LEC 1 (P3): The Philosophical Perspective (Part 3: Sigmund Freud, Gilbert Ryle, Paul Churchland, Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Sigmund Freud

Austrian psychoanalyst believing “The Self is Multilayered”

The Self is Multilayered

Quote summarizing Freud’s perspective on the self

3 Layers of the Self

Main Idea of Freud

Conscious, Unconscious, Preconscious

According to Freud what are the 3 Layers of the Self

Conscious

According to Freud, layer of the self governed by the reality principle; info shared to the world since it is socially acceptable

Unconscious

According to Freud, layer of the self containing our true colors and basic instinctual drive (sexuality, aggressiveness, fears)

Preconscious

According to Freud, layer of the self that is the safest, non-threatening; where our memories and stored knowledge

Gilbert Ryle

Philosopher believing “The Self is the Way People Behave (I act, therefore I am)”

The Self is the Way People Behave (I act, therefore I am)

Quote summarizing Ryles’ perspective on the self

pattern of behavior; who we are

According to Ryles, the self is equivalent to __ __ ___ and the way we behave is equivalent to ___ __ ___

Paul Churchland

Philosopher believing “The Self is the Brain”

The Self is the Brain

Quote summarizing Paul Churchland’s belief on the self

Eliminative Materialism

Main idea of Paul Churchland

Self is inseparable from the brain and the physiology of the body; Sense of self is the brain; No brain means no self

3 Main Parts of Churchland’s Idea of Eliminative Materialism

Descartes who believed the thinking self isn’t the body and can transcend the body

Whose idea does Churchland’s contradict?

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

Philosopher who believed “The Self is Embodied Subjectivity”

The Self is Embodied Subjectivity

Quote summarizing Merleau-Ponty’s perspective on the self

Dualism/Mind-Body Bifurcation (treating mind and body as different entities)

What idea did Merleau-Ponty believe is a futile, problematic thinking that is out-dated?

conscious; our choices; sensory; external forces out of our control

According to Merleau-Ponty ___ experience (___ ___) and ___ experience (___ ___ ___ __ ___ ___) allow us to define the nature of our self

subjective experience

According to Merleau-Ponty, the perception of the self and the world is a product of ___ ___, the external experiences we can’t consciously manipulate ourselves

embodied subjectivity

According to Merleau-Ponty, the self is ___ ___