The Self in Various Perspectives: Philosophy

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards focusing on philosophical perspectives of the self as presented in the lecture notes, including key figures from Socrates to Merleau-Ponty.

According to the Tao Te Ching, what distinguishes intelligence from true wisdom?

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.

How does the Tao Te Ching define true power?

Mastering yourself is true power.

What is a philosopher traditionally considered to be?

A lover of wisdom and an intellectual who has devoted time to study the meaning of life, contributing to fields like logic, ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology.

According to Socrates, what are the two components of man and which existed first?

Man is composed of body and soul, and the soul existed first before the body.

What is the consequence of man entering the material world according to Socrates?

Man forgets most of what he knew as a soul, resulting in lack of knowledge or ignorance, which causes problems.

What characterizes Plato ’ s dichotomy of the world?

The World of Forms is the permanent, unchanging reality, while the Material world is a replica of the real world that keeps on changing.

For Plato, what is the ‘ true self ’ ?

The soul is the true self, which is permanent and unchanging, whereas the body is only a replica.

What is Augustine of Hippo ’ s view on the nature of the body and soul?

Man has a bifurcated nature where the body is bound to die on earth, while the soul is to anticipate living eternally in a realm of spiritual bliss with God.

According to Augustine of Hippo, what distinguishes right from wrong?

Reason makes us recognize moral laws, allowing us to discern right from wrong based on an Eternal law coming from God.

What are the two parts of man in Thomas Aquinas ’ philosophy and what do they represent?

Matter ($hyle$), which is the common stuff of the universe, and Form ($morphine$), which is the essence of a substance or thing.

What is the function of the soul according to Thomas Aquinas?

The soul is what animates the body and is what makes us humans.

Who is known as the Father of modern Philosophy and what is his core principle?

Rene Descartes, whose core principle is "I T H I N K , T H E R E F O R E ; I A M" ($Cogito\,ergo\,sum$).

How did Rene Descartes describe the relationship between the mind and body?

The mind and body are separated and distinct, with the body being a machine attached to the mind, yet they are conjoined intimately and casually act upon each other.

What is John Locke ’ s concept of the mind at birth?

Before there is any knowledge, the mind is a $tabula\,rasa$ [blank slate] that is filled with knowledge through interactions with the world.

What is John Locke ’ s memory theory of personal identity?

It holds that we are the same person as in the past as long as we can remember something from that past; identity is made possible by self-consciousness.

How does David Hume divide the contents of the mind?

Into Impressions (things perceived through senses during experience) and Ideas (things created in the mind when no longer experiencing them).

Why does David Hume claim that there is no self?

Because there is no permanent and unchanging self, only a bundle of constantly changing perceptions passing through the theater of the mind.

According to Immanuel Kant, what characterizes a moral person?

A moral person is a free agent gifted with reason and free will who is driven by duty and acts towards the fulfillment of that duty.

How does Immanuel Kant define the self?

The self is a unifying subject, an arguing consciousness that makes intelligible experience possible by organizing data gathered by the senses.

What was Gilbert Ryle ’ s critique of Descartes ’ view of the mind?

Ryle (in $1949$) argued the mind is NOT distinct from the body but refers to aspects of our bodies; the self is simply the way people behave.

What are the three components of Sigmund Freud ’ s tripartite division of the mind?

Id (biological nature and impulses), Ego (the self or reality principle), and Superego (ethical component and moral standards).

What is Paul Churchland ’ s perspective on the self and mental states?

The self is the brain, and mental states will eventually be superseded by brain states once we fully understand how the brain works.

According to Maurice Merleau-Ponty, what is the self?

The self is "embodied subjectivity," product of conscious human experience and defined by one ’ s perception and interpretation of those experiences.