PHILOSOPHICAL AND

ANTHROLOGICAL
FOUNDATIONS OF SELF
 What is interdisciplinary
learning?
Interdisciplinary learning is one of many ways
to learn over the course of a curriculum. It is
a knowledge view and curriculum approach that
consciously applies methodology and language
from more than one discipline to examine a
central theme, topic, issue, problem or work.
PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW
OF THE “SELF”
SOCRATES
“AVOCADO” SELF
An enduring,
stable self is
seen as
existing at
the core of a
person.
“ARTICHOKE” SELF
A person is
understood
as protean
with no
enduring
stable
core.
Human Nature
Avocado View
PLATO
- The self is an immortal
soul
- Man is a dual nature of
the body and soul
- 3 components of the
soul:
1. Rational soul
2. Spirited soul
3. Appetitive soul
 ARISTOTLE

The soul is the

essence of the
self
 Christianity
asserts that
we humans
are made in
the image and
likeness of
God.
ST. AUGUSTINE
MACRINA THE Macrina is
YOUNGER
clear that the
soul , which is
in the image
and likeness
of God is
without
gender.
In the Islamic
Tradition,
humans (male
and female)
are created in
the “form of
God” (Allah).
[Allah]”
SAYYED HOSSEIN NASR

“ Humans
have dual
status, as
servant and
viceregent
of God.”
 IRAJ ANVAR

NAFS – the false, temporary identities that

keep humans from experiencing their true
spiritual essence

Ex.
• nafs al-ammarah (imperious self, one that
commands)
• nafs al-lawammah ( one that scolds, tells that this
is not right)
RENE DESCARTES
GILBERT RYLE
PAUL CHURCHLAND
 HUMAN NATURE
ARTICHOKE VIEW
PROTEAN - The Protean Self stands in contrast
SELF with the essentialist views of Plato
and Aristotle. - This view agrees that
we are nothing but our layers and
finds this reasonable and healthy.
- Lacking a central core, as posited
by the avocado view, we are able to
respond to the lack of continuity we
find in the world by adapting to it.
- The psychologically healthy
approach might be to imitate Proteus
and change with a changing world.
 ROBERT LIFTON

“The self is composed of many

layers, each of which is real and
functional only at particular times
or in particular circumstances.”
JOHN LOCKE
IMMANUEL KANT
• The basic definition of existentialism is,
“the philosophy that individuals create
their own meaning in their lives, as
opposed to having a deity or higher
power creating it for them,”

• An existentialist will find “self” and the

meaning of life through free will, choice
and personal responsibility.
 JEAN PAUL SARTRE
“Humans are not
squeezed into
society’s
preconceptions and
are therefore free to
become whatever
they choose – to
create themselves.”
JOSE ORTEGA GASSET
“We are dealing with an
entity whose being
consists not in what it is
already, but in what it is
not yet, a being that
consists in not-yet-
being.”
JILL BOLTE TAYLOR
 DAVID HUME
- There is no self.
- Self is but a bundle
of impressions.
- He believes that one
can only know only
what comes from
the senses and
experience.
The self in the Eastern and Western thoughts
Taoism
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