The Self: Philosophical, Sociological, and Anthropological Perspectives

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on the self across philosophical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives.

The unexamined life

A life not subjected to critical self-reflection; Socrates’ dictum.

Immortal soul (Plato)

Soul is an immortal, unchanging entity distinct from the body.

Tripartite soul (Plato)

Soul comprises Reason, Appetite (Physical appetite), and Spirit.

Essence/Form (Aristotle)

The soul is the form or essence of a living being, inseparable from the body.

Rational substance (Augustine)

A human being is a rational substance made up of soul and body.

Soul as the essence of humanity (Aquinas)

The soul is the very essence of what makes a person human.

Cogito, ergo sum

I think, therefore I am.

Self = consciousness and memory (Locke)

The self consists of conscious awareness and memory.

Bundle of perceptions (Hume)

The self is a collection of perceptions held together by memory.

Self cannot think without body (Kant)

Thinking and self-awareness require the body; mind is embodied.

Self as collection of behaviors and dispositions (Ryle)

The self is not a thing but a pattern of observable behaviors and dispositions.

Brain as origin of self (Churchland)

The physical brain is the source of what we call self.

Body as part of self (Merleau-Ponty)

The body is an important element of the subjective self.

Looking-glass self (Cooley)

Self-concept formed through how others reflect us.

I and Me (Mead)

The self has two components: the 'I' (subjective) and the 'me' (internalized others’ expectations).

Preparatory Stage

0-3 years; children imitate others; no clear sense of self.

Play Stage

3-5 years; children view themselves in relation to others and use language.

Game Stage

Early school years; understanding one’s own and others’ social positions.

The Constitution of the Self (Gerry Lanuza)

Discusses the society--individual relationship; self-identity is freely chosen in modern societies.

Hyperreality (Baudrillard)

A condition where something fake or artificial becomes more real than reality.

Consumption structures in postmodern society (Baudrillard)

Identity is shaped by the prestige goods people consume.

Self as embedded in culture (Geertz)

The self is formed within culture; humans live in webs of significance.

Webs of significance (Geertz)

Culture is a system of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms.

Rites of Passage (Gennep)

Three phases of identity change: Separation, Liminality, Incorporation.