UNDERSTANDING THE emotional, lustful impulses of our

ephemeral selves.
SELF
reason gives us the power to
LESSON 1 control our feelings and desire such
that we become wise, virtuous and
PHILOSOPHICAL SELF enlightened beings whose ultimate
goal should be with the Forms in the
What is Philosophy? eternal realm
• Is a combination of philo 2. Physical Appetite – basic survival
meaning love, and sophia, mechanisms called biological or
wisdom physical needs
• It denotes love for wisdom or 3. Spirit or Passion – gives us
knowledge or the search for capacity for emotional experiences
understanding about human
existence St. Augustine

• metaphysics - the part of • Laid a foundation for a theistic

philosophy that is concerned conceptualization about the self
with the basic causes and • The idea of soul that lives
nature of things. forever persisted
THE DUALISTIC AND METAPHYSICAL • The dualistic relationship
SELF OF SOCRATES, PLATO AND ST. between the physical body and
AUGUSTINE the mind or soul described as

m
contentious or antagonistic

er as
• Dualism – root word duo which
means two; posing the self as pervade

co
eH w
consisting of two independent • physical body which is
elements: physical body and imperfect, corruptible, finite,
mind or soul o.
rs e

and inferior was also regarded

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SOCRATES as the prison which needs to be

overcome in due time by the
• Self has two separate elements more superior soul
o

• Physical body – exists in the • Came up a more integrated and

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material field, finite, temporal harmonized perspective on the

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substance, earthly existence, dynamics between the body and

mortal and therefore transitory, soul that comprise the self.
is a lesser state than the mind
or spirit • Physical body – “spouse of the
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soul”, united with the soul by a

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• Mental or soul – non material, natural appetite, without which,

resides in the ideal infinite human beings will never reach a
world, absolute, eternal sense of integration or
substance, in constant search wholeness
is

for knowledge and wisdom as a

RENE DESCARTES
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way to achieving perfection by

virtue of its capacity for reason • Introduced the dualistic and
• THE TWO HOWEVER HAS rational self (more cognitive
view of self)
sh

ALMOST ANTAGONISTIC
RELATIONSHIP • Self as capable of thinking
PLATO and reasoning, can be a
subject for a more systematic
Three-part Soul or Self inquiry
1. Reason-gives us ability to think • As a thinking being, self is
deeply, reflectively and critically able to do mental operations
like understanding, reasoning,
enables us to appreciate the
doubting
finer virtues in life and to rise above
the limiting capacity of basic drives or

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 • Famous line, “I think,
therefore, I am” comes the
concept of a self that already
implies self-identity—one that is • the idea of a rational soul or
able to be aware as it does mind or self that has the
specific mental activities while ability to fully understand the
in the act of doing world is suspicious
these(Chaffee, 2016)
• Physical self – exists in the
natural world thus subject of
physical laws of nature
• Soul or Conscious self - a
self that can be a subject for
a more systematic inquiry
, a thinking entity that
exists apart from the
body. an immortal,
conscious substance that is
part of the spiritual realm,
independent of the physical
laws of the universe but is
subject to the laws of
reason and God’s will. an
inseparable unity, that

m
continues to exist even after
physical body’s (an extended
er as
co
substance) death as it seeks
eH w
to unite with the spiritual
realm and God’s infinite and o.
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eternal mind, the only and

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ultimate substance. • the idea of an essential self

JOHN LOCKE that has the potential to exist
endlessly in the realm of the
o

• Father of Empiricism divine is unthinkable

aC s
vi y re

• claims that the ultimate • The self is, thus, rendered

source of knowledge is direct fictional, an imaginary creature
or sense experience that is
knowable through our capacity • self is nothing but a collection
ed d

for conscious awareness, or bundle of ever-changing

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reflection, and remembering perceptions that are merely

passing thru the so-called
• self is a conscious, thinking “theater of the mind”, thus,
person who is aware of itself came out his “bundle theory” of
is

and the things it is experiencing self.

at any given moment. It is a
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thinking, intelligent being who • we experience basic

can reason and reflect sensations called
impressions, from this we can
conscious means being aware
sh

• eventually have a built up ideas

that one is thinking. which are then stored in the
• consciousness always goes mind (vessel for passing
with thinking and is necessary sensations)
for the rational process to IMMANUEL KANT
unfold
• SELF is active and thinking,
DAVID HUME exists independently of
• A skeptic, we can not really experience
know anything with outright
certitude

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 • it constructs and unifies the GILBERT RYLE (2000)
contents or elements of
• Self is an empirical entity
consciousness
characterized by a pattern of
• It is a conscious and active self behaviour or the person’s
which is a product of pure behavioral dispositions in
reason—a regulating principle specific contexts or
that has the capacity to circumstances.
understand human condition.
• What can be then regarded as
• The self has a cognitive mental phenomena are merely
mechanism which we may call aspects of observable
mind that is able to construct behaviours like actions,
meanings and with organizing speeches, gestures, utterances,
rules that are inborn in each and the like.
individual thus, the self is able
• The mind is a public
to form cognitions or knowledge
from their different experiences. manifestations of inner
processes e.g. thoughts and
SIGMUND FREUD’S MULTI-LAYERED feelings, as well as actions that
SELF comprise the so-called human
self
The self has three structures:
JERRY FODOR’S FUNCTIONAL SELF
Conscious - operate in the ‘reality
principle’ as it facilitates the self ‘s • functionalism believes that the
navigation of its external environment self exists or acts not according

m
in a reasonable, mindful, and to its fundamental structures
functional manner, contains the EGO
er as like an inborn substance

co
and SUPEREGO components but based on how
eH w
its elements work as they are
Pre-conscious - contains all those o. put together
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psychic materials that are out of

• regard the various mental states
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awareness but are accessible to

conscious awareness, as need arises as cognitive associations or
processing centers linking
Unconscious - is the centerpiece of sensory information (inputs )
o

Freud’s theory and is the storehouse and behavioral responses

aC s

of an individual’s rugged instincts, (outputs).

vi y re

painful memories, unfulfilled wishes,

and childhood fantasies or • self operates like a computer,
unacceptable impulses, contains the behaving or functioning like a
ID. configuration of bits and pieces
ed d

of computer hardware with

ar stu

SIGMUND FREUD’S MULTI- their mental states being

LAYERED SELF likened to a computer software
• EGO- rational, executive order or central processing unit(CPU).
is

• ID - repository of basic and PAUL CHURCHLAND

Th

irrational impulses • his theory, eliminative

• SUPEREGO - the moral, ideal materialism, asserts that folk
component of the self or common sense psychology
sh

that talks about people’s inner

mental states and experiences
will eventually be eliminated by
neurophysiology
• SELF is the brain itself
• the individual’s thoughts,
emotions, behaviors are not
caused by a conscious ,
thinking self but are the results

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 of neural activation in certain • Goals in Hinduism: 1) bring the
brain areas individual person to the
realization that he is not a
• The key to a far-reaching separate being, but rather a
scrutiny of the human mind is partaker of the great SELF1
through a thoughtful analysis (Brahman-Atman), and 2) attain
of how the different areas of the detachment from self-desires
brain works and wants, and to become one
THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL SELF with the Great Self (universal
self). Hence, Brahman-Atman is
• phenomenologists such as attained.
Edmund Husserl and Maurice
Merleau-Ponty picture the self
as a “living body” that fully
expresses the unity of the
physical body and the Rituals of Purification to
imperceptible mind attain BRAHMAN-ATMAN
• Phenomenology is a
philosophical perspective that
focuses on the study of man’s Karma
immediate experience,
attempting to describe them as • Closely involved with the Hindu
they are. doctrine of reincarnation which
means that when a person dies,
• The goal is the descriptions of a person is reborn as another

m
the vividness of every being in the future.
phenomenon as it is perceived
er as
co
by the experiencing person. • Reincarnation happens when the
eH w
Atman (Soul) leaves its material
• The subjective self is a fully receptacle (body) and finds
conscious, aware, and
o. another material receptacle to
rs e

perceiving entity—mindful of reside on in another life cycle.

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things as they appear to the

senses. • The process is called
transmigration of the soul.
o

By Edmund Husserl & Samsara

aC s

Maurice Merleau-Ponty
vi y re

• Cycle or wheel of birth-death-

rebirth.

EASTERN • An Atman that has not achieved

ed d

the sufficient level of

PERSPECTIVES OF THE
ar stu

enlightenment and detachment

SELF from material goods and
pleasures will be reborn again
HINDUISM and again in different material
is

• All living beings have an “inner- receptacles. The goal of

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most self” called ATMAN spiritual practice is to end this

cycle and stop the wheel of
• ATMAN is connected to the Samsara.
Brahman which is the one
sh

Moksha
Divine Principle that brings
unity to the universe. Because • is the experience of
of this connection to Brahman, momentous release or liberation
this “innermost self” becomes (salvation) from the seemingly
the “absolute self” or the never-ending cycle of birth-
Brahman-Atman death-rebirth.
• Atman is linked to Hinduism’s • This is the aim of serious
view of God spiritual practitioners: to
achieve moksha within their
lifetime.

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 • If Moksha is achieved, the the self through the inner work
Atman does not look for a of meditation and mindfulness.
material receptacle to reside on
and unites with the Brahman- • Research have shown that
atman, the principle of all life in mindfulness meditation
the universe. practices bring about positive
significant effects in improving
BUDDHISM active growth and well-being,
< Siddhartha Gautama > changing self-knowledge and
the mode for self-referential
• Denies the existence of a processing.
separate soul, self, or atman
• Engaging in mindfulness
• The concept of anatta, often meditation practices especially
defines as “no self”, or “non- over long period of time is
self”, simply means that this self closely associated with
cannot have any existence increases in positive self-
except in terms of the attitudes equally so to others.
interconnected net of causal such as non-attachments
conditions that made their (acceptance), and becoming
existence possible. more compassionate to the self
and
• A human being is made up of
five aggregates (called • Empowering the individual
Khandas or Skandhas) of through developing a “mindful

m
er as
functions namely matter, self”.

co
sensation, perception, mental
CONFUCIANISM
eH w
formations, and consciousness.
• These five aggregates will o. • Famous quote, “Don't do unto
rs e

dissipate with the person’s others what you don't want

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death and nothing remains. done unto you.”

• A person is a temporary • learning to be human -

o

arrangement of these five broadening and deepening of

aC s

aggregates or skandhas. thought and being that

vi y re

acknowledge the
• While these aggregates are interconnectedness of all the
together, the person exists, if modalities of existence
they are removed, the person
ed d

ceases to be • Confucianism is an ethic

ar stu

governing human relationships

• The doctrine of Anatta (no
self) does not negate the • Five Cardinal Relationships:
person, rather it empowers the between ruler and minister,
is

individual by erasing the between father and son,

Th

boundaries of separateness that between husband and wife,

limit the personal ego or self. between brothers and sisters,
and between friends.
• The goal is to become
sh

Essentially, proper conduct

interconnected integral part of means knowing how to act in
the universe. relation to others.
• This is the realization known as • Confucian self called relational
enlightenment, the emergence self, is an open, never static but
of the big SELF, which is is a dynamic, ever changing
boundless. process, transforming the world
• To begin the work of building or from within the self
restoring a strong sense of self,
one must begin by befriending

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 • Confucian selfhood is patterns in nature
anchored in interpersonal (relationship between
relationships human beings and nature)
• Confucius was insistent on the • Tao is the unique source of
need for examining oneself the universe and determines
from within on a daily basis and all things that everything in
even in the absence of other the world is composed of
positive and negative parts.
• The man of virtue must be
watchful over himself when • Selfhood entails conscious self
he is alone” which means that transformation leading to the
the private self should not be embodiment of “sageliness
discrepant with the public self. within and kingliness
Incongruence signifies without”. When selflessness is
disharmony. attained, the distinction
between “I” and “other”
• The “golden law- two
disappears and one may then
principles simply means,
act with complete spontaneity.
“Loyalty is doing one’s
utmost” and “fully realizing • To embrace the “Way of
the self”. On the other hand, Nature” and the “Way of
Reciprocity means, “putting Life”.
one in the other’s shoes”,
• Three Significant Processes
“extending the self”,

m
Adhering to this doctrine of
er as • Wu Wei or non-action -

co
Loyalty and Reciprocity, adopt simplicity of
eH w
Confucianism can provide a way lifestyle
to deal with perennialo. • Longevity and Chi - “to
rs e

challenges of mankind
live the longest
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TAOISM possible natural life by

living in harmony with
< Lau Tzu >
o

one’s social and

natural environment
aC s

• The goal of Taoism is to bring

vi y re

which can be achieved

human beings into union through self-cultivation
with the Tao (The Way) by and internal alchemy
imitating certain qualities in (common may be
ed d

nature such as harmony and transformed into

ar stu

fluidity. something precious.)

• “The Way”, Taoism prizes the • Yin-Yang - are
values of individual life reflected
is

complementary; the Yang

in the two core topics of moves upward, represents
Th

longevity and immortality the heavens, and

• It insists that human life is of therefore “pure and light”,
the highest value, a worthy while the Yin flows
sh

goal for people to pursue downward, forms the

forever, earth, and so “turbid and
heavy”
• Taoism believes that human
beings can control their lives • Unity of Opposites (oneness
through self-exercise and of Yin and Yang) to understand
moral behavior psychological activities and
experiences involves
• Human fulfillment lies in recognizing a special
harmonizing with the Tao, which interdependence of objective
is generally conceived as events, as well as with the

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 subjective (psychic) states of Conversely, mental peace and
the observer or observers. This consonance with others and
is so because human nature can be achieved
experience exists at the through understanding the
intersection of two worlds lack of unity between one’s
(internal mental life, microcosm and the universal
complete with our private system.
thoughts, feelings, and beliefs
and the external social world
brimming with other people.
• Taoist principle of the unity of
opposites represents an
authentic perspective for
creating peace in human
relationships and to the
environment as well.
• To experience harmony is
through the process of
awareness.
• Two types of perceived Tao
• Taoist awareness -views

m
human activities and
experiences
er as as

co
determined by the
eH w
interactions of the mental
systems and o.
evolving
rs e

human reality.
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• Personal awareness -
assumes that the use of
o

self’s belief systems or

aC s

categories can understand

vi y re

and overcome
invalidations generated by
the self, others, and
ed d

situations, with the

ar stu

awareness of the
incongruity between the
mind and the reality.
is

• Taoist psychology suggests that

conflict at the mental and
Th

interpersonal levels is
produced by opposites
without unity. The lack of
sh

connection is engendered by
following and applying
misperceived reality and
patterns as guidelines for
explaining experiences.
Discord, animosity, and
frustration stem from mistaken
beliefs based on a limited and
distorted awareness of the
reality of interaction.

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