Sociological and Philosophical Perspectives of the Self

Comprehensive practice flashcards in question-and-answer format covering sociological perspectives (social groups, Cooley's looking glass self, Mead's 'I' and 'Me') and philosophical perspectives (ancient, medieval, and modern thinkers) of the self.

How does the sociological perspective view the origin and development of the self?

The self is not present at birth; it develops only through social experience where language, gestures, and objects are used to communicate meaningfully, and it is shaped by interactions with people, groups, and social institutions.

What is an organic group, and what motivates a person to join it?

An organic group is a naturally occurring group highly influenced by one's family, which a person joins through organic motivation because their family is already part of it.

What is a rational group, and what type of motivation drives membership in it?

A rational group occurs in modern society and is formed based on shared self-interests, where people join out of their own free will through rational motivation.

What is the main concept of Charles Horton Cooley's looking glass self?

The looking glass self posits that what we believe other people think shapes how we see ourselves, treating the people we interact with as a mirror in which we view ourselves.

What are the three steps in Charles Horton Cooley's looking glass self process?

1. We imagine how we appear to others; 2. We imagine how others judge us; 3. We develop feelings about ourselves based on that imagined judgment.

Why can Charles Horton Cooley's looking glass self lead to a negative self-image?

Because perceptions are subjective, an individual may misinterpret how others evaluate them; if they believe others judge them unfavorably, they may develop a negative self-image.

According to George Herbert Mead, what is the "I"?

The "I" is the subjective element and active side of the self, representing the spontaneous and unique traits of an individual and acting as the response to the "Me".

According to George Herbert Mead, what is the "Me"?

The "Me" is the objective element of the self, representing the internalized attitudes, expectations, and demands of other people learned through interaction with others and the environment.

According to George Herbert Mead, when is full development of the self attained?

Full development of the self is attained when the "I" and "Me" are united, combining who you really are with what others see you as.

What are the three stages of self-development identified by George Herbert Mead, along with their age ranges?

1. Language (birth to 2 years old); 2. Play (2 to 6 years old); 3. Game (6 to 9 years old).

What is the etymological definition of Philosophy?

Philosophy comes from the Greek words philo (meaning loving) and sophia (meaning wisdom), translating to "love of wisdom".

What were Greek thinkers primarily concerned with prior to Socrates?

They were concerned with what the world is really made of, why the world is so, and what explains the changes observed around them.

According to Socrates, what two parts make up the self?

The physical aspect (tangible, mortal, and constantly changing) and the soul (immortal and the true self).

According to Socrates, what prevents human beings from attaining wisdom?

Preoccupation with bodily needs such as food, drink, sex, pleasure, material possessions, and wealth keeps us from attaining wisdom.

What is the Socratic Method (introspection)?

A method of carefully examining thoughts and emotions to gain self-knowledge by asking a series of questions to test ideas, determine underlying beliefs, and guide better understanding.

What is Plato's Theory of Forms?

A theory stating that the physical world is not the "real" world, because ultimate reality exists beyond the physical world.

What are the three parts of the soul according to Plato's tripartite view?

1. The rational soul (forged by reason and intellect, existing before the body); 2. The spirited soul (emotions); 3. The appetitive soul (desires).

According to Aristotle, how is human happiness achieved?

Human happiness comes from the harmonious development of the whole self, integrating body and soul, mind and matter, sense and intellect, passion and reason.

What is Aristotle's Theory of the Golden Mean?

A principle of moderation that advises avoiding extremes (too much and too little) and living a life of moderation by doing things in consonance with reason.

How does St. Augustine define the ultimate source of human happiness and peace?

Inner peace and true happiness ("summum bonum" or the highest good) are found in God alone through recognizing God's love, as finite and temporary worldly goods cannot satisfy the human soul.

What did St. Thomas Aquinas assert regarding human reason and divine revelation?

St. Thomas Aquinas proclaimed the supremacy of reason, but stressed that certain truths cannot be known by human reason alone and require the light of divine revelation.

How does René Descartes establish proof of existence in his statement "Cogito ergo sum"?

Descartes argues that the act of thinking about the self—being self-conscious—is in itself proof that a thinking entity exists ("I think, therefore I am").

What are the two dimensions in René Descartes' mind-body dichotomy?

The thinking self or soul (Cogito: nonmaterial, immortal, conscious being) and the physical body (Extenza: material, mortal, non-thinking entity governed by physical laws).

What is John Locke's concept of "tabula rasa"?

"Tabula rasa" means blank slate, proposing that the human mind at birth has no innate ideas and that all knowledge and personal identity are derived from sense experience and organized memories.

What is David Hume's view on the existence of the self?

Hume claims there is no self; what people experience is merely a bundle or collection of different perceptions, impressions, sensations, ideas, thoughts, and images, making personal identity a product of imagination.

What are the key differences between Rationalism and Empiricism regarding knowledge, intuition, and innate concepts?

Rationalism holds that reason is the source of knowledge, believes in intuition, and claims individuals have innate knowledge. Empiricism holds that sense experience is the source of knowledge, rejects intuition, and claims individuals have no innate knowledge.

According to Immanuel Kant, how does the self construct reality?

The self actively organizes and synthesizes internal thoughts/feelings and external events/situations to create its own recognizable, predictable reality, transcending sense experience through rationality.

What is Gilbert Ryle's core assertion about the self ("I act, therefore I am")?

Ryle asserts that the self is defined by one's daily actions and behavior, summarized as "I act, therefore I am".

What is Paul Churchland's view of the self?

Churchland holds a materialistic view that the self is the physical brain, not an imaginary mind; if the brain is gone, there is no self.

How does Maurice Merleau-Ponty define the self?

Merleau-Ponty defines the self as "embodied subjectivity," stating that all knowledge of ourselves and the world is rooted in subjective experience and that the self can never be completely objectified.