Ateneo de Naga University

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Philosophy Department

Understanding the Self

Preliminary Examinations
First Semester, S/Y 2018-2019

Name: ____________________________________ Section: _____________ Date: _______________

GOOD LUCK!
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:

 This examination is composed of three parts: Identification (10 points), Modified True or False (20 points),
and Essay (10 points)
 Read instructions carefully.
 Observe all examination rules.
 Write legibly and use CAPITAL letters only. Erasures or alterations are not allowed.
 Failure to follow the general instructions will make your answers void.

I. IDENTIFICATION

DIRECTION: Identify the words and concepts that each item asks. Write legibly on the spaces provided below.
Wrong spelling is wrong.

1. This refers to that “entity” which is seen, felt, thought, or assumed to be different from
the others. It is a general term used to distinguish oneself in reference to others
2. The being which is separate from all other beings in the world by virtue of its rationality
and freedom, capable of knowing and making choices.
3. In Philosophy, this refers to that innermost core [Kern] of the human being-person out of
which he develops his own unique self.
4. An ancient philosopher known for his quote “Know Thyself” and “An unexamined life is
not worth living.” He is considered one of the greatest thinkers of all time.
5. His starting point is that all knowledge must come from experience (empiricism). There
are no innate ideas and our minds are all tabula rasa (blank slates).
6. A famous ancient philosopher known for his theory of two worlds: the material and the
world of forms. He believes that the world of forms is the real world and the material
world is temporary.
7. According to him, there is no real “self” but we are all just a bundle of perceptions that
are results of habits.
8. He is considered the father of modern philosophy and is famous for his conclusion:
“Cogito, ergo sum.” He believes that the self is rational and is a thinking self.
9. He introduced the theory of the Id, Ego, and Superego. His theory presents the
fragmented and compartmentalized self.
10. “I Act therefore I am.”

II. TRUE OR FALSE

Self Person Aristotle Sigmund Freud

Consciousness Human Being Rene Descartes Immanuel Kant
Personality Plato John Locke Paul Churchland
Socrates David Hume Gilbert Ryle Maurice Merleau-Ponty

DIRECTION: Read each statement carefully and decide whether it is true or not. On the space provided below,
write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is stated otherwise. UNDERLINE the incorrect
word/phrase that made the sentence false and replace it with the correct term.

11. In Buddhism, the self is something permanent because of reincarnation.

12. According to Gilbert Ryle, man is just a ghost in a machine.
13. For Paul Churchland the brain is the self. Thus there is no self, freedom and
immortality.
14. For Maurice Merleau-Ponty, man is an incarnate objectivity.
15. The Ego follows the pleasure principle. It is the source of all desires of the human
organism and that which serves as the driving force of all his actions.
16. The thoughts of the West are essentially the same with the East.
17. The Artichoke self indicates that one has a predestined purpose in life already.
18. The term “personality” also signifies in modern times that he is the source of his own
free acts, i.e., capable of self-determination.
 19. For Kant, The body is merely the prison of the soul. Thus, the soul must exert all its
efforts to get out of the misery of being trapped in the weakness and depravity of the
body.
20. St. Aquinas is famous for his quote: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”
We are all ultimately bound to obey the law of God.

III. ESSAY

DIRECTION: Answer the following item in essay form. Make it concise and straight to the point. WRITE
LEGIBLY AND DON’T EXCEED THE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW.

41-50. In the discussion of the Artichoke Self and the Avocado Self, explain through an ILLUSTRATION your
evaluation of your own self whether you are an Artichoke or an Avocado. Be creative in manifesting how and why
you are that specific character.

Drawing: Personalized illustration of an Avocado or Artichoke with your own name and characteristics.

Explanation:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________.