GEN 002 - Understanding the Self

Socrates

Often considered as the FATHER OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

Socrates

He famously declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living”

Socrates

He emphasized the importance of self-reflection and critical thinking in the pursuit of truth and wisdom. He also encouraged individuals to question their beliefs, values, and assumptions, challenging them to seek knowledge and self-understanding through dialogue and inquiry.

Know thyself

The goal of philosophy is to _. Knowing others is wisdom. Knowing the self is enlightenment. Mastering others requires force. Mastering the self requires strength.

Philosophy of Socrates

Self-knowledge alone eradicates misery.

Philosophy of Socrates

Self-knowledge

_ alone is the means to the highest bliss.

Socratic Method

Knowledge of oneself can be achieved only through the _, that is to say, the dialogue between the soul and itself, or between a student and his teacher

Plato

He believed that the self is composed of two parts: Rational soul and irrational soul.

Two parts of Plato’s philosophy

Rational and Irrational Soul

Rational and Irrational Soul

Two parts of Plato’s philosophy

Plato

He linked the soul to a charioteer driving a chariot pulled by two horses, representing reason and desires.

True knowledge

This comes from the rational soul’s pursuit of trutth and virtue

Irrational appetites

This can lead to ignorance and moral corruption

Dualistic perspective

Plato adopts a _, where positing the experience of both and immaterial mind (soul) and a material body.

Soul

It is the _ that apprehends the forms, existing both before birth and after death

Soul

Plato asserts that the _, rather than the body, is the locus of true knowledge, as it transcends the limitations of the sense

Social interactions, talents, and friendships.

Plato underscores the social dimension of human nature, emphasizing our interdependence and the benefits derived from these 3

Reasons, appetite (Physical urges), and will (emotion, passion, spirit)

The 3 three distinct parts of soul (mind)

Will (emotion, passion, spirit), Mental conflicts

_ serves as the source of various emotions such as anger, love, and ambitions. When these aspects are not in the harmony, _ ensures, with the will oscillating between reasons and the appetite.

Aristotle

He believed that the self is a harmonious integration of various faculties, reasons, emtion, and perception.

Aristotle

He advocated for eudaimonia, or flourishing, achieved through the balanced development of these facilities

Self-awareness

This is vital for moral and intellectual growth, enabling individuals to understand their strengths and weaknesses

Aristotle

Who defined that the soul as the essence of the living being, meaning, if we don’t have soul, we cannot function, but argued against its having a separate existence.

Soul

Aristotle defined that the_ as the essence of the living being, meaning, if we don’t have soul, we cannot function, but argued against its having a separate existence.

Soul

is an activity of the body, it cannot be immortal, and for Aristotle, humans have bodies for rational activity, and the potential for rational activity thus constituted the essence of a human _

St. Augustine

He integrated the Christian Theology with philosophical inquiry to explore the nature of the self

St. Augustine

He viewed the self as flawed due to original sin, consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, but capable of redemption through divine grace.

St. Augustine

He also emphasized the importance of faith, humility, and moral transformation in understanding the self. Faith, repentance, and adherence to divine commandments.

St. Augustine

He acknowledge the struggle between earthly desires and spiritual fulfillment and emphasized the ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit.

Rene Descartes

He proposed a dualistic view of the self, distinguishing between the mind and body.

Rene Descartes

I think therefore I am, highlighting the primacy of consciousness in defining the self.

Descarte’s philosophy

It laid the groundwork for modern discussions on the nature of consciousness and personal identity.

Cogito, ergo sum

I think therefore I am is also known as

I think, therefore I am

This means that as long as you’re thinking, you know you exist.

Rene Descartes

He believed that the mind and the body is independently functioning. Man must use his own mind to investigate, analyze, experiment, and develop himself

Methodic Doubt

This means that we must doubt everything

We are doubting

There is one doubt that we cannot doubt, and that’s _

Society

The _ we live in gives a huge impact on who we are today.

Society

It provides social norms, cultural values, and behavioral expectations that influence our identity, beliefs, and behaviors.

Extreme Isolation

If we do not grow in a society and experience extreme isolation, this consequences occurs.

Feral children

People who experience an extreme isolation is called _

Feral children

You are called _ if you did not have your language, manners, beliefs, and ability to connect with others

Feral children

These are the kids who grow up from isolated society. They might have abandoned, lost in the wilderness, or raised by animals.

Charles Coleey

He made the concept of ‘“ooking glass self”, meaning it explores how our self-concept is influenced by our perceptions of how others see us.

looking glass self

Charles Coleey made the concept “_”, meaning it explores how our self-concept is influenced by our perceptions of how others see us.

Three key components of The looking glass self

1. We imagine how others perceive us

2. We interpret the feedback we receive from others

3. Based on the imagined perceptions and interpreted feedback, we develop a self-evaluation that shapes our sense of identity

1. We imagine how others perceive us

2. We interpret the feedback we receive from others

3. Based on the imagined perceptions and interpreted feedback, we develop a self-evaluation that shapes our sense of identity

Three key components of The looking glass self

Looking glass self concept

It emphasizes the social nature of the self and the intricate interplay between individual identity and social influence in shaping who we are

Five social institutions

1. Family

2. Education

3. Religion

4. Government

5. Economy

1. Family

2. Education

3. Religion

4. Government

5. Economy

What are the five social institution?

Family

This is generally regarded as a primary social institution

Family

It is also the basic unit of the society and multifaceted functions performed by it makes it a much-needed institution in a society

Family

The oldest institution in on the earth.

Family

They provide emotional support, a sense of belonging, and influences, behaviors through role modeling and communication patterns.

Education

This system serves as a vital social institution tasked with educating a society’s youth in essential academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms

Education

The principal factors influencing these systems resolve around the resources and financial allocations dedicated to their sustenance across countries.

Education

It shapes identity through knowledge skills, and exposure to diverse perspective, influencing beliefs, values, and behaviors.

Education

It fosters personal development, critical thinking, and awareness of self and others, impacting future opportunities and societal contributions.

Religion

It functions as a social institution that offers explanations and interpretations for various aspect of life that may seem mysterious.

Religion

It provides understanding regarding the causes of events and offers insights into the concept of birth and death.

Monotheistic religions

Characterized by beliefs in a single diety

Polytheistic religions

These involves worship of multiple dieties

Religion

It impacts identity by shaping beliefs, values, and cultural practices. It also influences social interactions and family dynamics providing a sense of belonging and moral guidance.

Religion

This also plays a role in shaping our behavior, attitudes, and decision making processes, contributing significantly to personal identity

Government

It is an institution tasked with formulating and enforcing societal rules and managing external relations with other societies.

Government

This is a ruling body to be recognized as _, it must have the acknowledgement of the people it governs.

Government

It influences one’s identity by providing structure, governance, and regulation within society.

Government

It establishes laws, policies, and institutions that shape social norms, values, and behaviors.

Government

Their actions and decisions impact citizen’s rights, freedom, and opportunities, influencing their sense of belonging, civic engagement, and national identity.

Economy

This is a institution that oversees the production and distribution of goods and services crucial for meeting the needs of individuals across societies.

Economy

It affects one’s identity by shaping access to resources opportunities, and social status.

Economic condition

It influence education, employment, and lifestyle choices, impacting individuals’ sense of security and self-worth.

Enculturation

It is the process by which individuals internalize the cultural norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors of their own society or community.

Enculturation

This process starts early life and continues through social institution

Enculturation

It is fundamental to shaping individuals identities and socialization as it provides the foundation for understanding social expectations, norms, and roles within their cultural text

Acculturation

This involves the exchange and integration of cultural elements between different cultural groups.

Acculturation

It occurs when individuals or groups from one culture come into contact with and adopt elements of another culture, leading to cultural change and adaptation

Acculturation

It can occur through processes such as migration, globalization, trade, colonization, or cultural exchange.

Acculturation

It often results in the blending of cultural practices, beliefs, languages, and identities, creating diverse and hybrid cultural expressions.

Acculturation

This can be dynamic and transformative process that influences individuals’ identities, social interactions, and cultural landscapes.

Assimilation

This refers to the process by which individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of a dominant or host culture, often at the expense of their own cultural identity

Assimilation

It typically occurs in the context where there is pressure or expectations for individuals to conform to the dominant culture, leading to the loss or suppression if cultural heritage, language, and traditions.

Assimilation

This can be a complex and contentious process, as it raises questions about cultural preservation, identity formation, and social integration.

George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)

He formulated the theory of social behaviorism to explain the influence of social experiences on an individuals personality development

theory of social behaviorism

This offers valuable insights into how social interactions shape our sense of self and identity

Social interactions

Mead’s theory of social behaviorism emphasizes the importance of _ in the development of the self.

Mead

According to _, the self is not innate but emerges through social experiences and interactions with others

Symbolic interactions

The concept of _, which posits that individuals develop a sense of self through the interpretation of symbols and gestures within social contexts.

Mead

He introduced the idea of the I and the Me

I and Me

Mead introduced the idea of _, to explain the dual nature of the self.

I

it represents the spontaneous and impulsive aspect of the self

Me

It represents the socialized aspect shaped by the societal norms and expectations.

Role taking

This refers to the ability to understand and adopt the perspectives of others. Through this, individuals learn to anticipate how others will react to their actions and adjust their behavior accordingly.

Role taking

This allows individuals to develop empathy, perspective-taking skills, and sense of social identity.

Role taking

Recognizing the role of social interactions and symbolic communication in shaping the self, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their own identity development and interpersonal relationships.

Albert Bandura

He formulated Social cognitive theory and the concept of the self

Albert Bandura

He was born on December 4, 1925

Albert Bandura

He died on July 26, 2021

Albert Bandura

He is a famous psychologist who created the Social Cognitive Theory and the Concept of the self