THE

PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVE
Subtitle

Karen Jann M. Aquino, RN, RPm, MA. Psychology (Spec. Developmental/Educational Psychology)
NEUST – College of Arts and Sciences. Social and Behavioral Sciences Department
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson,
you will be able to:
explain the different representations and
conceptualizations of the self from various
philosophical views;
examine the different influences, factors and forces
that shape the self;
evaluate how the self has been represented across the
different perspectives;
analyze the development of one’s self and identity; and

explain the concept of Philosophy and Self.

PHILOSOPHY
• a study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries
that involves in answering questions regarding the nature and
existence of man and the world we live in
• PHILOS (love)

• SOPHIA (wisdom)
SOCRATES: An unexamined life is not worth living
•KNOW THYSELF
•SOCRATIC METHOD
•men’s goal in life is to
acquire happiness
•Man is composed of
the body and the soul
According to Socrates, man is composed of:
BODY SOUL
• physical thing • mental thing

• not perfect and • permanent

temporary • live and evident in the

• physically nice and body

• it separates when we die
perfect but
changes through • Can’t exist without the

the years physical body

PLATO: The self is a tripartite soul
•a student of
Socrates
•believed that the
soul is divided into 3
different parts that
has different views
 THE THREE PARTS OF THE SELF
APPETITIVE SPIRITED SOUL RATIONAL
SOUL SOUL
motivated by wants and needs brave part of a person the drive of our lives
involves physical needs and who desires to do something or part that thinks and plan for the
pleasures and desires, objects to right the wrong that they future
and situations observe
ST. AUGUSTINE: The self has an immortal soul

• The soul can be

immortal through
communion with the
divine
• The soul is capable of
immortality
RENE DESCARTES: Cogito Ergo sum (I think
therefore I am)
• DUALISM

• Mind/Cogito is a thinking things that makes a

man
• body is a mere machine and extension

cogito
ergo
I am
sum/I
thinkin I exist think
g
therefo
re I am
JOHN LOCKE: The Self is Consciousness
• Tabula Rasa
• a person is born with
knowing nothing and is
capable to input learning
• consciousness is the
center of the self
DAVID HUME: There is no self
• self is nothing but a
collection of impressions
• experiences as either
impressions or ideas
IMPRESSIONS are a
products of our direct
experiences
IDEAS are a copies of our
impressions
IMMANUEL KANT: We construct the self
• self as an organizing
principle that combine
experiences
• “apparatuses of the
mind”
SIGMUND FREUD: The self is Multilayered
• The unconscious
• man has different
constructs of personality
that interacts with each
other
• conceptualize the levels
of consciousness
 THE MULTI-LAYERED SELF
THREE LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
• Conscious - we are presently aware of

• Preconscious - activities that are not

currently active but stored in our
memory
• Unconscious - activities that are totally
unaware of

THREE LEVELS OF AWARENESS

• ID [pleasure principle]

• EGO [ reality]

• SUPEREGO [conscience]
GILBERT RYLE: I act therefore I am
•The self is just a
brand we call all the
behaviors we make
as individuals
PAUL CHURCHLAND: The self is the brain
• self is defined by the motility
of our brain
• nothing but physical entity
exists
• ELIMINATIVE MATERIALISM
 common sense
understanding of the mind
is false and the mental
states that man are into are
not existing
MAURICE JEAN JACQUES MERLEAU-PONTY:
The self is embodied subjectivity
• body and mind are not separate
entities
• CONCEPT OF PHENOMENOLOGY
OF PERCEPTION - unity of the
function of the mind and the
body
 The body
 The Perceived world
 The people and the world
References:
• Mel Schwartz, L.C.S.W. Retrieved from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shift-mind/201006/who-am-i
• https://www.nourfoundation.com/events/Perspectives-on-the-
Self/Conversations-on-Identity-and Consciousness.html
• https://www.slideshare.net/shinpaiwa/understanding-the-self-lecture-1-
philosophical-perspectives
• https://www.wattpad.com/715925505-understanding-the-self-philosophical-
perspective/page/2
• https://www.coursehero.com/file/35714954/2-The-Self-from-Various-Perspective-
PhilosophyModulepdf/