Philosophical Perspective on the self

Philosophy (Etymology)

• Greek Words

— philo - loving

— Sophia - knowledge, wisdom

What is Philosophy?

It is the pursuit of wisdom truth and knowledge

it tends to answer big questions.

Why study Philosophy?

The aim is to deepen understanding

The hope is that by doing philosophy, we learn

to think better

to act more wisely and

thereby help to improve the quality of all our lives.

Philosophy is not primarily the study of other people's ideas.

It is the 1st of all the attempts to state clearly and convincingly and interestingly as possible our own views.

11 Philosophers (SPSRJDISGPM)

1. Socrates

2. Plato

3. St. Augustine of Hippo

4. Rene Descartes

5. John Locke

6. David Hume

7. Immanuel Kant

8. Sigmund Freud

9. Gilbert Ryle

10. Paul Churchland

11. Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Socrates

• Father of Western philosophy

• socratic method

Socratic method

A form of dialectical questioning that stimulates critical thinking and uncovers knowledge by asking and answering questions.

Socrates and the Self

•He believed that the soul is immortal that is not the end but the separation of the soul from the body

•continuing to live by being part of the permanent things in the world.

Soul (Socrates)

True essence of a person not the body possessions or social status

•caring for the soul is the main task of philosophy.

Socrates (Know Thyself)

Self knowledge- 1st step in caring for the soul

Introspection and physical self examination - essential to human flourishing

Socrates (Purpose of Life)

Achieve the good life - only possible When soul is in good condition

soul - is cultivated through pursuit of knowledge wisdom and virtue.

• The true self is the virtous self

Plato

•Socrates’ most famous student

•founded Plato academy (informal)) - 1st institution of higher learning in the western world.

Plato (2 parts body & soul)

Body-material visible and destructible

soul- immaterial invisible indestructible.

• Soul is the true essence of the person

• body is a temporary vessel that hinders the soul from fully grasping truth and wisdom

theory of forms (plato)

Physical world through senses - not the true reality.

• Shadow/limitation of a higher eternal realm of perfect, nonmaterial entities called forms or ideas.

Tripartite theory ot the soul.

Rational spirited appetitive.

Rational

•Thinking analysing decisionmaking part

• Seeks truth and wisdom

• Brain in control.

•MUST GOVERN THE OTHER 2 - To achieve a just and harmonious life

Spirited

•Source of emotions

• responsible for sense of honour

•Chest in control

Apetitive

•Abdomen in control

•governs physical desires

To illustrate How the rational part must govern the other 2 to achieve Just and harmonious life

Allegory of the chariot

Allegory of the chariot

The soul is a chariot, driven by a charioteer (reason) who attempts to control 2 horses

• Soul achieves balance when reason controls both horses, leading it toward truth and enlightenment.

2 horses

1. Noble & Spirited - will/emotions

2. Unruly & appetitive - base desires

Plato (true self)

•rational soul

• part of us that seeks knowledge, contemplates eternal truths, aspires to the higher realm of the Forms

St. Augustine of Hippo

•1 of the most influential christian philos & theologians of late antiquity

•bridged plato's thought w/ early christian doctrine

SAH (Unity of Body&Soul)

• body - mortal & tied to earthly desires

• Soul - immortal & created by god to know and love Him

SAH - the soul is

• Superior to the body

• prioritize

• Body is not evil, but must be guided by soul for a moral & spiritual life

SAH - the True Self

Self finds fulfillment not through earthly knowledge/pleasure

• Soul in relationship w/ God

• Personal rel w/ god

SAH - the fall of man

• self is torn between…

• human will is divided

• We often know what is good but fail to do it bcos of our disordered desires (part of concupiscence)

• Soul reflects image of its creator

• Cupiditas & Caritas

•Self knowledhe must kead to

• true knowledge is possible only through

• TRUE SELF

• God-knowledge

• divine illumination - god enlightens the human mind to grasp eternal truths

• Soul oriented toward God - pursuit of divine truth