Ian James F.

Maninang BTVTE1F-CTEC25 3/20/23

Who am I?

How do you think the following philosopher would answer the question “who am I?”
given their own perspective of self?
1. Socrates and Plato
Socrates and Plato, both ancient Greek philosophers, believed that the true
nature of the self was something that could be discovered through reason and
reflection. For Socrates, the question Who am I? would prompt him to engage in a
process of introspection, asking himself what qualities and attributes he possessed that
were truly essential to his identity. Plato, on the other hand, might argue that the self
was something more abstract, existing in a realm of ideas that transcended individual
experience. For him, the question Who am I? would lead to a search for the
fundamental nature of reality, in which the self was just one aspect of a larger,
universal truth.

2. Augustine

St. Augustine, a philosopher of Berber who adapted Plato’s vision but he

adapted Christian beliefs in his idea. He believed that man is a great mystery, also
human beings have souls and bodies that if a person dies, their soul will reunite with
God. He also believed that our life will be better if we worship God and we can only
find happiness and wisdom through love of God. For St. Augustine, the question Who
am I? would lead to a search for the great mystery. Thus, the self was just essential
soul after the body dies will be reunited with God.
 3. Rene Descartes

Rene Descartes, a french philosopher who doubted his own existence but also
believed that he is existing because he is doubting. He also believed that a person
contains two entities, mind and matter/body. He also believed that the mind and body
are inseparable but distinct from each other. For him, the question Who am I? would
lead to doubting again if he truly exist but assuring that he really exist because he is
thinking “Who is he”.

4. John Locke

John Locke, an English philosopher, believed that human mind at birth is tabula
rasa. His theory was the babies born knowing nothing. For Locke, the question Who am
I? would lead to introduction of himself as for him that has experiences through his
senses.

5. David Hume

David Hume, a Scottish philosopher, having the same concept with John Locke,
he believed that there is no self. He believed that the other people are humans not
because of their souls but because you can feel, hear, and see them. For him, the
question Who am I? would lead to nothing, as for his concept “The self change
constantly” It will be pointless to answer the question himself because people change
everyday.

6. Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher. He believed that it is possible to find the

essence of the self and he refutes to David Hume in his concept that “There is no self”
but he agreed with David Hume that the self starts with perception or sensation of
impression. For him, the question Who am I? would lead to everything he wants to be
and find a reason to live, as for his concept that the man is a free agent that a man is
gifted with reason and freewill.
 7. Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud, an Australian neurologist. He believed that we have a devil

inside of ourselves, evil desires. He also believed that experiences helps to build the
personality of a person. For him, the question Who am I? would lead to a search for
who he really is, following his perspective, Freud would deeply search for his self,
finding his subconscious mind.

8. Gilbert Ryle

Gilbert Ryle, a British philosopher, who believed that the action of a person
described his/her identity. He also believed that if the body dies the self will die too.
For him, the question Who am I? would lead to recalling the actions he made because
in his own perspective, the person’s identity is can be seen through his/her action or
how he behave as a person.

9. Paul Churchland

Paul Churchland, a Canadian philosopher, he believed that the brain creates the
Self. He also considered that the identity of a person is the brain. The question Who am
I? would lead Churchland to introduce his brain (Self) how his brain works.

10. Maurice Merleau-Ponty

2. Maurice Merleau-Ponty, a French philosopher. He believed that the mind

needed the body and the body needed the mind to call it human person. He also
believed that the perception of a person is connected through his/her own bodily
development. For him, the question Who am I? would lead to explanation of his
experiences and his bodily development.