likeness of God. Augustine is convinced that the self is known only though knowing God. The truth of
which Augustine speaks refers to the truth of knowing God. God is transcendent and the self seeks to be
united with God through faith and reason. Augustine develops the fundamental concept of the human
person, and thus provides the philosophical principle.
RENE DESCARTES: I THINK THEREFORE I AM

French philosopher Rene Descartes is the father of modern philosophy. He wants to penetrate the
nature of reasoning process and understand its relationship to the human self. The Latin phrase Cogito
ergo sum- “ I think therefore I am” is the keystone of Descartes’ concept of self. For him the act of
thinking about the self-of being self—conscious—is in itself proof that there is a sself.
This is the essence of the human self– a thinking entity that Doubts, understand, analyzes, questions,
and reasons.

There are two dimensions of human self there are:


1. The self as a thinking entity
2. The self as a physical body
JOHN LOCKE: THE SELF IS CONSCIOUSNESS

For English philosopher John Locke,The human mind at birth is tabula rasa or a blank state. He feels that
the self, or personal identity, is contracted primarily from sense experiences– or more sspecifically, what
people see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. These experiences shape and mold the self throughout a person’s
life. For locke, conscious awareness and memory of previous experience are the keys to understanding the
self. Locke believes that the essence of the self is its conscious awareness of itself as a thinking, Reasoning,
and reflecting identity
Self consciousness is necessary to have a coherent personal (self) identity or knowledge of the self as a
person. Consciousness is what makes identity of a person similar different situations.
Knowledge is based on careful observation of experience. Reason plays an important role in helping to
figure out tHe significance of Sense experience and to reach intelligent conclusions. Using the power of
reason and introspection enables one to understand and achieve accurate conclusions about the self (or
personal identity)

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