UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
PHILOPHSICAL PERSPECTIVES 2
The Protean View
-Named after Proteus – the shape –shifter of
Greek mythology (green tree, a blindman,
blinding fire) depending on the situation
demanding him to change forms.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF
THESELF
The Protean View
- Like an artichoke or cabbage, as the layers
are removed, one finds there is no central core,
this view agrees that we are nothing but layers
and finds this reasonable and healthy
(Artichoke view)
• This idea says that humans are many layers
that function at various times in life
• Life is such that we need to be able to react in
many different ways
• This is consistent with the idea that there are
no moral absolutes or certain truth
The Protean View (Artichoke view)
Existentialism
- emphasizes individual existence, freedom, and
choice- views that humans define their own
meaning in life- views that man is able to make
rational decisions despite his existence in an
irrational universe
• Mitchell indicates that pluralismis important
to modern thinking.
• It fits with the notion of no moral absolutes
The Protean View (Artichoke view)
• We have no fixed essence as human beings
• We live in the moment and create our
ownselves moment by moment
• As we choose our path, we are accountable
for our choices
• Mitchell summarizes it as “You create a self
for yourself.”
• “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain
of my soul.”(From “Invictus” by William
Ernest Henley – 19thcen)
The Protean View (Artichoke view)
• Life has no inherent meaning – no core to give
purpose or direction.
You can be anything you want to be. But you
have no one to blame but yourself (Mitchell
134).
•Your are the master of your fate.
Hinduism – an “avocado” view
• There is a core within each of us
• The “atman” – in Hindusim, the Self or soul,
which endure successive reincarnation
-expression of the divine or ultimate reality-
carrier of “karma”
• “karma” -the spiritual principle of cause and
effect where intent and actions of an individual
(cause) influence the future of that individual
(effect).
Buddhism – an “artichoke” view
• Advocates the impermanence of everything
• “anatman” – the idea that there is no
permanent, separate, individual, ego-self
• We are a collection of various elements called
‘skandhas” temporarily united
o form
o feeling,
o perception,
o impulse,
o consciousness
Buddhism – an “artichoke” view
• At death these disperse and are united with
other skandhas (“reincarnation”)
• When we die, we actually continue in many
forms
• Everything is dependent on everything else

Enlightenment – the Buddhist term or the
realization that comes from seeing the world as
it actually is -is recognizing that happiness is in
your own hands
• Nirvana is “blowing out” the flame (desire) of
the false self
• The Four Noble Truths
- Life is suffering (continual change)
- Desire (ego) causes suffering - Ending desire
(ego) ends suffering - Following the Noble
Eightfold Path ends desire
The Eight Divisions
-The eight Buddhist practices in the Noble
Eightfold Path are:
• Right View: our actions have consequences,
death is not the end, and our actions and beliefs
have consequences after death. The Buddha
followed and taught a successful path out of
this world and the other world(heaven and
underworld/hell).Later on, right view came to
explicitly include karma andr ebirth, and the
importance of the
Four Noble Truths, when "insight" became
central to Buddhist soteriology.
• Right Resolve: the giving up home and
adopting the life of a religious mendicant in
order to follow the path; this concept aims at
peaceful renunciation, into an environment of
non-sensuality, non-ill-will (to loving kindness),
away from cruelty (to compassion).[30] Such
an environment aids contemplation of
impermanence ,suffering, and non-Self.
• Right Speech: no lying, no rude speech, no
telling one person what another says about
him, speaking that which leads to salvation;
• Right Conduct: no killing or injuring, no
taking what is not given, no sexual acts, no
material desires.
• Right Livelihood: beg to feed, only possessing
what is essential to sustain life;
• Right Effort: guard against sensual thoughts;
this concept states
Harvey, aims at preventing unwholesome states
that disrupt meditation.
• Right Mindfulness: never be absent minded,
being conscious of what one is doing; this,
states Harvey, encourages the mindfulness
about impermanence of body, feeling and
mind, as well as to experience the five
aggregates (skandhas), the five hindrances, the
four True Realities and seven factor so
awakening.
• Right samadhi: practicing four stages of
meditation (dhyāna) culminating into
unification of the mind.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE
SELF
Non-Western Views of Self
TAOISM
-Chinese five element view of self
• Five seasons – five elements of nature:
o Earth
o Fire
o Water
o Metal
o Wood
• People are made of five elements (Mitchell,
138f)
• As long as these elements are in harmony, we
are healthy
• Ch’i flows through us (rather than blood).
This is the energy of the life force.
• Acupuncture tries to eliminate any
obstructions of the ch’iflowing through us
Model
“In the world all things are two and two”
(Tanzanianproverb)
• This means that everything is a fusion of
opposites that forms a unity but remains
separate; similar toyin/yang
• A person is born into a culture or social group
that is the source of his/her being
• Community is extremely important
• A person becomes a fully realized person
through life lived well in support of a
community
Model
• Western culture usually starts with the
individual in understanding the world
• Nonwestern cultures do not begin with the
individual
• Nature community
Non-Western views
• African – purpose of life is creativity •
Children, relationships
• Taoism – the meaning of life is found in
aligning oneself with the wisdom of nature
• Buddhism – the meaning of life is to reach
enlightenment–seeing what actually is
• This means not needing to be reborn (Nirvana
Rationalism and Religious Essentialism
• Assumes the uniqueness of human nature•
Judaic-Christian view– humans share in the
divine nature (made in the image of God)
• Greek – exalts the power of human reason
• Both traditions say humans have a separate
and essential self that defines us and makes us
who and what we are.
• Permanent existence of a self that is unique to
each individual
• Some say it is eternal
Postmodernism
• James Hillman (psychologist) argues that his
born with an innate character that calls us to
what we are meant to be
• As we get older we become more ourselves
• Our final years have an important purpose:
the fulfillment and confirmation of our own
character.
Neuroscience & the Self
The self is memory.
- Our mind, its contents, and the organization
of those contents are key for understanding
what the self is.
- losing one's memory leads to irrevocable
changes in one's personality, behavior, and
ability to achieve goals
• Maybe our purpose in life is to grow into a
conscious old age and share the wisdom we
have acquired for the good of society.
(Mitchell)