San Francisco Javier College

Augustinian Recollect Sisters

Narra, Palawan
sanfranciscojavier57@gmail.com

GE 12 – Understanding of Self
Written Task Number 1
Name:________________________________________ Course & Year:___________________
Answer the following questions based on your understanding about the concepts of self by
PLATO and ARISTOTLE.
1. According to Plato, the body is just a shell, a prison house of the soul. As a consequence
of this thought, to which should you give more attention? How?
2. The Gospel says: “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves don’t break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19) Are these
words from the Gospel in keeping with Plato’s thought on the self? Why or why not?
3. How do you develop virtue according to Aristotle? Can this Chinese proverb help? Is
this proverb in accordance with Aristotle’s teaching on virtue?
“Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful
of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful with your actions, for
your actions become your habit. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your
character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.”
-Chinese proverb, author unknown

For Reflection:
Research on the meaning of “Golden Mean” theory of Aristotle and make a short
reflection on this question:
So far, how have I spent my life? Have I lived a life of virtue? Have I abided by the
Golden Mean of Aristotle?