UTS_M1

1. Introduction/Overview

• This module discusses the meaning of philosophy and introduces NEU’s philosophy of education.

• It presents perspectives from various philosophers on the concept of the self and includes Biblical views.

• The goal is to deepen understanding of philosophical and biblical foundations of identity.

1.1. NEU’s Philosophy of Education and VMGO

• Core Principle: "Godliness is the Foundation of Knowledge".

• Education at New Era University (NEU) emphasizes the development of Christian values such as:

  • Reverent fear of God

  • Discipline

  • Competence

  • Service to humanity

• Graduate Attributes: God-fearing, disciplined, and competent individuals.

Mission and Vision

• Mission: Provide education rooted in Christian values to honor and glorify God.

• Vision: A world-class institution emphasizing a unique Christian culture of excellence, discipline, and service.

Goals and Objectives

• Impart value-laden education for total man development.

• Offer curricula that meet contemporary needs.

• Enhance learning through appropriate resources.

• Conduct significant research for institutional growth.

• Provide outreach services promoting community self-help.

• Ensure accessibility to non-conventional higher education.

• Foster the development of servant leaders.

• Produce God-fearing, competent, and disciplined graduates.

2. Learning Outcomes

• Define the meaning of philosophy.

• Explain philosophy's role in understanding the self.

• Appreciate philosophers' contributions to the self.

• Reflect upon biblical philosophy of the self.

• Formulate a personal philosophy of life.

3. Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspective of the Self

• Philosophy Origins: From Greek "philosophia", meaning "love of wisdom"; concerns existence, knowledge, values, etc.

• Emphasizes inquiry to uncover ultimate causes and principles.

3.1. Socrates - An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

• Life: Born around 469 B.C. in Athens; primarily known through Plato's dialogues.

• Views on Self:

  • Synonymous with the soul, which is immortal.

  • Advocated for a life of reason and self-examination.

  • Distinguished between physical realms (changeable) and ideal realms (unchanging).

  • Essential living involves virtue and self-awareness through soul-searching.

3.2. Plato - The Self Is An Immortal Soul

• Born between 429-423 B.C. in Athens.

• Views on Self:

  • The soul is paramount, requiring self-knowledge and purification.

  • Introduced a tripartite soul concept:

    • Reason: Enables deep thought and wise choices.

    • Physical Appetite: Basic biological needs.

    • Spirit/Passion: Emotions like love and aggression.

  • Distinguished between the world of forms (eternal) and the world of senses (temporary).

3.3. Aristotle - The Soul Is The Essence Of The Self

• Born 384 B.C. to an aristocratic family in Macedonia.

• Views on Self:

  • Sees the soul as defining life; not separate from the body.

  • Identified three types of soul:

    • Vegetative: Growth processes.

    • Sentient: Emotional and sensory experiences.

    • Rational: Intellectual functions crucial for humanity.

  • Advocated moral virtues for a flourishing life.

3.4. Aurelius Augustinus - The Self Has An Immortal Soul

• Born 354 in Numidia; became Bishop of Hippo.

• Views on Self:

  • Distinction between body and immortal soul; the soul governs man.

  • Emphasized that self-understanding comes from knowing God.

  • Affirmed self-knowledge requires spiritual insight.

3.5. René Descartes - I Think Therefore I Am

• Born 1596 in France; focused on logic and philosophy.

• Views on Self:

  • Self-awareness is proof of existence; "I think therefore I am".

  • Concepts of self as a thinking entity and physical body.

  • Differentiates between the immortal soul and the mortal body.

3.6. John Locke - The Self Is Consciousness

• Born 1632 in England; integral to empiricism.

• Views on Self:

  • Mind as a tabula rasa, shaped by experience.

  • Consciousness and memory define personal identity.

  • Reason and introspection help in understanding the self.

3.7. David Hume - There Is No Self

• Born 1711 in Scotland; emphasized empiricism.

• Views on Self:

  • Denies a permanent self; posits perceptions without an enduring identity.

  • Impressions (vivid experiences) versus less vivid ideas.

  • States that personal identity is imaginative.

3.8. Immanuel Kant - We Construct The Self

• Born 1724 in Prussia; focused on knowledge and perception.

• Views on Self:

  • The self organizes experience and constructs reality.

  • Acts as an organizing principle for unified perception.

  • Rationality shapes abstract ideas without direct sensory experience.

3.9. Sigmund Freud - The Self Is Multi-layered

• Born 1856 in Austria; founder of psychoanalysis.

• Views on Self:

  • Comprised of three layers:

    • Conscious self: Practical and realistic.

    • Unconscious self: Drive-based including taboo thoughts.

    • Preconscious self: Non-threatening information readily accessible.

3.10. Gilbert Ryle - The Self Is The Way People Behave

• Born 1900 in England; key figure in ordinary language philosophy.

• Views on Self:

  • Defined through behavior patterns; "I act therefore I am".

  • Mind reflects the totality of human disposition through actions.

3.11. Paul Churchland - The Self Is The Brain

• Born 1942 in Canada; known for neurophilosophy.

• Views on Self:

  • Advocated eliminative materialism; mind arises from the brain's physical processes.

  • Emphasizes that the mind is not an independently existing entity.

3.12. Maurice Merleau-Ponty - The Self Is Embodied Subjectivity

• Born 1908 in France; focused on phenomenology.

• Views on Self:

  • Knowledge of self derived from experiential phenomena.

  • Mind and body are unified; consciousness actively structures experiences.

4. Lesson 2: Biblical Perspective of the Self

• According to the Bible, humans have three components: body, soul, spirit.

• Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 emphasizes the preservation of spirit, soul, and body.