BREAKDOWN FOR MID-TERMS

Page 1: Understanding the Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives

I. THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES

  • Philosophy: Literally means "love of wisdom" derived from Greek words:

    • Philein: to love

    • Sophia: wisdom

  • Considered the progenitor of all scientific forms; seeks the ultimate meaning of all things in aid of human reason.

A. The Different Approaches to Philosophy

  1. Historical Approach

    • Ancient Philosophy: Significant figures include Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

    • Medieval Philosophy: Focuses on the Fathers of the Church and Scholastic Fathers like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.

    • Modern Philosophy: Features René Descartes (Father of modern philosophy), Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, David Hume, and Immanuel Kant. Their works primarily address epistemology.

    • Contemporary Philosophy: Considers reactions to modern philosophers, critiquing their reliance on human reasoning.

  2. Systematic Approach

    • Philosophy of Man: Explores man's existence, relationships, and mortality.

    • Metaphysics: Questions the meaning of being and existence.

    • Social Philosophy: Understands societal structures in political and economic contexts.

    • Philosophy of Religion: Deals with God’s essence and existence.

  3. Practical Approach

    • Ethics: Evaluates morality in human actions.

    • Logic: Studies methods to distinguish reasoning validity.

B. Insight

  • "Seeing with the Mind": Can be enhanced through metaphor or abstraction; it is a personal engagement.

  • Philosophy is rooted in lived experiences that create dynamic interrelations with self and the environment.

C. Levels of Inquiry

  1. Common Sense: General understanding guiding responses.

  2. Scientific Inquiry: Seeks concrete solutions for specific needs.

  3. Philosophical Inquiry: Explores coherence and meaning in human life.

Page 2: Philosophizing and Ancient Philosophers

HOW THEN DO WE PHILOSOPHIZE?

  1. Wonder (Plato)

  2. Doubt (René Descartes)

  3. Limit Situations/Realities (Existentialists)

  4. Metaphysical Uneasiness (Gabriel Marcel & Soren Kierkegaard)

A. Ancient Philosophers

  1. Socrates

    • Quote: "An Unexamined Life is not worth living!"

    • Engaged others in questioning their self-knowledge.

    • Concepts of body (imperfect) and soul (perfect) and the importance of self-awareness.

  2. Plato

    • Expanded on Socratic teachings about the soul’s three components:

      • Rational (Intellect) - governs behavior.

      • Spirited (Emotions) - moderated for justice.

      • Appetitive - concerned with base desires.

  3. Aristotle

    • Proposed the "Tabula Rasa" - people start as a blank slate.

    • Happiness (eudaimonia) as the highest good, achievable through lived experience.

Page 3: Medieval and Modern Philosophers

A. Medieval Philosophers

  1. Saint Augustine

    • Argued for bifurcated nature of man, seeking unity with the Divine.

  2. Saint Thomas Aquinas

    • Proposed duality of man: Matter (body) & Form (soul); essence defines humanity.

B. Modern Philosophers

  1. René Descartes

    • Famous for "I Think, Therefore I Am!"; emphasized the importance of doubt.

    • Presented dualism: Mind (Cogito) vs. Body (Extenza).

  2. David Hume

    • Suggested the self is a bundle of impressions and ideas.

  3. Immanuel Kant

    • Believed knowledge is synthesized through human perception, impacting identity.

  4. Thomas Hobbes

    • Described man as a political animal in a natural state often characterized by conflict.

  5. John Locke

    • Distinguished humans as capable of change, denying intrinsic good or evil.

Page 4: Contemporary Philosophers

A. Existentialism

  • Emphasizes individual existence and responsibility; "existence precedes essence."

  1. Søren Kierkegaard

    • Noted for exploring angst and the necessity of making personal choices.

  2. Jean-Paul Sartre

    • Claimed humans must create their own essence, bearing full responsibility for choices.

  3. Gilbert Ryle

    • Challenged Cartesian dualism, viewing mental acts as intertwined with action.

  4. Merleau-Ponty

    • Argued for the inseparability of body and mind, which shape experiences in the world.

Page 5: The Self, Society & Culture

A. Understanding the Self

  • Defined as separate, independent, consistent, unitary, and private; unique identity at the core.

B. The Self & Culture

  • According to Mauss, every self involves "personne" and "moi"; interplay impacts identity.

    • "Moi": A person’s bodily identity and biological givenness.

    • "Personne": Socially constructed identity, influenced by culture; varies in different contexts.

C. The Self and the Development of the Social World

  • Influenced by language and interactions, both Mead and Vygotsky highlight development through social exchange.

D. The Self in Families

  • Family and upbringing significantly shape a person’s identity and coping mechanisms.

E. Gender and the Self

  • Gender constructs influence self-perception and behavior, requiring personal discovery and assertion.

Page 6: The Self as a Cognitive Construct

A. Definition of Self

  • William James: Defines self in two aspects: "I" (thinking self) and "Me" (physical and psychological characteristics).

  • Carl Rogers reinforces this duality in understanding self-concept.

B. Self-Schema

  • Carl Rogers’ self-schema indicates that identity is fluid and ever-changing, shaped by experiences and self-perceptions.

C. Other Psychological Theories of the Self

  1. Freud: Interaction of Id, Ego, and Superego shapes behavior.

  2. Symbolic Interactionism: The self develops through interactions with others.

  3. Private and Public Self: Carver and Scheier describe two selves: Private (internal standards) and Public (societal presentation).

D. Important Aspects of Symbolic Interactionism

  1. We do not create ourselves in isolation.

  2. Others influence our self-concept.

  3. Importance of social context in shaping identity.

Page 7: The Self in Western and Eastern Thoughts

A. Eastern Thoughts

  1. Confucianism: Advocates a subdued self for communal good.

  2. Taoism: Views the self as part of the universe's manifestation.

  3. Buddhism: Considers the self an illusion causing suffering, recommending transcendence through enlightenment.

B. The West vs. The East in Defining the Self

  • Western Views: Characterized by individualism, duality, competitive nature, and clear communication.

    • Emphasizes the individual over the group.

  • Eastern Views: Collectivism, interconnectedness, value on cooperation, and indirect communication.

    • Focus on the group’s harmony rather than the individual.

Closing Thoughts

  • Wishing everyone success in their studies! For inquiries, continue in Google Classroom or group chats.