SOCRATES

- He formulated the Socratic method of questioning.

- Defined self as an immortal soul which exists over time.
- An unexamined life is considered not worth living. (Know thyself)
- He views reality as dualistic.
- View of reality, Physical realm (constantly changing, transient and imperfect), and Ideal
realm (unchanging, eternal, and immortal).
PLATO
❖ He elaborated on Socrates' ideas after his death.
❖ Also defines self as an immortal soul which exists over time.
❖ Conceptualize self in three parts (The three parts of the soul)
- Reason - enables humans to think, make choices, and have understanding.
- Physical appetite - biological needs
- Spirit / passion - emotions
❖ The three-part self may act in consonance or may act in conflict with each other.
❖ When reason is in control of spirit and appetites genuine happiness can be achieved.
ST. AUGUSTINE
● St. Augustine is influenced by Plotinus, who based on Plato’s core concepts.
● Also defines self as an immortal soul which exists over time.
● He describes the relationship of body and soul in different connotations but he finally
concluded that “The body is united with the soul so that man may be entire and
complete”
● A virtuous life is to live in love.
● According to Augustine “Immortal souls must strive to achieve union with God through
faith and reason”
DESCARTES
★ Founder of Modern Philosophy, a mathematician and scientist.
★ A rationalist who believes in logical and rational thinking.
★ His philosophical statement is “Cogito ergo sum” which means “I think therefore I am”.
★ He emphasizes that performing mental operations was essential to being a human self,
where humans must think.
★ For him, the self is a thinking thing distinct from the body.
- Thinking self/soul is a non-material, immortal, and conscious being.
- The physical body is a material, mortal and non-thinking entity.
JOHN LOCKE
● He is a physician influenced by the nature of the self.

HUME
●
KANT
➢ A German Philosopher
➢ His philosophical statement is “We construct the self”
➢ Defines self as a unifying subject, an organizing consciousness that makes intelligible
experience possible
 ➢ The mind sorts organize, relates, and synthesizes our mental state/experience
FREUD
●
RYLE
● An analytical philosopher
● Defines self as the way people behave.
- Observable behavior is necessary because this is concrete evidence of how the
mind works and functions.
- What mind wills the body executes it.
- The self is a pattern of behavior.
CHURCHLAND
❖ A contemporary American philosopher.
❖ Defines self as the brain.
❖ The physical and mental states affect each other.
- The health of our body, the food we ingest and experience affect mental and
emotional functioning.
- Likewise mental and emotional states like stress impact our physical state.
❖ Understanding the nature of the mind we will understand the nature of the brain.
MERLEAU-PONTY
➔