MODULE 1

THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES: PHILOSOPHICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL,

ANTHROPOLOGICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
Intended Learning Outcome:
By the end of the lesson, the students are able to explain the development of the self
using the discussed concepts.

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspectives of the Self

Keywords:

 Philosophy
 Sociology
 Anthropology
 Psychology
 Identity
 Self
Introductory Activity 1: Encircle the words below that best describes you. You may
also add further words. After which, explain in a few sentences what has influenced
you to acquire these traits

Adaptive Self-Aware Dependable Intelligent Fearless

Compassionate Hard Worker Respectful Calm Humble

Energetic Clever Creative Confident Thoughtful

Realistic Cautious Cooperative Shy Quiet

Attentive Picky Ambitious Critical Traditional

Others Words that describe you: __________ ________ _____________

What do you think are the influences that

made you have the traits you chosen above?

_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_____________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Introduction:
In understanding the self, we must first undertake the concepts that tries to define
what the “self” is. In this lesson we first discuss about how the study of Philosophy
tries to study and unravel the concept of the “self”
Philosophy is the study of the basic or fundamental principles of life,
knowledge, reality, existence, morality, human nature, etc., through the use of logic and
reason. This study includes understanding what and how the self is formed. In this
lesson, you will be provided with the different philosophical concepts in order to
identify, differentiate and analyze how the self is formed as founded by Philosophy.

A. Ancient Philosophy:
Philosopher Concept of the Self
Socrates He is a philosopher that was principally concerned on man. He is famous
for the line, “Know thyself.” He emphasized that every individual must
consciously understand themselves, in every aspect of their life, may it be
mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Socrates said “An unexamined life
is not worth living.” Thus, he focused on the importance of the conscious
effort to evaluate how we are doing every day.
This concept tells us to examine deep within our self. Try asking yourself,
“How am I today? Am I happy or sad, why?”
Answering questions like this creates in you an awareness of how the self
is. It also creates a sense of knowing and identifying the state of “being”
you are right now.

Plato This philosopher is a student of Socrates and as a student he also talked

about how the self is formed or what consists of the self. He said that the
Self has 3 parts. He said all individuals have 1) Reason, 2) Physical
Appetite, & 3) Spirit/Passion.
 Reason – is the ability for us to think deeply. All individuals,
you and me, are able to think, whether right or wrong, just or
unjust and good or bad.
 Physical Appetite - accounts for the basic biological needs
such as hunger, thirst and sexual desire.
 Spirit/Passion - accounts for the basic emotions such as
love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, empathy.
Do you believe that the self consists of these 3 parts? Or are there other
parts that Plato should have included?

Aristotle This philosopher argued with the previous philosophers. He said that the
self is a Tabularasa or a blank tablet. This means that the self is initially
empty and that as time and experience progresses, we receive new
learning and our self is slowly formed. According to him, the development
of the self is a continuous process of developing and becoming. Every
experience, whether good or bad, has created an impact to what we are
today.
Try asking yourself, “what experiences in your life do you believe has
greatly affected who you are today?”
 As time progressed, Philosophy’s notion of the “self” has also evolved. Below are
some of the concept of “self” from the Modern Philosophy.

B. Modern Philosophy
Philosopher Concept of the Self
René This modern philosopher is famous for his line: “Cogito ergo sum.”
Descartes Which translates as “I think, therefore, I am.” He believes that the self
is a thinking thing. The self is always thinking. Our being thinks and
according to him, we stop being “who we are” when we stop thinking.
Has there been a time you always thought that life has been hard you
would not want to think at all? Well, this philosophy emphasizes that
the more we think about not thinking, the more we should deepen
about giving our “self” a thought.
What have been your thoughts these past few days? 
Sigmund This psychologist said that the SELF (or mind) is multi-layered: 1)
Freud Conscious, 2) Preconscious 3) Unconscious.
 Conscious – is the part of the Self that is aware of what
he/she does. For instance, you are aware that you are looking
at these words right now. You are aware about your name,
your family and where you live.
 Preconscious – is the part of the Self which is
considered as half conscious and half unconscious. These
could be thoughts that you don’t always have to remember
because you have been used to in doing. An example of this
would be; do you notice how you when you go inside a room,
you always turn on the switch of the room even if it’s already
on? Your automatic behavior belongs in the preconscious.
 Unconscious – this is the part of the Self which is
considered hidden. They are not the thoughts that you usually
think of. Unconscious part consists of your dreams, desires,
traumas and past pain or pleasure that Self prefers to be
hidden from others.
Gilbert Ryle This philosopher believes that the Self can be defined through the
study of Behaviorism. He says that the self is a pattern of behavior,
the tendency or disposition for a person to behave in a certain way in
certain circumstances. Have you tried judging others and even
yourself based on how you behaved in specific situations?
Maurice This philosopher believed that in order to understand the Self. We
MerleauPont must use the Phenomenological approach. This means describing the
y phenomena of the lived experience by describing what your
immediate responses are — physically, emotionally, cognitively.
This means we are only able to understand the Self on our own
personal point of view. Nobody can fully say that the Self is like this
and like that. According to this approach, only in the view of the one
who “lived” an experience can fully explain how he feels, thinks and
do with regards to that situation. Take for example the question:
“What happens to you when you fall in love – physically, emotionally,
and mentally?”
 When you ask others about this question, you may realize that they
may have a different answer from yours. This is because according to
this philosopher, who we are differs because we see, feel and think
about the experiences differently from others.

Name: _______________________________ Course, Year & Section:_________________________

Application:
Each of the philosophical concept is unique. All of these have distinct explanations
of what the self is. We may believe one, two or all of these theories in explaining the
self. What about you? What theories do you associate most with regards to what the
“Self” is?
In this activity, choose one (or more) theory from Ancient Philosophy and Modern
Philosophy and explain how these theories have been real in your life.
Chosen Theory Life Experience
Ancient Philosophy:

Modern Philosophy:

“We know not through our intellect but through our experience.”
- Maurice Merleau-Ponty