GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

PANGASINAN
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

STUDENT NAME: RICHARD POSERIO PALAYLAY

MODULE
2

ACTIVITY #1
Directions: Answer the following questions:

1.What is the nature of self according to the medieval philosophers, St. Augustine and St. Thomas
Aquinas?

Aquinas is usually thought to have a theory of "indirect" self-knowledge, according to which

the mind only knows itself in a second-order act that reflects on a first-order act directed
toward extramental objects.
Augustine's sense of self is his relation to God, both in his recognition of God's love and his
response to it—achieved through self-presentation, then self-realization. Augustine
believed one could not achieve inner peace without finding God's love.

2. Do the teachings of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas end up with this statement? None of
the things of this material world can quench a human person’s thirst for perfect happiness. Explain
your answer.

- No matter how wealthy and fortunate a person is, as long as they are not content, they
will always want more. Some people's nature is to look for things they don't have, and in
their pursuit of those things, they forget to be grateful for what they do have right now.
Little did they know, however, that true happiness comes from realizing you are blessed
even with a small amount of possessions, as opposed to obtaining happiness by having a
lot.
3. With St. Thomas, knowing the truth about the self through season is like seeing the dawn while
knowing the truth about the self with the aid of Divine Revelation is like sunrise or broad daylight. Is
this simile correct? Does this mean that what you see about the self at dawn is the same that you
see at sunrise or broad daylight? Does this mean that there is no contradiction alone and how you
see the self in the context of Divine Revelation? Elaborate your answer.

 There are an unlimited amount of material and immaterial goods in the world, yet
none of them will ever fully satisfy a man's craving. We look for amusement,
pleasure, and other things. We chase too much and lose time that could have been
spent being satisfied and content with God's sheer presence.