GE 101(Understanding the Self)
Definition of Self According to the
following Philosophers
1. Socrates
-According to him, oneself is dualistic,
which means it has two aspects which
are the body and soul.
"Everyone can live but die inside".
2. Plato
-He stated that if three ideal states of
the soul (rational, spirited and r) are
already reached by someone, his/her
soul becomes just and virtuous.
3. St. Augustine
-He believed that humans die here on
earth and their souls lived with God.
4. Thomas Aquinas
-He said that man is considered as a
form or something that has an essence
or importance because they are one of
My Own Concept of Self
I believe that self involves one physical
body and every man has a heart, so it
means they cannot die inside. It's just
that sometimes, they use their mind
over their heart yet they still have
feelings.
Someone doesn't need to set standards
for himself, let him do what he wants
because he has the right to decide on
his own and that is what makes
someone himself.
Humans will not feel inner peace if they
cannot accept God in their lives.
Someone is incomplete if the presence
of God is missing. Those people who
died will experience eternal life with
God.
Once a person is existing, his life or
journey here on earth is what makes up
himself. His journey is what molds him
to be himself.
the things that makes up the universe
(form).

5. Rene Descartes -If someone knows how to think, he

should also know how to expand his
-According to him, when someone can
knowledge or ideas so he can
think, it means he is a human.
completely understand himself.
"cogito ergo sum" or I think therefore, I
am.

6. David Hume Oneself develop through the help of

their companion in life. There are times
-He stated that self involves different
that you become yourself because of
perceptions, impressions and ideas. He
what you experience and observed
also said that everyone is free of their
from other people.
choices because no one controls the
world.

7. Immanuel Kant Sometimes oneself is also the reflection

of what other people see or think about
-He believed that the self is not just
someone. You become yourself
about the personality of a person, it is
because you let others opinion dictates
also engaged with experiences.
you.

8. Gilbert Ryle -Someone becomes himself because of

what he believes in, a man makes up
-According to him, behavior matters the
himself because of what he thinks
most. The self is called self because of
about his own self.
the behavior that someone manifested
every day.

9. Maurice Merleau-Ponty Body and mind should be joined

together so someone will be able to
Self is made up of mind and body as
think as well as do things accordingly. If
these are intertwined and cannot be
these two are separated, the self will
separated. Humans are existing
not be called self because if a man
because of their bodies and embodied
experience. doesn't have a brain, he will be
unconscious and he will not recognize
himself.