UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Philosophy)..
(PRELIMINARIES)
Chapter One: The Self from Various
Perspectives
Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspectives
on the Self – Week 1
MODULE 1: FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF
PHILOSOPHY
PHILOSOPHY
ETYMOLOGY
Greek word “philo” – loving and
“sophia” – knowledge/wisdom
Greek word “philo” – loving and
“sophia” – knowledge/wisdom
Greek word “philo” – loving and
“sophia” – knowledge/wisdom
Greek word “philo” – loving and
“sophia” – knowledge/wisdom
Greekword “philo” – loving and
“sophia” – knowledge/wisdom
DEFINITION
 At its simplest, Philosophy
means “loving knowledge” or
“loving wisdom”. The term as
originally used by the Greeks
meant “the pursuit of
knowledge for its own sake”
 It is a set of ideals, standards,
or beliefs used to describe
behavior and thought. (Western
Philosophy, Easter
 Investigates the legitimacy of
concepts by rational argument
concerning their implications,
relationships as well as reality,
knowledge, moral judgement,
etc.
SOCRATES (469-399 BCE): THE
SOUL IS DUAL IN NATURE
 Saw a person as “dualistic”-
composed of body and soul
 There is an imperfect and
impermanent aspect of every
one of us
1. Physical body – imperfect
and impermanent.
2. Soul- perfect and
permanent. The soul is
unchanging.
 Even after death, the
soul remains.
 The soul aspires for the
divine.
 “The unexamined life is not
worth living” – this is the
cornerstone of Socrates’
Philosophy
 To live without knowing who
you are and what virtues you
can attain is the worst thing that
can happen to a person.
What if Socrates is still alive
today?
“Isip, isip din kapag may
time”

PLATO (428-347 BCE):
THREE-PART SOUL/SELF
 Plato was the student of
Socrates.
 Plato agrees with the idea of his
teacher, Socrates, on the
concept of the soul/self.
 He expounded on the idea of the
soul by introducing the three-part
soul/self.
3 COMPONENTS TO THE
SOUL
1. The Appetitive Soul (Physical
Appetite)
 The element that enjoys
sensual experiences, such as
food, drink, and sex.(that are
very crucial for our survival)
 Responsible for the desires
and cravings of a person
2. The Rational (reasoning)
 This is the conscious
awareness. This is the part
of us that thinks and
analyzes.
 The Rational Soul is the
thinking, reasoning, and
judging aspect.
3. The Spirited (spirit/passion)
 The one with lots of
energy, power, and
emotions.
 Accountable for
emotions and also makes
sure that the rules of
reason is followed in
order to attain victory
and honor.
 Passion refers to our
personal and emotional
relationships.
(Illustrate the three-part soul
in “charioteer allegory”)
Where:
a. Noble horse represents
Spirit (associated with
the heart)
b. A wild horse embodies
Appetite (associated
with the belly/genitals)
and
c. The charioteer is
Reason, who guides and
controls the two
independent-minded
horses (associated with
the head/mind).
What if Plato is still alive
today?
Kung hindi ka manhid, tao
ka! Kumpleto ka!
RENE DESCARTES (1596-1650):
HUMAN IS A THINKING BEING.
 Father of Modern Philosophy
 There is much that we should
doubt
 He argues that a person should
only believe the things that can
pass through a test of doubt.
 If something is so clear and
lucid as not to be doubted,
that’s the only time one should
belive.
 “Cogito ergo sum” – I think,
therefore I am.
 He asserted that everything
perceived by the sense could
not be used as proof of
existence because human
senses could be fooled.
 He added that there was only
one thing we could be sure of
in this world, and that was
everything could be doubted.
 The only thing that one can’t be
doubt is existence of the self.
What if Rene Descartes is still
alive today?
Totoo ba ang mga ulap?
Totoo ba ang rainbow?
Totoo bang kami na?
DAVID HUME (1711-1776):
THERE IS NO SELF
 Disagrees with all the other
aforementioned philosophers.
 All knowledge and concepts
come from senses and
experiences.
 That’s why David Hume is an
empiricist- someone who
believes that knowledge comes
from experiences and senses.
 You know that other people are
humans not because you have
seen their soul, but because you
see them, hear them, and feel
them. (again, senses)
 The self is not an entity beyond
the physical body.
What if David Hume is still alive
today?
Wag mo akong tanungin at
pagisipin ng 1+1 kapag binigyan
mo ako ng mangga, at ang isa
pang mangga, ang alam ko,
dalawang mangga na yan.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804): WE
CONSTRUCT THE SELF
 Agrees with Hume that
everything starts with
perception/sensation of
impression.
 Kant thinks that reason and not
mere experiences is the
foundation of knowledge.
 There is a “mind” that regulates
these impressions. The human
mind creates the structure of
human experience
 Time, space, etc. are ideas that
one cannot find in the world,
but it is built in our minds.
What if Immanuel Kant is still alive
today?
Wag kang matakot sa ferris wheel,
hay naku, it’s all in the mind.

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