Understanding the Self - Chapter 1 and 2

SOCRATES

Saint and martyr of education, knowledge, and philosophy. Emphasized the importance of "knowing oneself." Acceptance of ignorance leads to acquisition of knowledge. Possession of knowledge is a virtue; ignorance is depravity. Understanding ourselves is through internal questioning or introspection (understanding our strengths and weaknesses).

SOCRATIC METHOD

A way of teaching through asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and draw out ideas.

HAPPINESS

The goal in life. Motivates us to act towards or avoid things that could affect our lives.

PLATO

Student of Socrates. Known as the Father of Academy (place where learning and knowledge-sharing happens). Wrote literatures on politics, human nature, virtue, and intelligence. Believed in division of body and soul.

APPETITIVE SOUL

Part of the person driven by desire and need to satisfy oneself (physical needs, pleasures, objects).

SPIRITED SOUL

The courageous, competitive part of a person. Wants to right wrongs and is active in seeking success.

RATIONAL SOUL

The thinking and planning part (conscious mind) that decides actions and predicts outcomes.

VIRTUE

Leads to ethical behavior and prevents temptation by vices.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Saint and philosopher of the church. Believed God encompasses all. Life improves when we mend our relationship with God. Understanding of self is linked to understanding God. Emphasized perception and rejected the complete doubtfulness of the academy.

ESSENCE OF EXISTENCE

Established through teaching of the church and relationship with God, especially since our bodies are limited.

RENE DESCARTES

French philosopher, known as Father of Modern Philosophy. Introduced systematic and scientific method in philosophy. Proponent of modern dualism (mind and body).

METHODICAL DOUBT

Continuous questioning to define existence.

COGITO ERGO SUM

"I think, therefore I am." Thinking and doubting prove one's existence.

DUALISM

Belief in body (senses) and mind (reasoning) as two distinct aspects of the self.

JOHN LOCKE

English philosopher and physician. Father of Classical Liberation. Advocated against absolute power. Believed in tabula rasa or blank slate — humans are born knowing nothing. Experiences shape who we are.

TABULA RASA

Blank slate; humans are born without knowledge and gain it through experience.

DAVID HUME

Scottish philosopher focused on empiricism, skepticism, and naturalism. Believed self is based on accumulated impressions. No permanent self. Experiences shape ideas and knowledge.

IMPRESSIONS

Sensory experiences that create knowledge.

IMMANUEL KANT

German philosopher. Combined empiricism and rationalism. Believed transcendental apperception (awareness of self) synthesizes experiences to define who we are.

TRANSCENDENTAL APPERCEPTION

The consciousness that combines all experiences, intuition, and imagination to define the self.

SIGMUND FREUD

Austrian psychologist. Father of Psychoanalysis. Studied human nature, unconscious, and levels of personality.

ID

Childlike part seeking pleasure and self-gratification. Driven by pleasure principle.

SUPEREGO

Moral compass. Upholds justice and social norms.

EGO

Mediator between id and superego. Works within reality.

CONSCIOUS

Easily accessible memories.

PRE-CONSCIOUS

Harder to access but still reachable memories.

UNCONSCIOUS

Deeply stored memories, especially from childhood. Requires special techniques to access.

GILBERT RYLE

Behaviorist. Believed self is shown through behavior. Rejected separation of mind and body.

GHOST IN THE MACHINE

Man is a machine with parts; intelligence/behavior is the ghost within. Actions reflect the self.

PAUL CHURCHLAND

Canadian philosopher. Focused on eliminative materialism. Believed that brain activity defines the self.

THE BRAIN AS THE SELF

Self is the result of neural pathways and brain movement.

ELIMINATIVE MATERIALISM

Mental states should be explained in terms of brain functions.

MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY

French philosopher known for existentialism and phenomenology. Believed mind and body are one.

PHENOMENOLOGY OF PERCEPTION

Unity of mind and body. Actions, language, and behaviors reflect our perception.

GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY

Focuses on the whole rather than the sum of parts. Experience guides perception.

THOMAS AQUINAS

13th century scholar. Believed man is composed of two parts.

MATTER (HYLE)

Common substance of the universe (shared with all living things).

FORM (MORPHE)

Essence of substance; the soul that defines human uniqueness.

SOUL

Animates the body; the essence that makes humans different from other beings.

GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

Sociologist from University of Chicago; Symbolic Interactions Perspective. Believed that the self emerges through social interaction. Self develops as we age and through reflecting on interactions with others. We form self-image by imagining how others perceive us.

IMITATION

Trying to put ourselves in another's shoes to see how they perceive a situation or action.

GENERALIZED OTHER

Internalized cultural norms, mores, and expectations of behavior.

"I"

Spontaneous, acting self that engages with the world.

"ME"

Objective self formed through social interaction.

HENRI DE SAINT-SIMON

Historic founder of French Socialism. His views were shaped by the French Revolution. Advocated for a new organization of society led by industrial chiefs and scientists instead of feudal lords.

INDUSTRIAL STATE

Government directed by modern science to prevent war and promote productivity.

SOCIETY OF SCIENCE

Concept that scientific knowledge should guide society, influencing Comte's views.

HERBERT SPENCER

Developed Synthetic Philosophy combining physical, biological, psychological, and ethical ideas. Believed in moral laws and natural laws shaping society.

SOCIAL STATISTICS

Human happiness comes from satisfying needs without infringing on others. Advocates for pleasure through shared well-being.

PRINCIPLES OF ETHICS

Extends natural laws to morality. Warns that violating these laws with legislation causes harm.

LAISSEZ-FAIRE

Humans should be free from external regulation and follow natural laws.

INDIVIDUATION

Law supporting union of individuals into a community.

SOCIAL EVOLUTION

War allows advanced societies to dominate and raise complexity of organization.

DAVID EMILE DURKHEIM

French sociologist. Helped establish sociology as a modern science. Studied how society maintains coherence in modern times.

SOCIOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE

Explored how concepts of logic and categories of thought arise socially and differ across cultures.

COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATIONS

Symbols and ideas formed through intense social interaction that reflect group beliefs.

LANGUAGE

A social product formed through collective history; structures experience of reality.

ALBERT BANDURA

Proposed Social Learning Theory. Self develops in response to social stimuli, modeling, and reinforcement.

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY

Explains socialization and identity formation through learning and environment.

SELF-EFFICACY

Belief in one's ability to perform and influence events in life.

MASTERY EXPERIENCE

Success builds confidence through overcoming obstacles.

VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE

Seeing similar others succeed boosts belief in personal capabilities.

SOCIAL PERSUASION

Verbal encouragement improves effort and persistence.

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES

Emotional states influence perceived ability.

KARL MARX

Proposed Theory of Self-Estrangement or Self-Alienation. Alienation happens when people lose connection to their work and society, affecting their sense of self.

SELF-ALIENATION

Disconnection from one's essence due to meaningless labor or isolation in society.

MAX WEBER

German sociologist. Analyzed capitalism and its religious roots. Believed Protestant ethic led to capitalism's rise.

IRON CAGE

Describes how capitalism, detached from its religious origin, became a dominant force.

SELF-HELP IMAGINATION

To teach a subject fully, one must detach from self and focus entirely on the discipline.

LEWIS MORGAN

Early anthropologist who studied Iroquois society. Supported monogenesis and proposed a theory of social development through stages.

SOCIAL EVOLUTION

Links family structure, technology, governance, and intellectual progress in societal advancement.

KINSHIP

Viewed as the base structure for society.

MONOGENESIS

The theory that all humans descend from a common origin.