LECTURE ON EASTERN AND WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

A number of philosophers through ages have posited ideas about the self. These philosophers include David Hume, Rene Descartes
Socrates, Plato and even Saint Augustine of Hippo among others who remarkably have provided unique views about the real nature
of the concept we call 'self'.

SOCRATES
Socrates (470-399 BC) was a classical Greek philosopher and a pioneer in Western moral philosophy. As a contribution to the field
of philosophy, Socrates introduced the Socratic problem also known as the Socratic question. The goal of which was to "Know
thyself." Accordingly, there should be a dialogue between the self and the soul. One should accept that he knows nothing and he
knows and accepts that knows nothing as this leads to learning and discovering the truth. Socrates who was greatly known for his
Socratic method stated that a unexamined life is not worth living. One has to self-examine and discuss about the self as this is a
duty to achieve what is the greatest good to a life. It is the goal of Socratic perspective to better the quality of human life through
consistent self-examination

PLATO
Plato (424-347 BC) was a classical Greek philosopher and the founder of Academy in Athens, the first Institution of higher learning
in the western world. An influential figure in western philosophy and the founder of western spirituality. Plato stated that the psyche
or the 'mind' is comprised of three elements.

1. The appetites which involve our pleasure - able desires such as those which provide us physical pleasure and physiological comfort;
2. The spirited which denotes the part within us that is agitated most of the time. It is highly spirited and motivated to surpass and
conquer life challenges It is the area within us that enjoys triumph, honor, greatness and affirmation;
3. The mind is the conscious awareness which thinks, meditates, weighs choices and assesses situations in our lives. This side is
rational and logical as it chooses only the best for us

SAINT AUGUSTINE
Saint Augustine of Hippo (AD 354 -430) was a Christian theologian and philosopher to have greatly contributed to the progress of
Western Christianity through his writings specifically The City of God, On Christian Doctrine and Confessions. Saint Augustine
pointed onto sin as the source of human unhappiness as sin impairs human free will. Saint Augustine discovered and developed the
concept of individual identity. He conceptualized an idea of the self and eventually achieving an identity. Saint Augustine identified
the two-fold process comprised of self-presentation leading to self-realization. He reiterated that one transforms as he struggles in
both body and soul to ultimately achieve happiness specifically found in God's love. Augustine explored on the relationship between
the mind and body which are all essential in the formation of a person. However he stressed on the superiority of the mind over
that of the body. Understanding of the self and the formation of identity is achieved through the process of Introspection' or 'self-
analysis.

RENE DESCARTES
René Descartes (1596-1650) is believed to be the father of modern western philosophy. He was a French scientific thinker,
mathematician and philosopher. Descartes developed the Cartesian philosophy which holds that mental acts determine physical
acts. Moreover he reiterated on the role of cognition as the active acquisition of knowledge involving the individual's imagination,
intellect, perception as well as memory. He described the mind as the "intellectual substance" which possesses a will. Descartes
pointed onto the relationship between the mind and the body. And from such insight begun his quest for true knowledge and stated
his very brilliant principle which state that "Cogito, ergo sum" which is "I think, therefore I am." This is a method to assess one's
self. This is Descartes' first theory of knowledge which laid the foundation in his concept of self. He asserted that the idea of being
human brings about an awareness of the self which may lead to the development of a unique identity. For Descartes being self-
conscious is necessary to develop a personal identity. The essence of your self makes you a "thinking thing." engaged in all forms of
mental operations determinant of being a human with a distinct persona.

JOHN LOCKE
John Locke (1632-1704) was a prominent thinker during the "Age of Reason." He is an English philosopher and physician.
Remarkably Locke is considered the "Father of Liberalism" as he had posited the 'theory of mind' which is a breakthrough in the
origin of modern understanding of the concept of identity and the self. It was Locke who developed the concept of Tabula Rasa. He
pointed onto the theory that at birth, the mind is a blank slate without innate ideas, and it is experience that provides us knowledge
provided by sensory experiences and reflections. John Locke stated that personal identity or the self is found in the conscious ness.
He identified the brain as comprising the consciousness which has one's identity. It is alleged that life is a quest for the
understanding of what is after death and immortality. He argued as well that a person may only be judged for the acts of his body
but the truth according to him is that one is liable only for the acts of which he is conscious.

DAVID HUME
David Hume (1711-1776) mover in western philosophy is a prime a Scottish philosopher from Edinburgh, known for his insights on
the psychological basis of human nature where he posited that passion rather than reason governs human behavior. Hume argued
against the existence of innate ideas, positing that all human knowledge is ultimately founded solely in experience. He reiterated
that reason is only the slave of passion which implies that logic and intellect is basically superseded by an individual's passion, drive
and motivation. Hume also perceived that experiences are derived from internal and external stimulus and they create impressions
on the individual. According to Hume the self and one's mind is like a machine that can be turned on and off as they are only active
when one is conscious.

IMMANUEL KANT
Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804) who was born in Prussia was a great contributor in modern western philosophy. He asserted that it is
the human mind which creates experiences. These experiences are similar among human on the level of abstraction as we share
important characteristics that resemble in specific points of interests. Human experiences make up our persona according to logical
effects provided by certain causes. Evidently, the development of individuality and the self is a result of unique human experiences
as it forges significant learning within the person.
More so, Kant said that every person has an inner and outer self which comprises the consciousness. According to Kant, the
intellect as well as the psychological state of a being is what we call as the inner self while the outer self is made of the senses and
the physical self. Largely, the object of the inner self is the 'soul' while the outer self is directed to the 'body'.

SIGMEUND FREUD
Sigismund Schlomo Freud also known as Sigmeund Freud (1856-1939) was a neurologist from Austria. He established
psychoanalysis. This is a school of thought revolving around the role of psychological conflicts within the uncon scious which is
relevant in the development of human behavior as well as personality. It was Freud who stated that there are three components in
the mind that interact to produce the individual persona. This concept in the structural theory of personality involves the id, ego,
and superego which are largely found within the unconscious. The conflict between these three components gives rise to human
persona. The id and the superego are in constant conflict brought about by differences in their desire. As the id demands pleasure
and gratification of urges, the superego requires compliance to societal norms. The conflict is resolved by the ego which is 'the self
by maintaining the balance between these two structures of the mind. Freud considered the ego as the realistic area of one's
persona that maintains the balance and harmony within the individual.

GILBERT RYLE
Gilbert Ryle (1900-1976) was born in Brighton, England. He was a British philosopher, a behaviorist who coined the phrase "the
ghost in the machine." Ryle believed that mental phenomena are explained by observing public behavior. Ryle, in his book The
Concept of Mind' (1949) explained how the mental states are inseparable from the physical states. Ryle focused on observable
behavior in defining the self. He stated that every human being has both a physical body and a non-physical mind which are
ordinarily "harnessed together" while we are alive. According to Ryle, though the physical body is subject to the mechanical laws;
the mind, on the other hand, is not accessible to the public and definitely never subjected to mechanical laws. He stated that "A
person therefore lives through two collateral histories, one consisting of what happens in and to his body, and other consisting of
what happens in and to his mind. The first is public, the second private." This simply explains how the mind is operating within the
person himself while the body is subjected to the observation and criticisms of the public.

PAUL MONTGOMERY CHURCHLAND

Paul Montgomery Churchland (1942-) was from Vancouver, Canada. He is a modern-day philosopher whose studies greatly focuses
on the workings of the brain. He argued that nothing but matter exists' which is also known as materialism Paul hypothesized that
the human consciousness can be explained through the neural networks communicating through its hub in the brain which is the
thalamus.
As we begin to use empirical evidence to describe how our brains and bodies function we learn to determine how we feel and how
certain situation affects us. Churchland believes that many are unaware of the appropriate terms do determine the exact emotions
and sentiment that they are undertaking. Hence, this leads to confusion as to how we understand ourselves.

MAURICE MERLEAU PONTY

Merleau-Ponty, a French philosopher, wrote the book Phénoménologie de La Perception in 1945. In this book, he expounded his
thesis on The Primacy of Perception" where he revealed how the body is central to one's perception. As an existentialist, Merleau-
Ponty argued that perception is the determinant of one's consciousness. It is our prejudice that creates the perception that we have
in our mind. This is the "primacy of perception" where Merleau-Ponty said that "there is harmony between what we aim at and
what is given, between intention and performance." The same provides an explanation as to Merleau-Ponty's claim that
"consciousness is primarily not a matter of "I think that", but of "I can." Hence in this argument, it shows how action is required in
the formation of self-perception as well as self-concept.