Understanding the Self

(A Learning Module)
MINSCAT, Main Campus

Subject Code: Soc Sci 111

Units: 3

Time Frame
Module Title Week To Accomplish
1 The Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives I ✓
2 The Self from Sociological Perspective II
3 The Self from The Anthropological Perspective III
4 The Self from Various Psychological Perspectives IV
5 The Self in the Western and Eastern Thought V
6 The Physical Self: The Self as Impacted by the Body VI
MID-TERMS
7 The Sexual Self VII
8 The Material /Economic Self VIII
9 The Spiritual Self IX
10 The Political Self X
11 The Digital Self: Self and Other in Cyberspace XI
12 Learning to be a Better Student XII
13 Setting Goals for Success XIII
14 Taking Charge of One’s Health XIV
FINALS

Prepared by:

Herbert F. Chavez
Instructor I

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 COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course deals with the nature of identity, as well as the factors and forces that affect the development and
maintenance of personal identity.

The directive to Know Oneself has inspired countless and varied ways to comply. Among the questions that
everyone has had to grapple with at one time or other is 'Who am I?" At no other period is this question asked
more urgently than in adolescence- traditionally believed to be a time of vulnerability and great possibilities. Issues
of self and identity are among the most critical for the young.

This course is intended to facilitate the exploration of the issues and concerns regarding self and identity to arrive
at a better understanding of one's self. It strives to meet this goal by stressing the integration of the personal with
the academic- contextualizing matters discussed in the classroom and in the everyday experiences of students-
making for better learning, generating a new appreciation for the learning process, and developing a more critical
and reflective attitude while enabling them to manage and improve their selves to attain a better quality of life.

The course is divided into three major parts: The first part seeks to understand the construct of the self from
various disciplinal perspectives: philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and psychology-as well as the more
traditional division between the East and

West-each seeking to provide answers to the difficult but essential question of "What is the self?" And raising,
among others, the question: "Is there even such a construct as the self?"

The second part explores some of the various aspects that make up the self, such as the biological and
material up to and including the more recent Digital Self. The third and final part identifies three areas of concern
for young students: learning, goal setting, and managing stress. It also provides for the more practical application
of the concepts discussed in this course and enables them the hands-on experience of developing self-help
plans for self-regulated learning, goal setting, and self care.

This course includes the mandatory topics on Family Planning and Population Education. (CHED, Understanding
the Self – Preliminaries)

HOW YOU ARE GRADED IN WRITING A REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Rubric for Journal and Essay
Criteria Oustanding-4
Critical Thinking Rich in Content;
Insightful analysis, synthesis,
& evaluation;
Clear connections made to
real life situations or to
previous content
Personal Reflection Entries are highly quality
consisting of personal
reflections that connect
between real life, learning, &
reading
Surface Feature An occasional or stylistic
error
Proficient-3 Basic-2 Below Expectation
Substantial Information; Information is thin and Rudimentary &
common place; superficial;
Evidence of analysis,
synthesis & evaluation; Attempts made at Little analysis,
analysis, synthesis and synthesis, & evaluation;
General connections are evaluation;
made but are sometimes Little or no connections
too obvious or not clear Connections are limited, with any other material
vague generalities are or are off topic
posted
Connects ideas & Little evidence of Lack of connection to
thoughts to personal life; personal connection, personal life
evidence of personal many connections need
connection to learning, further explanation or
community justification
Few grammatical or Obvious grammatical or Obvious grammatical or
stylistic error stylistic errors; stylistic errors;
Errors interfere with Errors make content
content very difficult to read

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PART I: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINAL PERSPECTIVES

Module 1: The Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives

Introduction
Thinkers in the philosophical tradition have been wrestling out to answer the complexity and mystery of
the universe and human existence for thousand years ago. They believe that through human reason, answers to
those fundamental questions are accessible, at the least, one is coming closer to them.

The question about universe is never disconnected to the question about human reality, specifically, to
the question of “What is man?” or “Who am I?” or “What is to be self?” . For the philosophers, to know the self
suggests the awareness of one’s presence that needs to be dealt with and to live accordingly to its nature. Thus,
we come to see that philosophical endeavor takes us to the understanding of the nature or essence of the “Self”
that is inquired through the use of human reason. It is in this scenario that this module shall explore the thoughts
of the prominent philosophers from antiquity to contemporary time, namely; Socrates, Plato, St. Augustine, St.
Thomas Aquinas, Rene Descartes, John Locke, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Gilbert Ryle, and Maurice Merleau-
Ponty.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, the students must have:

1. Explained why it is essential to understand the self

2. Discussed the different notions of the self from the point of view of various philosophers across time and place
3. Compared and contrasted how the self has been represented in different philosophical school
4. Examined one's self against the different views of self that were discussed

Learning Activity
Write an Essay answering the question, “Who Am I?”

Analysis
In the essay that you have written:
1. Which claims about yourself you think that you are very sure of, and not? Why?
2. Are they supported by sound reasons that can be validated in your daily activities? What are those
reasons?

Content/Abstraction
Readings: “Chapter 1: Defining the Self: Personal and Developmental Perspectives on Self and Identity” in
Understanding the Self by Eden Joy Alata, et. al., pp. 4-9.

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Assessment
1. Comprehension Skill Test
In your own words, state the concept of Self according to the following philosophers:
a. Socrates -
b. Plato -
c. St. Augustine -
d. St. Thomas Aquinas -
e. Rene Descartes -
f. John Locke -
g. David Hume -
h. Immanuel Kant -
i. Gilbert Ryle -
j. Maurice Merleau-Ponty -

2. Evaluation
a. According to Socrates, why it is important to understand oneself? For you, what other reasons you
could think of that support the importance of understanding the self?

b. Based on your own experience, do you find your description of the nature of yourself in agreement
or not with any of the philosophers being discussed? Explain your answer.

References:
Alata, Eden Joy, et. al. (2018). Understanding the Self, First Edition. Manila: Rex Bookstore, Inc.

Chaffee, John (2016). The Philosopher’s Way: Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas, 5th Edition. New
York: Pearson.

Go-Monilla, Ma. Jocelyn A. Understanding of the Self. Unpublished

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