Philosophical, Sociological, and Eastern Perspectives of the Self

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering Greek Rationalist, Theocentric, Modern, Contemporary, Sociological, and Eastern perspectives of the self.

Philosophy

A term derived from the Greek words 'philos' (loving or fond of) and 'sophia' (wisdom), translating to 'the love of wisdom' or 'the pursuit of wisdom.'

Tradition

A set of beliefs, customs, and practices passed down through generations within a particular cultural, religious, or philosophical group.

Greek Rationalist Tradition

A philosophical tradition exemplified by Socrates and Plato that views the self as distinct from the physical body and capable of rational thought and reflection.

Socratic Dualism

The view that every person is composed of two distinct parts: an imperfect, impermanent physical body and a perfect, permanent, immortal soul.

True Knowledge (Socrates)

An understanding of eternal truths such as goodness, justice, beauty, equality, and virtue that exist independently of the physical world.

The Forms / Eternal Truths

Unchanging realities that do not depend on physical objects or material things to exist, are not created by people or nature, and do not change even if the physical world changes.

Self-Awareness

The ability and willingness to honestly examine one's thoughts, beliefs, motives, emotions, values, limitations, and actions in order to better understand oneself and live a virtuous life.

Self-Knowledge

What an individual discovers about themselves through self-examination, answering the question 'Who am I?'

Wisdom (Socratic Perspective)

Sound judgment and understanding of how one ought to live, answering the question 'What is good and worth pursuing?'

Virtue (Socratic Perspective)

Knowledge of the good, based on the principle that to truly know what is good is to naturally do what is good, answering 'Am I living according to what I know is good?'

Tripartite Soul

Plato's model of the self consisting of three distinct parts: reason ( rational soul ), spirit ( spirited soul ), and appetite ( appetitive soul ).

Rational Soul (Reason)

The thinking, reasoning, and judging aspect of Plato's tripartite soul that values wisdom and makes decisions based on reason alone.

Spirited Soul (Spirit)

The part of Plato's tripartite soul encompassing both positive and negative emotions, linked to courage and determination, which supports reason when aligned with it.

Appetitive Soul (Appetite)

The part of Plato's tripartite soul responsible for managing fundamental bodily desires (hunger, thirst, sexual desire) and constantly seeking immediate pleasure, comfort, and material wealth.

Well-Balanced Soul

In Platonic philosophy, a state of self-harmony in which reason rules, spirit supports, and appetite follows.

Theocentric Tradition

A tradition placing God at the center of human life and purpose, where the self is understood primarily through its relationship with God.

St. Augustine's View of the Self

The concept that humans are composed of a physical body bound to the material world and a rational, immortal soul that yearns for communion with God.

Divine Grace (St. Augustine)

St. Augustine's view that virtue is a gift from God rather than an internal discovery originating solely from individual human reason.

The Will (St. Augustine)

The ethically most important part of the mind according to St. Augustine, whose orientation determines whether a person loves lower goods or higher goods.

Cartesian Dualism

Rene Descartes' theory that every person is composed of two distinct substances: a material body extended in space acting like a machine, and an immaterial mind characterized by thought and consciousness.

Cogito, Ergo Sum

Rene Descartes' Latin principle ('I think, therefore I am'), concluding that the very act of doubting or thinking indisputably proves the existence of the thinking self.

Natural Goodness (Rousseau)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view that humans are naturally good, innocent, and empathetic at birth, but become corrupted by societal pressures, competition, and inequality.

Authenticity (Rousseau)

The concept that true selfhood and happiness are achieved by staying true to one's inner emotions and values rather than conforming to societal expectations.

Bundle Theory of the Self

David Hume's theory that the self is not a single, permanent entity, but a bundle or collection of different constantly changing perceptions succeeding each other in perpetual flux.

Impressions (Hume)

In David Hume's philosophy, real or actual vivid experiences and direct physical sensations.

Ideas (Hume)

In David Hume's philosophy, copies of impressions formed later in memory or imagination, which are less vivid than direct impressions.

Behavioral Disposition

In Gilbert Ryle's philosophy, an individual's tendency and capability to behave in a specific way under particular circumstances.

Rylean Equation

Gilbert Ryle's framework for observable behavior defined as: (IF) Situation → Capability + Tendency (THEN) → Observable Behavior.

Multi-track Dispositions

Gilbert Ryle's concept that human dispositions are highly complex and manifested through diverse actions in various situations rather than rigid, single robotic habits.

Phenomenology

The study of conscious experience from the standpoint of how it is directly lived and felt from the first-person perspective.

Embodied Subjectivity

Maurice Merleau-Ponty's concept that mind and body form an inseparable whole, meaning consciousness, identity, and world-awareness are actively shaped through bodily experiences.

Social Construct

An idea or category created and accepted by society rather than existing inherently in nature.

Sociology

A social science that studies human societies, social relationships, social interactions, and patterns of behavior within groups and institutions.

Sense of Self

The comprehensive understanding and awareness an individual possesses regarding who they are as a person.

Looking-Glass Self

Charles Horton Cooley's theory describing the process wherein individuals base their sense of self on their perceptions of how others view and judge them.

Symbolic Interactionism

A broad sociological perspective asserting that the self is created, developed, and altered through social interaction using symbols such as language and gestures.

The 'I' (Mead)

In George Herbert Mead's theory, the spontaneous, creative, active, unpredictable, and impulsive component of the self representing individual agency.

The 'Me' (Mead)

In George Herbert Mead's theory, the socialized component of the self that reflects learned behaviors, social norms, expectations, and attitudes of society.

Preparatory Stage (Imitation)

The first stage of self-development in Mead's theory where children merely imitate others without understanding how they are seen, leaving self-concept almost non-existent.

Play Stage (Role-Playing)

The second stage of self-development in Mead's theory where children begin building a basic self-concept by taking on the roles of specific significant others.

Game Stage (The Generalized Other)

The final stage of self-development in Mead's theory where children form a stable self-concept by managing multiple roles and understanding the organized rules and attitudes of society.

Generalized Other

The organized rules, norms, and shared attitudes of society as a whole that an individual learns to comprehend during the Game Stage.

Anatman (No-Self)

The Buddhist doctrine stating that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul, challenging the Hindu concept of an eternal Atman.

Impermanence (Buddhism)

The foundational principle in Buddhism that everything, including the self, is in a constant state of change.

Nirvana

The ultimate goal in Buddhism representing enlightenment and complete liberation from suffering achieved by overcoming attachments and desires.

Wu Wei (Non-Interference)

A core Taoist principle of naturalness and non-interference—living spontaneously in alignment with the Tao without forcing artificial desires, rigid ambitions, or excessive control.