Module 1: Introduction to Understanding ★ Identity - defined as the qualities,

the Self beliefs, etc. that make a particular

person or group different from
Terms: others. It is also a distinguishing
★ The self - is an individual person character or personality of an
as the object of his or her own individual or group. Introduction
reflective consciousness. This to Understanding the Self
reference is necessarily subjective, ★ Self - is the person that someone
thus it is a reference by a subject normally or truly is. Also refers to
to the same subject. the entire person of an individual.
★ Nurture - refers to personal Also refers to the total
experiences, childhood, or how characteristics or qualities of a
you were brought up. person both known or unknown to
★ Nature - the physical personality others (but KNOWN to self).
traits determined by your genes ★ Agents of our Being - these are
stay the same irrespective of some factors that influence the
where you were born and raised. development of our being
★ Genetics (Biological Science) - (self/identity) or what the
explain that our TRAITS are developmental specialists and
PASSED ON to humanity from social scientists would call.
ONE GENERATION to ANOTHER, ★ Social factor - refers to the
and these transmitted traits serve influences of significant people in
as a BLUEPRINT of our self and a person’s life. It primarily includes
make us predisposed to certain the FAMILY in which most of the
self expression. (e.g. attitude, basic attitudinal and behavioral
behaviour, or tendencies). attributes of individuals are
★ Environment (Social Science) - the shaped.
opposing side argues that the self ★ Waning Stage - when a child slowly
should be principally viewed as an withdraws from strong
outcome of various nurturing parental/family attachment to
factors in the context of one’s form new relationships with others
social life. Different fields of this outside from the family. (Peer
stress how group life (formal or group, school, church, neighbors,
informal) affects individual friends)
behavior and attitude, and ★ Formation of Personality - refers
emphasizes the impact of various to the process of character and
social institutions on the traits integration or forming of
self-construct of the individual. identity.
★ Environmental factor - broadly possible sources. Some of the
includes the physical and traits are acquired consciously
communal elements in our and voluntarily, while other traits
everyday surroundings, and are are acquired unconsciously and
invariably dealt with by individuals involuntarily.
in a specific region or area. This is ★ Self-concept - is generally
not only about physical properties thought of as our individual
(climate, temperature, forms of perceptions of our behavior,
land etc.) of the surrounding but abilities, and unique
also includes the larger characteristics. It is essentially a
society/community and the mental picture of who you are as a
expectations and norms person. For example, beliefs such
operating in that particular as “I am a good friend” or “I am a
locality/place. kind person” are part of an overall.
★ Heredity factor - is a biological
process by which certain traits Issues on Understanding the Self
and characteristics are passed on Nature vs. Nurture
from one generation to another. Some argue that the self is largely
This is non-negotiable and is influenced and principally constructed
relatively fixed and permanent. It by one’s social environments.
dictates our physical attributes
(height, complexion, hair) , some Nature - biological sciences explain that
cognitive traits (IQ), and some our traits are passed on to humanity
other personal characteristics from one generation to another. Here the
(emotional tendencies) upon birth. self is being studied structurally and
★ Person volition factor - refers to functionally, from the molecular level to
the inclination of the person to the entirety of human physiological
form and construct a specified systems. Ex. Genetics
identity which will set him/her
apart or unique compared with Nurture - social sciences argue that self
others. It emanates from within should be principally viewed as an
the mentality of an individual, but outcome of various nurturing factors in
also brought about by the the context of one’s social life.
aggregated social-life
experiences. While arguments about the
★ Our identity - product of a predominance of either nature or
complex process of combinations nurture are still unresolved, we could
and integration of traits and settle for an eclectic standpoint on this
characteristics from various
issue. We can safely assume that our self Multidimensionality of the Self
is BOTH a product of nature and nurture.
Social Factor - refers to the influences of
Self vs. Identity significant people in a person’s life.
Both terms are perceived as Social factors are a strong foundation of
synonymous by many. one’s being.
● Family, peer groups, orgs.
Identity - qualities, beliefs, etc. that make Significant people in a person’s
a particular person or group different life. (e.g. teacher, role-model,
from others. relatives, etc.)
Self - the person that someone normally
or truly is, or the entire person of an Environmental Factor - includes the
individual . physical and communal elements
present in our everyday surroundings.
Identities make up one’s Includes the larger society/community
self-concept variously described as what and the expectations and norms
comes to mind when one thinks of operating in that particular
oneself. locality/place.

Uni vs. Multi Hereditary Factor - is a biological

We are what we are right now not process by which certain traits and
just because of a single factor. We are characteristics are passed on from one
developed by many factors. generation to another. This factor
compared with the two previously
Dimensionalities of the Self discussed factors can be depicted as the
Some people believe that the Self non-negotiable factor.
or Identity can be more accurately ● Physical attributes, cognitive traits
depicted using a single factor or aspect. etc.
Ex. We often hear people ask another to
describe a particular person using a Person-Volition Factor - refers to the
number of words. Can we really describe inclination of a person to form and
someone using only a few words? construct a specific identity, which will
set him apart or unique compared with
Our Self cannot be singly others.
represented by a certain trait because Ex. Sociologists may refer to this type of
our self/identity is composed of person as deviant and non-conformist.
multidimensional aspects and that we But being one is not necessarily negative,
are a product of multidimensional in fact, some people of this type turned
factors.
into trend-setters, discoverers, and John Locke, David Hume, Immanuel Kant
inventors. - empiricist philosophers
Rene Descartes - a dominant rational
Module 2: The Self from various philosopher during the middle ages,
Philosophical Perspectives among contemporary philosophers,
majority are empiricists.
The Self has been defined as a Gilbert Ryle, Patricia Churchland, and
unified being, essentially connected to Maurice Merleau-Ponty - incorporated
consciousness, awareness, and agency biological and neuroscience in their
(or at least, with the faculty of rational philosophies.
choice)
Classical Antiquity
The Philosophy of Self
Philosophy of self has been Socrates
defined through two distinct Orientation: Idealism
philosophical lens: Philosophy: Socratic
1. Empiricism - derives explanations Description:
of the self from sensory and ➔ Knowledge is the personification
bodily responses. We know things of good while ignorance is that of
because we have experienced it evil.
through our bodily senses. ➔ “Know thyself”
2. Rationalism - there is innate ➔ Self knowledge is the ultimate
knowledge; they differ in that they virtue. As the ultimate virtue, will
choose different objects of innate lead to ultimate happiness.
knowledge. It explains self from ➔ “An unexamined life is not worth
the standpoint of what is “ideal” living.”
and the “truth”, not rooted in what Plato
is felt by the senses nor our body. Orientation: Idealism
Philosophy: Dualism and Idealism
Philosophers Description:
Socrates and Plato - explained the self ➔ Moral virtue is rooted in the
from a theoretical and logical intellect and leads to happiness.
orientation. ➔ “Be kind because all the people we
Aristotle - empiricist; deriving views of meet may have a battle to
self from physical and scientific surpass..”
underpinnings. ➔ Wisdom and knowledge leads to
St Augustine - adopted the views of Plato virtue which will lead to happiness.
and infused it to his religious philosophy. ➔ “Scholars and wise men speak
because they have to say; fools
 speak because they have to ➔ Establishing the distinction of
speak.” soul from the body can make
Middle Ages people believe in the afterlife and
the soul’s immortality.
St. Augustine Locke
Orientation: Platonism Orientation: Empiricist
Philosophy: Neoplatonism Philosophy: Theory of Personal Identity
Description: Description:
➔ All knowledge leads to God. ➔ It is in consciousness alone that
➔ Only the pure in heart can see identity exists, not on the body
God. and soul.
➔ Love of God, Faith in him and ➔ There is a distinction between
Understanding of his Gospel will man and person.
ultimately lead to Happiness. ➔ The soul may change, but
➔ “Temperance is a love of giving up consciousness remains intact.
entirely himself to him and that’s ➔ “No man's knowledge here can go
the only reason; Courage is a love beyond his experience.”
that can go beyond everything Hume
with pleasure for the sake of Orientation: Empiricist
himself and that’s the only reason; Philosophy: Skeptical Philosophy
justice is love that is uniquely Description:
serve only him and no other ➔ All knowledge passes through the
reason, and prudence is love that senses.
can make the right decision on ➔ Separate ideas can be joined in
what prevents and helps.” the mind.
➔ “Pray where supposedly everything ➔ There is no self, only a bundle of
depends on God. Work which perceptions.
seems all depends on you.” ➔ “A wise man, therefore,
proportions his belief to the
Renaissance evidence.”
Kant
Descartes Orientation: Rationalist/Empiricist
Orientation: Rationalist Philosophy: Metaphysics of the Self
Philosophy: Mind-body Dualism Description:
Description: ➔ Reason is the final authority of
➔ “I think, therefore, I am.” morality
➔ The mind and soul can exist ➔ There is the inner self and outer
without the body. self;
 ➔ The inner self includes rational ➔ The mind is a category mistake,
reasoning and psychological brought about by habitual use.
state. The only way it can affect the
➔ The outer self includes the body other is through the external
and physical mind, where world.
representation occurs. ➔ “I made it, and so I am”
➔ Morality is not properly the Churchland
doctrine of how we may make Orientation: Empiricist
ourselves happy, but how we may Philosophy: Neurophilosophy
make ourselves worthy of Description:
happiness. ➔ A fully matured neuroscience will
➔ The consciousness is divided into: eliminate the need for beliefs
➔ 1. Internal Self - composed of since “they are not real.”
psychological states and informed ➔ The physical brain gives us a
decisions; remembering our own sense of self
state, how can we combine the ➔ “To understand the mind, we must
new and old ideas with our mind. understand the brain.”
➔ External Self - made up of
ourselves and the physical world Merleau-Ponty
where the representation of Orientation: Existentialism Empiricist
objects. Philosophy: Phenomenology of
Modern Times Perception
Description:
Freud ➔ Both empiricism and
Orientation: Psychology-three-fold self intellectualism are flawed in
Philosophy: Psychoanalysis nature.
Description: ➔ “We are our bodies.”
➔ Id - pleasure principle ➔ Our bodily experiences do not
➔ Ego - reality principle detach the subject/object,

➔ Superego - morality principle mind/body, rational/irrational.

Ryle ➔ “The body is our general medium

Orientation: Empiricist of having a world.”

Philosophy: The concept of mind

Description:
➔ “I act therefore I am.”
➔ The mind is not the seat of self.
➔ It is not a separate, parallel thing
to our physical body.