Self from Various

Philosophical
z Perspective

CHAPTER 1 LESSON 1
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LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. explain why it is essential to understand the self;
2. describe and discuss the different notions of the self
from the point-of-view of the various philosophers
across time and place;
3. compare and contrast how the self has been
represented in different philosophical schools; and
4. examine one’s self against the different views of self
that were discussed in class.
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Philo/ Philia

LOVE OF WISDOM

Sophia
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Philosophy is about:
 Finding answer to serious questions about
ourselves and about the world we live in:
 What is morally right and wrong? And why?
 What is a good life?

 Does God exist?

 What is the mind?

 …..and much, much more

 Questioning existing knowledge and intuitions

to get closer to the truth
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SOCRATES

“An unexamined
life is not worth
living”
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SOCRATES
 Every person is dualistic.

 Composed of body and soul

 Body

- Imperfect and impermanent

 Soul

- Perfect and permanent

 For him, men’s goal in life is to obtain happiness

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PLATO
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PLATO

 Student of Socrates

 In addition to what Socrates espoused, he added

3 components of the soul
1. Rational Soul

2. Spirited Soul
3. Appetitive soul
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PLATO

1. Rational Soul
 In charge of our reason and intellect
 Divine essence that enables us to think
deeply, make wise choices, and achieve
a true understanding of eternal truths.
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PLATO

2. Spirited Soul
 In charge of our emotion and passion
 Basic emotions such as love, anger,
ambition, empathy, and aggressiveness.
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PLATO

3. Appetitive Soul
 In charge of our basic needs
 Includes our basic biological needs such
as hunger, thirst and sexual desire.
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PLATO
 These three elements of our selves are in a
dynamic relationship with one another, sometimes
in conflict.
 When conflict occurs, Plato believes that it is the
responsibility of our Reason to sort things out and
exert control, restoring a harmonious relationship
among the three elements of our selves.
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PLATO

 Plato believes that genuine happiness can only be

achieved by people who constantly make sure that
their Reason is in control of their Spirits and
Appetites.
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ST. AUGUSTINE
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ST. AUGUSTINE
 A Saints and a Philosopher of the church

 Following view of Plato but adds Christianity

 Man is of a bifurcated nature

 Body- imperfect and bound to die on earth
 Soul- Anticipating to live eternally in communion
with GOD.
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THOMAS AQUINAS
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THOMAS AQUINAS

 Adapted the ideas from Aristotle.

 Man is composed of 2 parts:

• Matter (Hyle in Greek word)

– “common stuff that makes up everything in the universe”

• Form (Morphe in Greek word)

– “essence of a substance”;
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RENE DESCARTES
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RENE DESCARTES
 Father of Modern Philosophy

 Believe in modern dualism or the existence of body and mind.

 2 distinct entities

 The self = cogito (the thing that thinks which is the mind) + extenza
(extension of mind which is the body)

 Therefore, the body is nothing else but a machine that is attached to the
mind and he called it as the thinking thing.

 Known for the statement "Cogito Ergo Sum" (I think, therefore I am)
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DAVID HUME
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DAVID HUME

 Scottish Philosopher

 For him self is nothing else but a bundle of

impressions or experiences.
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DAVID HUME
2 categories of experiences
1. Impression
 basic object of experiences
2. Idea
 copies of impressions through thoughts and
minds
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DAVID HUME

IDEA

What falling in love feels

like?
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DAVID HUME

IMPRESSION
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IMMANUEL KANT
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IMMANUEL KANT
 German Philosopher that is known for his work on
empiricism and rationalism
 Self is a seat of knowledge acquisition for all human
persons
 He stipulated that there is necessarily a mind that
organizes the impressions that one gets in relation to
his own existence.
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GILBERT RYLE
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GILBERT RYLE
 Denies the internal, non-physical self.

 Ryle thought the philosophical use of the word “soul” was a

category mistake or a mistake in the use of language.

 “what truly matters is the behavior that a person manifests in

his day-to-day life.”

 He suggested that the self is not an entity one can locate and
analyze but simply the convenient name that people use to
refer all the behaviors that people make.
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MAURICE
MERLEAU-PONTY
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MAURICE
MERLEAU-PONTY
 French Philosopher

 For him mind and body are inseparable

 The living body, his thoughts, emotions, and

experiences are ALL ONE.
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END