UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Module 2.1: The Self from Philosophical Perspectives

PRE-DIAGNOSTIC ACTIVITY: True or False?

TRUE 1. Dualism is the theory that the mental and the physical – or mind and body or mind and brain – are, in
some sense, radically different kinds of thing.
TRUE 2. Empiricism is the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience.

FALSE 3. Existentialism is any of various systems of thought in which the objects of knowledge are held to be
in some way dependent on the activity of mind.
FALSE 4. Idealism is a philosophical theory or approach which emphasizes the existence of the individual
person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the
will.

TRUE 5. Rationalism is the theory that reason rather than experience is the foundation of certainty in
knowledge.

PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY: Agree or Disagree?

AGREE 1. By knowing thy self, I can find true happiness.

AGREE 2. For us to understand the self, we must also understand how the brain works.
AGREE 3. I believe in the full capacity of the body, for without it, we are nothing.
DISAGREE 4. I believe in the power of mind alone.
AGREE 5. I believe that there is an inner self and outer self.
AGREE 6. I believe that true happiness can be found in God or in a Supreme Being.
AGREE 7. Our mind needs the external world to understand the self.
AGREE 8. Our moral virtue is deeply rooted in the intellect which leads to happiness.
DISAGREE 9. There is no self, only a bundle of perceptions.
DISAGREE 10. We are defined by our consciousness not by our body nor soul.

POST ACTIVITY: Identify each statement below and identify its corresponding
philosopher. For #11, figure out the missing philosopher and write 1 statement
displaying his unique view from the others.

SOCRATES 1. By knowing thy self, I can find true happiness.

PATRICIA
CHURCHLAND 2. For us to understand the self, we must also understand how the brain works.

MAURICE MERLEAU-
PONTY: 3. I believe in the full capacity of the body, for without it, we are
nothing.

JOHN LOCKE 4. I believe in the power of mind alone.

 IMMANUEL KANT: 5. I believe that there is an inner self and outer self.

ST. AUGUSTINE
6. I believe that true happiness can be found in God or in a Supreme Being.

GILBERT RYLE 7. Our mind needs the external world to understand the self.

ARISTOTLE
8. Our moral virtue is deeply rooted in the intellect which leads to happiness.

DAVID HUME 9. There is no self, only a bundle of perceptions.

RENÉ DESCARTES 10. We are defined by our consciousness not by our body nor soul.

11. The self is primarily an intellectual entity; independent from the physical
PLATO world.

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT: MY PHILOSOPHY

Present your philosophy by completing the table below. Make sure to support your claims using the standpoints
of two to three philosophers that you’ve encountered – whether from this module or somewhere else. Provide at
least FIVE (5) principles of your philosophy.

PHILOSOPHERS ORIENTATIO PHILOSOPHY DESCRIPTION/

N PRINCIPLES
1. PLATO 1. IDEALISM SOCRATIC 1. Self-knowledge is the
2. SOCRATE 2. IDEALISM PHILOSOPHY, ultimate virtue; thus, it will
S IDEALISM, lead to happiness
DUALISM
2. Wisdom and knowledge
lead to virtue which will lead
to happiness.

3. Knowledge of what’s
possible is the beginning of
happiness

4. Unhappy is the man who

knows nothing

5. Everyone wishes to be
happy.

INTROSPECTION
Three things that I have learned about myself from this module:
1. I have learned in this module that we all have a different opinions and perception in life.
 2. I have learned that we can also be a philosopher in our own way.
3. I have learned about the Eleven views of the famous philosophers, and how I can relate to each and
every one of it.

NAME: CABALLERO, CLAIRYSSA MYN D.

DEGREE PROGRAM: BSN 1 - PENDER