UTS PHILOSOPHICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

REVIEWER

What does the term "Philosophy" mean, and what is its primary focus?

"Love of wisdom." It employs the inquisitive mind to discover the ultimate causes, reasons, and principles of everything.

It goes beyond standard scientific investigation by exploring broad areas like religion, psychology, politics, physics, and medicine.

What was Socrates' famous maxim, and how did he view the self and the human soul?

Maxim: "Know thyself."

Socrates equated the self entirely with the soul. He divided existence into two realms: the Physical Realm (changeable, imperfect body) and the Ideal Realm (unchanging, immortal soul and eternal truths). He argued that an "unexamined life is not worth living" and used introspection via the Socratic Method to gain self-knowledge.

What is Plato’s view about the self, the three parts of his soul, and his "Theory of Forms"?

Plato views the self as an immortal, immaterial soul trapped inside a mortal, physical body.

Three-Part Soul:

1. Reason (divine essence for deep thought/wise choices)

2. Physical Appetite (basic biological needs like hunger/sex)

3. Spirit (basic emotions like love, anger, ambition) When reason keeps the others in harmony, it creates justice and happiness.

Theory of Forms: Reality is split into the World of Forms (permanent, non-physical ideas) and the World of Sense (temporary physical replicas).

How does Aristotle define the soul and its three types in relation to the self?

The soul and body are inseparable; the soul is simply the set of defining features and essence of all living things.

Three Types of Souls:

1. Vegetative Soul (growth/physical body)

2. Sentient Soul (feelings/sensual desires)

3. Rational Soul (exclusive to humans; intellect enabling knowledge, leading to self-actualization through moral virtues like justice and courage).

What was St. Augustine’s perspective on the body and soul?

He integrated Platonic concepts with Christian beliefs, viewing the body and soul as a unified, complete entity (likened to a "spouse of the soul").

Humans are created in the image of God and geared toward the good. For Augustine, Self-knowledge equals Knowledge of God.

What does René Descartes mean by "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am")?

The act of self-conscious thinking is absolute proof that a thinking self exists.

He introduced mind-body dualism, separating the self into two independent entities: the Soul/Mind (thinking, non-material, immortal) and the Physical Body (non-thinking, material, mortal, governed by natural laws).

According to John Locke, what is the state of the human mind at birth, and what constitutes the self?

Humans are born as tabula rasa (a blank slate); personal identity is built entirely through sense experiences.

The Self: Defined by conscious awareness and memories of previous experiences. Reason and introspection allow a person to arrive at accurate conclusions about personal identity.

Why did David Hume argue that "there is no self"?

Through close introspection, Hume claimed people discover no fixed self, only a changing "bundle of perceptions".

He divided contents of experience into Impressions (vivid, lively sensations like pain, heat, love) and Ideas (less lively thoughts derived from impressions). Personal identity is just a product of the imagination.

How does Immanuel Kant explain how we construct the self and reality?

The self is an active agent that organizes, filters, and synthesizes all chaotic sensations into an orderly world.

Through transcendental deduction of categories, the mind structures environmental stimuli so that we experience an objective, predictable reality that belongs to us ("Mine").

What are the three structural components of Sigmund Freud’s personality model?

Id: Operates on the pleasure principle; contains basic, child-like, primitive drives and instincts.

Ego: Operates on the reality principle; the rational mediator balancing demands.

Superego: Acts as the moral conscience, striving for perfection rather than mere pleasure.

How do Gilbert Ryle, Paul Churchland, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty differ in defining the mind-body connection?

Gilbert Ryle: The self is a pattern of behavior; the mind simply expresses the system of thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Paul Churchland: Eliminative materialism—the self is completely inseparable from the physical brain (no brain = no self); the non-physical mind does not exist.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty: Embodied subjectivity—mind and body are strictly unified; perception is an active conscious experience where mental, physical, and emotional structures merge.

What is the difference between William James's "I-Self" and "Me-Self"?

I-Self: The "thinking self," pure ego, or soul that knows who it is (the active knower).

Me-Self: The empirical self (the object of experience), broken down into the Material Self (body/possessions), Social Self (how we act/perceived in social situations), and Spiritual Self (core values, conscience, and purpose explored via introspection).

What is the difference between Carl Rogers's "Real Self" and "Ideal Self," and what is required for psychological health?

Real Self: Who you actually are right now.

Ideal Self: Who you aspire or wish to be.

Requirement: To achieve self-actualization, the real self and ideal self must be congruent; a severe mismatch leads to incongruence and heavy anxiety.

What are the main features of human agency according to Albert Bandura, and what is self-efficacy?

Four Features of Agency: Intentionality, Forethought, Self-reactiveness, and Self-reflectiveness.

Self-Efficacy: An individual's core belief in their own capability to successfully perform a specific task, serving as the foundation of human agency.

What are Carl Jung’s four major archetypes located in the collective unconscious?

Persona: The social mask/role we present to others.

Shadow: The repressed, dark side of our psyche.

Anima/Animus: The feminine side of a male psyche (anima) and the masculine side of a female psyche (animus).

The Self: The central archetype that unites all parts of the psyche.

What are Sigmund Freud’s 5 Psychosexual Stages of Development?

Oral Stage (Birth–1 yr; pleasure from sucking/biting)

Anal Stage (2nd year; pleasure from waste elimination/toilet training)

Phallic Stage (3–6 yrs; genital curiosity/anatomical differences)

Latency Stage (7–12 yrs; sexual energy repressed, focus on school/social skills)

Genital Stage (Adolescence–Adulthood; mature sexual relationships)

What is the core focus of Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory, particularly during adolescence?

Core Focus: An 8-stage lifespan theory where individuals resolve specific psychosocial crises at each age.

Adolescence: Focuses on Identity Formation vs. Identity Confusion, where individuals must build an authentic vision of self and future goals.