LEARNING MODULES 01

LESSON 04

Understanding the Self

TH
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CTT II V
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OF
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THHE
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DESCARTES
s t i c
Thinking Self D uali of
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DR. JENNIFER L. TUAZON-GUTIERREZ, RGC

Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
1 M 01-LESSON 04

Philosophical Perspectives of the

Self According to Descarte

Learning Outcomes:  Transforming Ideas of the Week: 

I have illustrated and outlined the I am a THINKING SELF, and I am a
dualistic view of the self according to courageous seeker of truth using a
Descartes and have courageously systematic way of thinking that will
doubt my own beliefs to be a true lead me to my own INDEPENDENT
seeker of truth. CONCLUSION

think are the differences and similarities between your
thinking self and your
1. What do you
ENGAGE physical self?
Fill up the boxes of "WHAT I KNOW, WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, HOW CAN I LEARN MORE
AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED about each of the two (2) Focus Questions.
1. Is your thinking self and physical self  united as one? If so, what will happen
Focus to both the thinking and the physical self when you will die? If not, why?

WHAT I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO KNOW HOW CAN I LEARN MORE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

1. I know that 1. I want to know 1. I can learn more 1. I have learned about
physical self is the more about what is by taking time to the principle of
perception of really our physical read more on the Descartes about the
individuals own self and thinking self lessons on this two entities of the self,
in physical aspect and to differentiate lesson and to the thinking self and
while thinking self is it more from one understand the the physical body. The
a part of one's self another perspective of thinking self or soul is
that generates our Descartes about it. non material, immortal,
own thoughts, 2. I want to know conscious being,
judgement, and more on the 2. I can also learn independent of the
reason that gives relationship of the more by analyzing physical laws of the
one's own physical and the perspectives of universe, while the
perspectives on what thinking self and Descartes about it physical body is a
happens around how it affects our and viewing it in my material, mortal,
them. capability to decide own personal non-thinking entity, fully
in life. experiences. governed by the
2. I know that physical laws of nature.
physical and thinking
self united as one 2. I also learned that
since our body is according to Descartes,
interconnected to our your soul (thinking self)
mind, which is and your body are
responsible for our independent of one
capacity to think. another, and each can
Once we die, both of exist and function
this aspect of our self without the other. The
also tend to vanish thinking self still
because our whole continue to exist as the
body is also dead. body dies.
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 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
2
M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte
EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn
 
Rene
Cogito Ergo
Sum
II T
T HH II NN KK ,,
Therefore, Iam
Write the KEY
WORDS to help
you remember
important
IDEAS from this
KEY WORDS
Descartes- Father of
Modern Philosophy
-more focused on
understanding the
thinking process.
EXPLAIN
Explain: "When your
thinking is flawed, then it is
likely that your conclusions
will be flawed as well."
We all have given the capacity to
think in order for us to make good
decisions in life. Whatever we are
thinking about something, it is likely
what we will do to it and this is
something that can affect our
choices and conclusions in life. If
you think positively about a certain
thing, then you may generate
positive conclusions, while if you
think negatively, then you may
create negative conclusions.
Descartes spectiveof
ModernP
er
the Seslf
Although Socrates is often described as the “fa “father
ther of Western
philosophy,” French philosopher ---
René D Descartes
escartes (1596–1650)
is widely considered “founder of modern philosophy.”
brought an entirely new—and thoroughly modern—perspectiv
modern—perspective e to
philosophy in general and the self in particular.
Earlier philosophers had focused on exploring the fundamental
questions of human existence, such as:
What is the nature of reality?
What is the “good life” and how ought we to behave?
Does God exist? If so, what is God’s nature and relation to
humankind?
What is the nature of the soul?
What is the ideal society?
Although Descartes recognized these as significant questions, he
was more concerned with understanding the thinking process we use
to answer questions such as these.
Descartes
agreed with the great thinkers before him that the human ability
to reason constitutes the extraordinary instrument we have to
achieve truth and knowledge.
But instead of simply using reason to try to answer questions,
Descartes wanted to penetrate the nature of our reasoning
process and understand its relation to the human self.
was convinced that to develop the most informed and well
grounded beliefs about human existence,
we need to be clear about the thinking instrument we are
employing.
For if our thinking instrument is flawed, then it is likely
that our conclusions will be flawed as well.
as an accomplished mathematician, he invented analytic
geometry
as an aspiring scientist, Descartes was an integral part of the
scientific revolution that was just beginning. Go to
page 3
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
3
M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte

EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn
  Descartes spectiveof
Rene ModernP
er
the Seslf
His major philosophical work, Meditations on First Philosophy,
was published in 1641, the year before Galileo died and Isaac
Newton was born.)
Write the KEY The foundation of this scientific revolution was:
WORDS to help the belief that genuine knowledge needed to be based on
you remember independent rational inquiry and
important
IDEAS from this
real-world experimentation.
It was no longer appropriate to accept without question the
KEY WORDS
“knowledge handed down by authorities—as was prevalent

Descartes - "It was no longer during the religion-dominated Middle Ages.

appropriate to accept without
question the knowledge
Instead, Descartes and others were convinced that we need
handed down by authorities." to use our own thinking abilities to:
Use our thinking abilities to; investigate,
investigate, analyze,
experiment, and develop our
analyze,
own well reasoned experiment, and 
conclusions
develop our own well-reasoned conclusions, supported
with compelling proof.
ELABORATE
What do you think Descartes meant when he said that "it was no longer
appropriate to accept without question"knowledge handed down by
authorities"? Can you give examples of knowledge handed down by
authorities, like our Church leaders, that you think we need to question?

Whatever have taught to us by our ancestors doesn't mean it is the best for us. As a devoted Catholic, I believe that most
of the teachings and laws of the church has a good influence to the character and welfare of its members. But, I think
there is one law which somehow I doubted recently, and that is the illegalization of divorce, especially here in the
Philippines. According to Philippine Catholic Church, divorce is considered as "anti-family" and "anti-marriage" and it is
against to the natural law as it claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each
other 'till death. But as I analyze and views the other perspectives, I think this law is somehow a free way for abuse and
violence. Let's say you made a promise to God to love each other wholeheartedly, but after a few days of your marriage,
your partner became so abusive to you, to the point that you may experience physical, emotional, and mental injuries. I
think our church leaders should also consider this situation, because I think if two partners can no longer feel the love to
one another, and if they don’t feel safe and peace, I think it is better for them to separate ways. And there is a big question
that runs on my mind; Is it really a worthwhile to fulfill and committed to that Sacred promise if your life is at stake and
danger?

Go to
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 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
4
M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte

EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn
Write the KEY Descartes is such an influential and enduring
WORDS to help
you remember
DECARTES figure in philosophy because of
important his willingness to test his reasoning powers
IDEAS from this to their limit, and
KEY WORDS to record with absolute candor the results

Descartes- Meditations on First Philosophy

"that virtually everything he has been taught from of his explorations.
In his most well-known work, Meditations on First
authorities and other adults is questionable and
likely false."

“If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at

least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.”
Philosophy, Descartes confesses that he has come
to the conclusion:
that virtually everything he has been taught from
EXPLAIN authorities and other adults is questionable and
likely false.
Do you agree with the conclusion of His radical solution?
Descartes "that virtually everything he To establish a fresh start on gaining true, well-
has been taught from authorities and supported beliefs by:
other adults is questionable and likely simply erasing his endorsement of
anything he has previously been taught.
false?" Why?
Descartes is convinced that
I totally agree on this statement of Descartes. These authorities who committing yourself to
had been taught us is also a human, and as a human, there is a
tendency that they might got wrong in implementing it. Also, it is not a wholesale and systematic
always what they think is already applicable for everyone. They also
might be biased about there laws which is against to the welfare of
doubting of all things you have
other sectors in the society. been taught to simply accept
without question is
ELABORATE
the only way to achieve
Why do you think Descartes said "if you are a clear and well-reasoned
real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at conclusions.
least once in your life you doubt, as far as More important, it is the only way
possible , all things?" Will you agree with him? for you to develop beliefs that are
truly
yours and not someone else’s. He
I also agree to this statement of Descartes. If want to know what is explains:
really the truth in this world, we need to have doubt and question
everything that happens around us. In this modern world, where “If you would be a real seeker
fake news and lies surrounds us, it is much better to be curious
and make questions on a certain thing that happens in your life in after truth, it is necessary
order for you to achieve the truth about it. This can also help you
to become more aware of the real world and to make better that at least once in your life
choices in life. After all, curiosity is the beginning of wisdom. you doubt, as far as possible,
all things.” Go to
page
5
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
M 01-LESSON 04
5
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte
EXPLORE: Read and learn
This sort of thorough-going doubting of all that you have been
Write the KEY taught requires:
WORDS to help great personal courage, for calling into question things like
you remember
our:
important
IDEAS from this religious beliefs,
cultural values, and
KEY WORDS
even beliefs about yourself

can be, in the short term, a very disruptive enterprise.
Doubting requires courage It may mean:
to question things like our
religious beliefs, cultural shaking up your world,
values, even beliefs about questioning the beliefs of important people in your life,
yourself
perhaps challenging your image of yourself.
Yet there is a compelling logic to Descartes’
pronouncement:
for if you are not willing to question all that you have
been asked to accept “on faith,”
EVALUATE then you will never have the opportunity
to construct a rock-solid foundation for your
SEEKING beliefs about:
the world and
Describe some important areas in your personal philosophy of life.
What’s more, you will never have the experience
your life in which you would to develop the:
consider yourself to be a “real intellectual abilities and
seeker after truth.” Identify personal courage required to achieve your
several examples of beliefs full potential in the future.
you had been taught or raised Describe some important areas of your life in
with which you questioned for the
which, in your opinion, you fell short of being a
purpose of developing your own
independent conclusions. “real seeker after truth.” Identify several
My parents always believe that in order for a
examples of beliefs you have been raised
person not to have struggles when they get
old, they should have a child who will take
with that you have been reluctant to
good care of them. In short, a person needs
a child to be their investment as they get
question. What factors have made it difficult
old. Their reason is that it is the obligation of
the child to give back to their parents since
for you to doubt these beliefs? Do you think
they are the one who took care of them
when they were young. I think this belief of
you will critically analyze them at some point
them is really a toxic mindset, since at first
place, it is not really the responsibility of the
in the future?
child because it is not his choice that he will Being in a family where each of us has a great belief with our religion, it is hard for
be born in this world. It's the choice of the me to question God, especially his existence. Not being an atheist, but there are also
child to give back to his parents and he certain facts that shows that somehow God is just a concept of mind. But I tend to
should not carry the burden of giving back to believe that God is still exist in my everyday life. I think one of the factors that made
me hard to question Him is some of the miraculous and unexplainable things that
them. As a child, I also want to give back happened in my life, wherein statistics and science can not barely explain. Also, the
the sacrifices of my parents for me, but I world is so much concise and accurate for life to exist and I think there is really a
think it is not my responsibility and I am not Creator who made all of this, which also strengthen my belief to God. In the future,
their personal investment that they will need maybe I might still question Him, but I will always remember what happened to me
when they get old. and why I am still having a strong faith on Him.
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page 6
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
6 M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte
EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn

rtes
Rene DescaCogito Ergo Sum II T
T H
H II N
N K
K ,,
Therefore, Iam
Descartes’ qque
ue
uest
st for true kknowledge
nowledge leads
to his ffamous
amous first p principle:
rinciple: cog
cogito,
ito, ergo sum—“I think,
therefore I am.”
Write the KEY Cogito, ergo sum
WORDS to help you
the first principle of Descartes’ theory of knowledge
remember important
IDEAS from this because he is confident that no rational person will doubt
his or her own existence as a conscious, thinking entity—
KEY WORDS while we are aware of thinking about our self.

Even if we are dreaming or hallucinating, even if our
Descartes "cogito, ergo sum" means "I
think, therefore I am" consciousness is being manipulated by some external
entity,
- keystone of his concept of self
it is still my self-aware self that is:
- being self conscious in this way is
integral to having
dreaming,
a personal identity. hallucinating, or
being manipulated.
cogito ergo, sum
is the keystone of Descartes’ concept of self.
think!
The essence of existing as a human identity is the
Can you be self-conscious possibility of:
being aware of our selves:
if you do not have a
being self conscious in this way is integral to having
personal identity of which a personal identity.
to be conscious? Conversely, it would be impossible to b be
e self-
NO, because I believe that you can only be self conscious if we didn’t have a personal identity of
conscious if you tend to be aware of everything which to be conscious
conscious..
especially your self.
In other words, having a self identity and being self-
conscious are mutually dependent on one another.
ELABORATE Descartes' Meditations:
For Descartes, who are "...
"...But
But what, then, am I?
you? ---
---A
A thinking thing, it has been said.
But what is a thinking thing
thing??
It is a thing that:
For Descartes, I am a thinking thing, which
is a thing that doubts, understands doubts,
(conceives), affirms, denies, wills, refuses; understands [conceives],
that imagines also, and perceives. affirms, denies,
Therefore, I am a person who uses his wills,
capability to think and reason out
everything that happen in and around me. refuses;
that imagines also, and perceives.
Go to
page 7
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
7 M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte

EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn

Rene Descartes
For Descartes, then, this is the essence of your self—
you are a “thinking thing,”
a dynamic identity that engages in all of those
mental operations we associate with being a
Write the KEY WORDS to human self. For example:
help you remember
important IDEAS from this
You understand situations in which you
find yourself.
KEY WORDS

You doubt the accuracy of ideas presented

Descartes "you are a thinking to you.
thing"
You affirm the truth of a statement made
-dynamic identity that engages in about you.
all of those
mental operations we associate You deny an accusation that someone has
with being a made.
human self
You will yourself to complete a task you
have begun.
You refuse to follow a command that you
consider to be unethical.
You imagine a fulfilling career for yourself.

Explain You feel passionate emotions toward

another person.

How do you know, according to Descartes, that you are a Thinking Self?
Do you agree with him?

For Descartes, I am a Thinking Self if; I understand situations I might enter, I question everything that
is showed to me, I asserts truth of the statements about me, I refused an accusation that someone
has made, I will myself to finish a task I have begun, I disapprove to follow a command I consider to
be unethical, I imagine a fulfilling career for my self, and I feel passionate emotions towards another
person. Therefore, I will know that I am a Thinking Self if I engage myself in mental operations to
address a certain circumstances or situations, and with this, I definitely agree with this claim of
Descartes.

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page 8
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
8 M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte
EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn
Rene Descartes
Write the KEY WORDS to help
you remember important
IDEAS from this
KEY WORDS
-your self identity is dependent on the fact that
you are capable of being aware you are engaging
in these mental operations while you are
engaged in them.
Descartes believes that physical body
is secondary to your personal identity
Explain
Would you agree with Descartes that
your physical body is just secondary to
your personal identity even if your self-
concept and self-identity is tied up with
our physical existence  age,
I would agree to Descartes, since our
body is just a physical entity of our self,
different from your thinking self. It may
true that our self-concept and
self-identity is tied up with this physical
existence, it is just still minor to our
personal identity, since our thinking self
(soul) is still the primary to our identity
which determines who and what we
really are. Moreover, I can say that our
body is just our body, and there is more
than it for us to identify our self, which
is our thinking self.
But in addition to engaging in all of these mental
operations—and many other besides—
your self identity is dependent on the fact that
you are capable of being aware you are engaging
in these mental operations while you are
engaged in them.
If you were consistently:
not conscious of your mental operations,
consistently unaware of your thinking,
reasoning, and perceiving processes,
then it would not be possible for you to have
a self identity,
a unique essence, a you.
But what about your body?
a great deal of our self-concept and self-
identity is tied up with our:
physical existence:
our physical qualities,
appearance,
gender,
race,
height,
weight,
hair style, and so on.
Despite this, Descartes believes
that your physical body
is secondary to your personal identity.
One reason for this is that he believes
you can conceive of yourself
existing independently of your
body.
Go to
page 9
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
PAGE
9 M 01-LESSON 04
Philosophical Perspectives of the
Self According to Descarte
EXPLORE
EXPLORE: Read and learn
Rene  Descartes
DUALISMV ersus
Write the KEY
WORDS to help you
remember important
IDEAS from this
KEY WORDS
is radically different than the self as physical body.
the essential self—the self as
thinking entity—
is radically different than the
self as physical body.
ELABORATE
For Descartes, your soul and
your body are independent of one
another, and each can exist and
function without the other. How
is that possible? Do you agree
with Descartes?
It is possible for the body and
soul to be independent from one
another. When the body dies,
the soul continues to exist,
seeking union with God's infinite
mind. Also, for people who are
sleeping or in comatose, their
minds might not be working but
their bodies continue to function
independently. This proves that
our body and soul are two
entities that unites but are
independent of one another,
and I agree with this claim of
Descartes.
MAT E R I A L I S M
Following directly in the footsteps of Socrates and Plato, and
perpetuated through the centuries by such thinkers as Plotinus
and St. Augustine
Descartes declares that:
the essential self—the self as thinking entity—
The thinking self —or soul—is:
non-material,
immortal,
conscious being,
independent of the physical laws of the universe.
The physical body is a:
material,
mortal,
nonthinking entity,
fully governed by the physical laws of nature.
What’s more:
your soul and your body are independent of one
another, and each can exist and function without
the other. How is that possible?
For example, in the case of physical death, Descartes
believes (as did Plato, Plotinus, and St. Augustine) that
your soul continues:
to exist,
seeking union with the spiritual realm and God’s infinite
and eternal mind.
On the other hand, in cases in which people are sleeping or
comatose, their bodies:
continue to function even though their minds are not
thinking,
much like the mechanisms of a clock.
Go to
page 10
 Philosophical Perspectives of the Self
According to DESCARTES
PAGE
11

WEEK 04:
M 01-LESSON 04
EXPLORE

EXPLORE: Read and learn

e  Descartes DUALISM V ersus

MAT E R I A L I S M
Ren Descartes was able to m maint
aint
aintain
ain bo
both
th hi
his
s scie
ient
nt
ntif
if
ific
ic iinteg
nteg
ntegrrit
ity
y
Write the KEY
and hhiis reli
religious
gious cco
onvictio
nvictionsns (as a Catholic).
WORDS to help you
remember important The physical sel selff is
IDEAS from this a par
partt of nat
nature,
ure,
governed by the physical laws of the universe, and
KEY WORDS
ava
vailable
ilable to scientific analy
analysis
sis a
and
nd experimentation.

The physical self

-a part of nature,
At the same ttime,ime,
-governed by the physical laws of the universe, and
-available to scientific analysis and experimentation
the consc
conscious
ious self (mind, soul) is
The conscious self (mind, soul)
a part of the spiritual realm,
-a part of the spiritual realm,
-independent of the physical laws of the universe,
independent of the physical laws of the universe,
-governed only by the laws of reason and God’s will governed only by the laws of reason and God’s will.
And because it exists outside of the natural world of cause-
and-effect,
the conscious self is able to exercise free will in the
EVALUATE choices it makes.
In your own experience, is your conscious self I believe YES, physical self really separates from conscious
self, because sometimes our body works without our mind to

(mind, soul) separate from your physical self?

think for it, like the blinking of our eyes and breathing of our
nose, we do it, but we are not aware of it.

Describe some of the ways your mind There are times wherein I am really mentally drained,
significantly affects your body: for especially when I tend to overthink and worry about
myself and my future as well. During this times, I just felt
example, when you are anxious, so tired to the point I can't do any chores well and I can't
use my body in doing some productive works. In this
elated, depressed, in love (or lust), moment, I think that my mind really affects my body.
and so on.
If you were able to describe the ways your mind I agree to Descartes, because even though
significantly affects your body, it may mean that mind and body is a unified entity, both of them
can still exist without each other, for it is a two
you experience your mind and body as a unified different entities. Our bodies and brains are
entity, If THIS IS SO, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH part of the objective physical world, whereas
our minds and consciousness are in the
DESCARTES THAT THE MIND (SOUL, CONSCIOUS SELF) IS subjective mental world, in which both of them
COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT SUBSTANCES? why? can subsist independently.

IF THE MIND AND THE PHYSICAL SELF IN INDEPENDENT, writer and humorist Mark
Twain noted, “How come the mind gets drunk when the body does the drinking?”
If in your own experience, the mind significantly
affects your body and a unified entity, will it be
possible that the mind will continue to exist even if
the body dies?
I think there is a possibility that mind (consciousness) still
continue to exist after the body dies. For example, in
resuscitation medicine, wherein mind continues to exist for
few hours in a hibernate state we cannot see from the
outside. Most patient who had been in a near death says that
they can hear people that surrounds them even their bodies
are shutdown. This can be also shows that maybe there is
somehow possibility that mind can still exist after the body
dies.

Go
pag to
e5
 Evaluate

M I N D M A P
Philosophical Perspective of the Self According to Descartes
Instruction: Using mind mapping, write and connect concepts you have learned in this
lesson.

DESCARTES'
Philosophical
CONCEPTS
of the Self
 Evaluate

M I N D M A P
Philosophical Perspective of the Self According to Decartes
Instruction: Using mind mapping, write and connect concepts you have learned in this
lesson.

DESCARTES'
Philosophical
CONCEPTS
of the Self