LEARNING MODULES

01 LESSON 02S

Understanding the self

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DR. JENNIFER L. TUAZON-GUTIERREZ, RGC

PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
Module 01 - LESSON 2

SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST

ON SELF
Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate that my own concept of
the self is like that of Socrates and Plato.
2. Give my reason why I agree or disagree
with the feminist's criticism about
Plato's concept of the Self
Transforming Ideas of the Week
The perspectives I have about the
Self more or less the same with
the Ancient Philosophers like
Socrates and Plato.

ENGAGE: Fill-up the table accordingly regarding the SELF

Focus In what ways is it possible for you to “know” your self ? How will I you
1 know yourself?
WHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO KNOW HOW CAN I LEARN WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
MORE I have learned that Plato and
I understand that I I want to know how Diomata have different
self is determined I can learn more by perspectives about the self of
can only know discovering the human. Plato believes that the self
myself if I will be and understand by perspectives of remains the same eternally, while
Diomata claims that the self of
true to my self by other people and some ancient mortal people can not remain
recognizing every what are their other philosophers about eternally. I also learned about the
concepts about it. the concept of the idea of three-part self which is the
parts of my identity reason, appetite, and spirit that we
and personality. self. need to understand and control so
we may fully know our self.

Focus What differentiates your particular self from all others?

2

Unique in Similarities Unique in

MY SELF Similarities enhancement OTHERS
- They focus on
- I focus on of looks and
personality and - We focus
on what is physical
character appearance.
pleasing for
development. us.
- I take criticisms as - We tend to - They are
a way of improving choose our easily offended
my self. own welfare.
by any
criticisms they
heard from
other people.

G
pa o t
ge o
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2 WEEK 02
Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST

ON SELF

EXPLORE: Read and Reflect

Write the KEY The cornerstone of Socrates’ philosophy
WORDS to was the Delphic Oracle’s command to “Know thyself.”
help you
remember If we are to fulfill Socrates’ exhortation to live an examined life, a life of
important purpose and value, we must begin at the source of all knowledge and
IDEAS from significance—our self.
this

KEY WORDS Self as the source of knowledge and significance Self- key to live an examined life
Examined life- a life of purpose and value

What do you think influences your answers to the focus questions?

I assume that the people around me, especially my family influences my answer to the focus
questions. My parents thought me that I can only know more about the self of other people if I know
their personality and character, not just by their appearance.

Your responses also likely reflected the cultural and religious environment in which you were raised.

Cultures that originated in Europe have tended to use a common religious and philosophical framework
for understanding the “self” that was first introduced by Socrates and Plato in ancient Greece.

EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOCUS QUESTIONS BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING

QUESTIONS:
Did your responses reflect the belief that your SELF :
is a unique personal identity that remains the same over time?
Yes
is synonymous with your “soul”?
Yes
is a very different sort of thing from your “body”?
Yes
can be understood by using your reasoning abilities?
Yes
will continue to exist in some form after your body dies?
Yes
is able to connect with other selves in some personal way? Yes
IF YOUR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS IS "Yes" what does this tell
ELABORATE you?

It signifies that the self is more than just a body or appearance. It is the soul and mind that the
self is more into. Our body may change, or in the absence of it, but our true self will always G
remain and it will never change. pa o t
ge o
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PAGE WEEK 02
3 Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST

ON SELF

EXPLORE: Read and Reflect

Write the KEY Let us return to the birthplace of those views twenty-five hundred years
WORDS to ago, and then to trace the development of these perspectives up to the
help you current century.
remember
important
IDEAS from
SOCRATES
SOCRATES
PLATO
SOUL IS
this
KEY WORDS SOCRATES
SOCRATES
first thinker in recorded history to focus the full power of reason on the
Socrates human self:
first thinker who we are,
full power of reason who we should be, and
immortal soul who we will become.
was convinced that in addition to our physical bodies, each person
possesses an immortal soul that survives beyond the death of the body.
EXPLAIN:
SO THEREFORE, where do you think our I think our church's forefathers taken this idea to
churchs' forefathers got the idea that the the idea of Socrates.
soul is immortal?

ty is tic
Reaulia
SOCRATES
SOCRATES
D lis
Second Realm
First Realm ideal forms
---- , the unchanging, eternal, perfect realm
includes the intellectual essences of the
changeable, transient, and imperfect, universe, concepts such as truth, goodness,
whereas the other realm is unchanging, and beauty.
eternal, immortal. ---examples of these ideal forms in the
--The physical world in which we live— physical world—
comprised of all that we can see, hear, ---we might describe someone as truthful,
taste, smell, and feel—belongs to the good, or beautiful. But these examples are
former realm. always imperfect and limited:
--All aspects of our physical world are ----ideal forms themselves that are perfect,
continually changing, transforming, unchanging, and eternal.
disappearing.

SOCRATES
SOCRATES Second Realm
Our souls strive for wisdom and perfection, and reason is the soul’s tool to
achieve this exalted state.
But as long as the soul is tied to the body (1ST REALM),
this quest for wisdom is inhibited by the imperfection of the physical realm,
as the soul is “dragged by the body into the region of th changeable,”
where it “wanders and is confused” G
pa o t
dragged in a world that “spins round her, and she is like a drunkard.” ge o
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9 WEEK 02
Module 01 - LESSON 02
SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST
ON SELF

EXPLORE: Read and Reflect

SOCRATES
SOCRATES Role of  reason
•But reason is a powerful tool,
Write the KEY enabling the soul to free itself from the corrupting imperfection of the
WORDS to help physical realm and achieve “communion with the
you remember unchanging.”
important IDEAS These ideas is how closely they parallel modern Western consciousness.
from this •A finite body (1st Realm),
•an immortal soul (2ND Realm)
KEY WORDS perfect, eternal realm with which the soul seeks communion and
eternal bliss:
1st Realm (Finite
Body which is all of the basic elements of Western (and some Eastern) religions
imperfect) are present.
2nd Realm Even on a secular level,
(Immortal Soul the ideas resonate with modern concepts of the self:
which is perfect) the notion that:
the thinking, reasoning self and the physical body are:
radically distinct entities
have a complicated and problematic relationship with one
another.
EXPLORE: Read and Learn PLATO
was for the most part committed to the concept of viewing the essence of
Write the KEY the self—the soul
WORDS to help as a unified,
you remember indissoluble,
important IDEAS immortal entity that remains the same over time,
from this also recognizes the inherent difficulties with this view.
PLATO’S dialogue The Symposium
KEY WORDS •he cites the views of the female philosopher Diotima
DIOTIMA:
-Self is constant as   Presents a very different perspective on the nature of the self.
it exist an individual as being the same so long as he continues to exist in the
-Body is same form, and therefore assume that a man is the same person in his
changeable, as it old age as in his infancy,
may alter as it grow yet although we call him the same, every bit of him is different, and
old. every day he is becoming a new man, while the old man is ceasing
to exist, as you can see from his hair, his flesh, his bones, his
blood, and all the rest of his body.
ELABORATE
The many faces of Michael Jackson
In what sense does the self change as
the body changes? In what sense does
the self remain the same?
Our body growth and what we have
experienced is what makes our self change.
From our infancy to the time we get old,
there is a visible change in our self.
Otherwise, the self remains the same
because our soul, which is immortal, is our
self. Whatever changes may arise in our
body, our self will remain over time. pa Go
ge to
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WEEK 02
10
Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST

ON SELF
EXPLORE: Read and Reflect
FOR DIOTIMA These are not the same throughout man's life:
FOR DIOTIMA
his body, his desires,
Write the KEY his pleasures,
WORDS to help his soul.
his manners, his sufferings,
you remember his fears are the same throughout
important IDEAS his dispositions,
his thoughts, for some of them grow, while others
from this disappear....

KEY WORDS EXPLAIN:

The whole being of
man is changing
SO THEREFORE, if all of these things is the same throught man's life, so
could you say that Socrates might be wrong in saying that there is what we
Some part of a man call the second realm, the unchanging? Do you agree with Diotima? Why?
will grow, while others
disappear. I will disagree to the concept of Diotima, because I believe that man after his body dies,
has a soul to live for eternity. As a Christian, I believe in eternal life, which is in heaven,
and man's life is still exist after death. It can not be proven by science, but my belief on
2nd Realm will never change, for our body is temporary and our soul is constant.

FOR
FOR DIOTIMA
DIOTIMA
Write the KEY
WORDS to help Thus, unlike the gods,
you remember a mortal creature cannot remain the same throughout eternity;
important IDEAS it can only leave behind new life to fill the vacancy that is left as it
from this passes away....
And so it IS NO WONDER THAT EVERY CREATURE PRIZES ITS OWN
KEY WORDS
OFFSPRING,
EVERYTHING IS INSPIRED BY THIS LOVE--
Mortal creature is THIS PASSION FOR IMMORTALITY
not permanent.
ELABORATE
Through prizing its
offspring, man can SO THEREFORE, base on Diotima's ideas, would it be valid to say that the
be immortal. immortality of the soul is just a concept of the mind which is due to man's
desire and passion for immortality? What do you think?
I think the concept of the immortality of souls is not just a concept of mind, but a concept of faith.
It may be true that the man has a deep desire to live immortally, but the belief that the soul is
immortal is in the heart of most human. It may be logically seen that there is no immortal human,
ELABORATE but the belief of human to immortality is what makes them immortal.

Plato is committed to the concept that the soul is immortal and remains the same throughout eternity.
How is this concept of the soul differs to that of Diotima? Compare and contrast Plato and Diotima's
concept of the soul.
PLATO DIOTIMA
UL
The SO ing
Plato believe in 1st and 2nd Realm, Diotima claims that mortal people
which states that human has body
d
can not remain the same eternally

accor d
and soul. The soul is always and the desire for immortality is what
immortal, and once the body dies,

to...
makes mortal people to believe in
the soul will continue to live the immortality of souls.
eternally.
pa Go
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WEEK 02
11
Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND

FEMINIST ON SELF

EXPLORE: Read and Reflect

elaborates his concept of the soul (the Greek word is psyche)
PLATO introduces the idea of a three-part soul/self constituted by:
1. REASON,
Write the KEY 2. PHYSICAL APPETITE,
WORDS to help 3. SPIRIT OR PASSION
you remember
important IDEAS 1, Reason 
from this our divine essence that enables us to think deeply, make wise choices,
and achieve a true understanding of eternal truths
KEY WORDS 2. Physical Appetite
our basic biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desire.
3. Spirit or Passion
Reason- logical, our basic emotions such as love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness,
based on truths empathy.

Physical Appetite- These three elements of our selves are in a dynamic relationship with one
human biological another, sometimes working in concert, sometimes in bitter conflict
needs
•For example,
Spirit or Passion- we may develop a romantic relationship with someone who is an
basic emmotion intellectual companion (Reason),
with whom we are passionately in love (Spirit),
and whom we find sexually attractive, igniting our lustful appetites
(Appetite).
Or we may find ourselves in personal conflict, torn between
three different relationships, each of which appeals to a
different part of our self:
•Reason, Spirit, Appetite.
When conflict occurs Plato believes it is the responsibility of our Reason:
to sort things out
exert control,
re-establishing a harmonious relationship between the three elements
of our selves.

Plato illustrates his view of the soul/self

in Phaedrus with a vivid metaphor:
the soul is likened to a winged chariot
drawn by two powerful horses:
a white horse, representing Spirit, and
a black horse, embodying Appetite.
The charioteer is Reason, whose task
is to guide the chariot to the eternal
realm by controlling the two
independent-minded horses.
pa Go
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WEEK 02
12
Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND

FEMINIST ON SELF

EXPLORE: Read and Reflect

Those charioteers
PLATO who are successful in setting a true course and ensuring that the
two steeds
Write the KEY work together in harmonious unity achieve true wisdom and
WORDS to help banquet with the
you remember gods.
important IDEAS
from this However, those charioteers who are
unable to control their horses and keep
KEY WORDS their chariot on track are destined to
experience personal, intellectual, and
Reason should spiritual failure
be in control of PLATO BELIEVED THAT GENUINE HAPPINESS
spirit and
CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY PEOPLE WHO
appetites to
CONSISTENTLY MAKE SURE THAT THEIR
have a balanced
REASON IS IN CONTROL OF THEIR:
and happy life.
---SPIRITS
---APPETITES:

EVALUATE
Balancing Reason, Appetite, and Spirit
Describe an experience in your life in which you experienced a vigorous conflict between the three
dimensions of your self identified by Plato: Reason, Appetite, and Spirit. What was the nature of the
conflict? How was it resolved?
My family wanted me to take maritime course since most of them are seamen. My uncles, cousins, and
even the course of my father is related to maritime. They encouraged me to take the same course
since according to them, it is the fastest way of getting money. My reason made me to think that they
might be right. It is a really good opportunity for me since I will already have background on that course
because of their help. But deep in me, I wanted to take an engineering course, since I have always
been dreaming of becoming engineer someday and my passion in Math and building houses makes
me really want to achieve it, but engineering course is quite long to take. I really think about it, and I
came to a decision that I will take engineering course. I explained to them why I take this course, and I
think they understand me. I just need to prove them that I will be the first civil engineer in my family.

Describe an experience in your life in which Reason prevailed over Passion and Appetite. How was
Reason able to prevail? Did you gain increased wisdom from the experience?

Recently, I had feelings for this girl. I liked her because of her good attitude and great personality.
And what makes me so much interested about her is that she also have feelings for me. I think she is
more than what I deserve. But I knew that if I will be in a relationship with her, I will just have a hard
time in reaching out to her since we are quite far from each other, and my parents don't allow me to
be in a relationship right now. So, I decided to take step behind of my feelings and I rejected her. I
think I made the right choice because I can be able to focus on my studies and I became more aware
of my feelings and I learned that sometimes in life, love is not always the best option.
pa Go
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13 Module 01 - LESSON 02

SOCRATES, PLATO AND FEMINIST ON SELF

EVALUATE
Balancing Reason, Appetite, and Spirit
Describe an experience in your life in which
I must be the three elements of your self identified by
careful when I Plato worked together in a productive and
cross the road- harmonious fashion, enabling you to achieve
and ensure I a great success.
must retain my
indivdiualism I must search
I must satisfy understanding and Last year, I was planning in what university I
my basic above all search will enter for college. Practically, I am
instinct - food, for the truth planning to go to a university where I don't
drink, sex, need to pay for my tuition, since my parents
shelter, etc.. can not afford to send me to private
universities. Then, I choose ISAT U, and
luckily, they have engineering course which is
the course I want to take. I became practical
in choosing a free-tuition university (reason),
took the course I love and passionate
(passion/spirit), and quench my thirst of
having good education in college (appetite).

FEMINIST'S CRITICISM OF PLATO's CONCEPT OF THE SELF

KEY WORDS
ELIZABETH V. SPELMAN
In her essay “Woman as Body” by the philosopher Elizabeth V. Spelman
Plato have Expressed this perspectives:
tended to overemphasizing the power and authority of reason, and
identify that under emphasizing the importance of the body and emotions.
men are
superior while Barbara Richmond (1940) Professor of the Humanities, Smith College. Prominent
women are figure in both contemporary feminist and African philosophies.
inferior. Author of several books, including Inessential Woman: Problems of Exclusion in
Feminist Thought (1988) and In Repair: The Impulse to Restore in a Fragile World
(2002).
They believe that this view is particularly insidious because
Plato—and other traditional philosophers—have tended to identify
men with the superior capacity of reason, while relegating women to
the “inferior” areas of physical responses and emotions.
EVALUATE
Elizabeth Spelman contends that traditional Western philosophy, beginning with Plato, has tended
to view women as more “emotional” than men and thus less able to achieve true knowledge through
rational analysis and exploration.
Do you think that it is accurate to say, as the author seems to suggest, that in general men
are seen as more “logical” and “rational” and women are more “emotional”? Explain your answer

It is very prejudice and gender biased to say that men are more rational while women are more emotional. In this modern
society, men and women have already given equal opportunities, and through this, their characteristics have been seen
equally. Many women are very logical and rational nowadays since they already proved it by thriving and being successful
in many fields like in politics, science, business, and even in sports, which only men do before. Also, most men nowadays
have been so open with what they feel. The only thing that makes men less emotional before is the thinking that they will
become "gay" if they show their emotions so much. Being emotional does not decreases masculinity, and showing your p Go
emotion is a natural aspect of human, which some men, including me, tend to believe at this time. ag to
e
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