UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Introduction: Philosophical Perspective of the
Self (Synthesis)
Important Ideas and Concepts in our study
of the Philosophical Perspective of the Self.
The capacity to practice Elenchus
The Capacity to transcend using mind and
live with the truth.
The capacity to live with virtue.
The capacity to detach.
The capacity to stand in love.
The capacity to not reduce love to sexual
activity.
The capacity to doubt
The capacity to contemplate with the prime
mover.
The capacity to immerse in the world.
The capacity to gain knowledge through
experience.
The capacity to exercise the free will.
The capacity to live with nature as one and
not as superior.
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Introduction: The Self from Psychological
Perspective
Important Ideas and Concepts in our study
of the Philosophical Perspective of the Self.
Unlike sociology that focuses on society,
human relation, structure, interaction of
every individual. In the context of
psychology, the self can be defined as
psychological process that starts when one
identifies himself as an object followed by
describing oneself as a self-concept or self-
feeling.
William James (1842-1910)
William James is an American Philosopher
and psychologist.
He divided individuals’ perception of the self
in 2 categories, Me and I.
The Three Components of Empirical self
Material Self – Consist of one’s body.
Clothes, home, and other material
possession he or she have that regards as
his or her own. The extension of yourself.”
You feel incomplete when something you
possess/value was loss”.
Social Self – Connotes the image of an
individual in the eyes of people around him
or her which determines his or her
reputation in the society. Our sense of
belongingness, you become based on what
group of people you belong to and is
affected what other people’s say in your
group.
Spiritual Self – One’s thoughts, Beliefs,
and feelings. Highest component, ourselves
in context to the reason why we live.
Carl Rogers (1902-1987)
One of the leading humanistic
psychotherapists.
The first therapists that focused on a
person-centered approach and study.
Meaning, the self becomes the focus or core
study of personality. On becoming a person
and way of being, the main idea is to
engage in an activity that recharges or
energizes you.
What you think precedes to action to
actualize.
Concepts of Self-Theory (by Carl Rogers)
Real Self – is oneself image. It is how one
thinks, feels, and looks. It is who individual
is intrinsically.
Ideal Self -The perception of what a
person would like to be or thinks she or he
would be. This a self-product of expectation
and pressures from others.
Carl Rogers Emphasized that there must be
balance to the individual in order not to
confuse real self and ideal self.
Self-worth according to Carl Rogers is the
condition of sufficient amount of positive
self-regard. Hence, conditions of worth are
caused by experiences conditional regard. A
person who has high-self-worth, cope with
challenges. Early childhood experiences play
 a big role in molding self-worth. Parents The Symbolic Stage
affect positively/negatively the self-worth.
The child’s enters language and socialization
Lacan’s Notion of Desire, Mirror stage, happens. (By accepting norms, rules, etc.)
Symbolic and Real Every stage of our lives is influenced by
language according to Lacan and become
Psychoanalyst from Paris, France (1901-
the master of language.
1981)
Language can be called big other because it
A follower of Freud and reinterpreted
has been formed before our birth and will
Freud
exist even after death.
Known as French Freud
His only book is called Ecrits - a
selection (his thoughts may be found in
his seminars not primarily in books)

Desire

For Lacan, desire is not based on a

particular need or wishes but rather seeking
a sense of completeness and fulfillment at
the same time.
People are often convinced that they will be
happy with the acquisition of certain things.
Yet Lacan argues that desire for property is
driven by an unconscious feeling of
inadequacy, which cannot be satisfactory
fulfilled by foreign objects.
Sense of completeness satisfy your desire,
but it is not enough to fulfill it.

The Real

This period is dependent on the mother.

The baby and mother are one. Thus, there
is oneness which we call stage of oneness.
The real term refers to absolute.
There is no sense of self in child as it does
not recognize itself as an individual. Hasn’t
entered language.

The Imaginary/Mirror Stage

The baby starts to recognize his image in

the mirror (Self Projection).
The baby starts to separate as a person.
The baby starts to take control and project
his/her image. Falls in love into the image
even if it’s just an illusion.
The moment when a baby starts to separate
his/her identity from the mother and will
start to feel that something is lost.
The formation of the ego and development
of learning language.