Understanding the Self

Preliminary Examination

Test 1: Answer the following questions. (3 points each)

1. What is the significance of studying the philosophical views about the “self” in
discovering oneself?
2. What are the most prevalent among the issues on self? And how do you address these
issues?
3. What is the biological blueprint of an individual? Explain.
4. How does the nervous system affect the human sexual response? Explain.
5. How does studying the different aspects of self, help you in developing your inner self?

ANSWER:

1. This is important because through our philosophers we can deepen our knowledge
about ourselves.
2. One of the biggest self-esteem issues is a lack of self-acceptance. When we don't give
ourselves the chance to appreciate our good qualities while also accepting our mistakes
and feelings, we're not accepting ourselves as we are. Let us face it by trusting in our own
ability.
3. Biological blueprints are the characteristics we inherit from our ancestors or parents,
such as appearance, temperament, etc. that we can acquire because of our origin.
4. The male sexual response reflects a dynamic balance between exciting and inhibiting
forces of the autonomic nervous system within the penis and throughout the CNS. The
sympathetic component tends to inhibit erections, whereas the parasympathetic system is
one of several excitatory pathways.
5. It is a great help for me, because by studying it it expands my knowledge and
awareness about myself, I can also apply it in my daily life.

Test 2: Discuss the views about the “self” of the following philosophers. (5 points each)
1. Rene Descartes - “I think, therefore, I am.” The mind and soul can exist without the
body. Establishing the distinction of soul from the body can make people believe in the
afterlife and the soul’s immortality.
2. Immanuel Kant - There is inner self and outer self. The inner self includes rational
reasoning and psychological state. The outer self includes the body and physical mind,
where representation occurs.
3. Socrates - Knowledge is the personification of good while ignorance is that of evil. Self-
knowledge is the ultimate virtue. As the ultimate virtue, it will lead to ultimate happiness.
4. Maurice-Merleu Ponty - “We are our bodies.” Our bodily experiences do not detach the
subject/object, mind/body, rational/irrational.

ANSWERS:

1. Rene Descartes:

  I think, therefore I am: Descartes says that the idea of God is as real as any figure or
number. Once he accepted that God exists, he concluded that everything he clearly and
distinctly perceives is true.
 The mind and soul can exist without the body: for me yes, because our body is only
temporary but our mind and soul will remain alive that we can take to the second life, it
may be in hell or in the kingdom of our God.
 Establishing the distinction of soul from the body can make people believe in the
afterlife and the soul’s immortality: for me, When we say body it is only temporary,
whereas the soul is eternal.
2. Immanuel Kant:
 There is inner self and outer self: according to this term by Immanuel Kant, for my
own opinion we have an inner and outer self of which the inner self is our behavior while
the outer is our appearance.
 The inner self includes rational reasoning and psychological state: The inner self is
comprised of our psychological state and our rational intellect. The outer self includes our
sense and the physical world. According to Kant, representation occurs through our
senses. It is mental imagery based on past sensations and experiences.
 The outer self includes the body and physical mind, where representation occurs:
The outer self includes our sense and the physical world. According to Kant,
representation occurs through our senses. It is mental imagery based on past sensations
and experiences.
3. Socrates
 Knowledge is the personification of good while ignorance is that of evil: According to
my own understanding our knowledge will lead us to good while ignorance will lead us
to evil or disaster.
 Self-knowledge is the ultimate virtue: according to this term of socrates he informs that
our knowledge is the real good, because when we have no knowledge we can be
exploited or belittled by other people.
 As the ultimate virtue, it will lead to ultimate happiness: according to this saying of
Socrates, when you do good it will bring you pleasure. For example, "I helped the person
in need" because of this help our lord may honor me for this kindness without expecting
anything in return.
4. Maurice-Merleu Ponty:
 “We are our bodies.” the physical body to be an important part of what makes up the
subjective self.
 Our bodily experiences do not detach the subject/object, mind/body,
rational/irrational: These are concerned with institutions, cultures, and the interpersonal
relationships of people living within society.