Lesson 1 - From the Perspective of Philosophy

• The popularity of the “big three” - Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.

• All three shared a philosophical academic bond.
• Socrates was the mentor of Plato
• Plato was the mentor of Aristotle
• They started the topic, Know Yourself

I. SOCRATES
• His famous statement which he fully lived by, “the unexamined life is not worth living” • He
believed that his mission in life was to seek the highest knowledge and convince others who
were willing to seek this knowledge in him.
• His method allowed him to question people’s beliefs and ideas, exposing their misconceptions
and get them to touch their souls
• The touching of the soul, may mean helping the person to get in touch with his TRUE SELF.
• The true self, Socrates said, is not the body but the soul
• Virtue is inner goodness, and real beauty is that of the soul
• According to Socrates;
= Every man is dualistic. Composed of body and soul.
= Two important of his personhood:
1. Body is imperfect and impermanent
2. Soul is perfect and permanent
• A person can have a meaningful and happy life only if he becomes virtuous and knows the
value of himself that can be achieving through constant soul-searching.

II. PLATO
• The soul is Immortal
• A student of Socrates
• He believed that in the existence of the mind and soul
• Mind and soul is given in perfection with God
• Plato’s metaphysics (philosophical study on the causes and nature of things.)is known as the
“Theory of Forms”. In his theory of forms,
• Plato explained that FORMS refers to what is real. They are not objects that are encountered
with the senses but can only be grasped intellectual
• Plato’s Forms have the following Characteristics:
1. The Forms are ageless and therefore eternal.
2. The Forms are unchanging and therefore permanent
3. The Forms are unmoving and indivisible
• In connection with the Forms, Plato also introduced to the existence of Two Realms. This is
known as Plato’s Dualism.
1. The Realm of the Shadows is composed of changing, sensible things which are lesser entities
and therefore imperfect and flawed.
2. The Realms of Forms is composed of eternal things which are permanent and perfect. It is
the source of all reality and true knowledge.
• Plato described the soul as having Three Components:
1. The Reason is rational and is the motivation for goodness and truth - thinking soul and
intellect soul.
2. The Spirited soul is non-rational and is the will or the drive toward action. This the emotion
and passion. Basic emotion such as love, anger, ambition, empathy, and aggressiveness.
3. The Appetites/Appetitive soul are irrational and lean towards the desire for pleasures of the
body. This is the basic needs. Includes our basic biological needs as hunger, thirst, and sexual
desires.
• Reason seeks the true goal of man which is to see things in their true nature. The Spirited and
the Appetites/Appetitive want worldly pleasures and can influence reason by making it believe
that sensual pleasures are the source of happiness.
• Plato believes that genuine happiness can only be achieved by people who constantly make
sure that their Reason is in control of their Spirits and Appetites.

III. ARISTOTLE
• A student of Plato • The body and soul are not two separate elements but are one thing. • The
soul is simply the Form of the body, and is not capable of existing without the body. • The soul is
that which makes a person a person. The soul is the essence of the self. • Without the body the
soul cannot exists. The soul dies along with the body.