GEUTS01x

Understanding The Self

Preparatory Activity for SS02 - Lecture 02: Philosophical Understanding of the Self

JULIUS CAESAR T. UY
AIS201

Asynchronous Activity 01 - AA01

Upload Date: April 14, 2023
Submission Date: April 21, 2023

Topic: Philosophical Understanding of the Self

Total Score: 25

Rationale
One may argue that the key to success is knowing yourself well. I believe you have already asked yourselves how
much you know about who you are. I understand if many of you would say that you have little knowledge about
yourselves, while others may claim they are on the endless journey of finding who they really are. Whatever your
answer is, I must say there is no deadline for discovering oneself.

The journey of self-discovery is an ongoing process of active reflection and examination of one's thoughts, actions,
and words. This process began and has been part of long-standing debates among the most critical thinkers who
immersed themselves in the search for knowledge about human nature.

Directions
The philosophers listed in the first column were influential figures who questioned human existence and self.

1. Search for their primary arguments about self and existence and briefly discuss them in the second
column. In the third column, cite your reference in full using the APA 7th edition. Do not use wikis
and Wikipedia as your references. Here is the link for the proper citation for your reference:
https://libguides.usc.edu/ld.php?content_id=54526203

Key figures Arguments/Philosophies about Self and Referenc

Existence es
1 Socrates Socrates believes that the self exists in two The Perception of the Self
parts which are the physical and soul. Physical according to Socrates - 539
refers to the tangible aspects of us and our soul Words | Essay Example.
is the immortal aspect of us. (n.d.). Free Essays.
https://ivypanda.com/essays/t
he-perception-of-the-self-
according-to-socrates/

2 Plato Plato believes that the self has three parts which Plato’s Concept of the Self -
are the rational soul, spiritual soul and PHILO-notes. (2022, May
appetitive soul. According to Plato, rational soul 16). PHILO-notes - Free
is located in the head which enables us to think, Online Learning Materials.
reflect and analyze. Spiritual soul is located in https://philonotes.com/2022/0
the chest which enables us to experience 5/platos-concept-of-the-self
happiness, joy, sadness, anger and other
emotional feelings.
3 Augustine of Augustine of Hippo believes that the human Saint Augustine. (n.d.). Saint
Hippo being is a compound of body and soul. He Augustine (Stanford
believes that the soul are both life-giving Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
 element and the center of consciousness, https://plato.stanford.edu/entr
perception and thought. ies/augustine/#:~:text=Like
%20most%20ancient
%20philosophers%2C
%20Augustine,to%20be%2C
%20the%20ruling%20part.

4 Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas believes that natural reason Thomas Aquinas. (n.d.).
can demonstratively prove God’s existence. He Thomas Aquinas (Stanford
believes that everything in the world are Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
changeable. Therefore, there is a first cause or https://plato.stanford.edu/entr
prime mover. ies/aquinas/

5 Rene Descartes Rene Descartes believes that the self can be Chamberlain, C. (2020,
correctly considered as either a mind or a January 14). What Am I?
human being and he states that the self- Descartes’s Various Ways of
properties vary accordingly. Considering the Self. What
Am I? Descartes’s Various
Ways of Considering the Self
- Journal of Modern
Philosophy.
https://doi.org/10.32881/jomp
.30

6 John Locke John locke believes that the knowledge of the Locke: Knowledge of the
external world is knowledge of real existence. External World | Internet
This means that the knowledge of real existence Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
is knowledge that something really exists and (n.d.). Locke: Knowledge of
not an imagination. the External World | Internet
Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
https://iep.utm.edu/locke-kn/

7 David Hume David Hume believes that the concept of the David Hume (1711–1776):
self is a result of our natural habit of attributing Themes, Arguments, and
unified existence to any collection of associated Ideas | SparkNotes. (2023,
parts. April 27). SparkNotes.
https://www.sparknotes.com/
philosophy/hume/themes/

8 Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant believes that the moral law is a Kant, Immanuel | Internet
truth of reason. Therefore, all rational creatures Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
are bound by the same moral law. (n.d.). Kant, Immanuel |
Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy.
https://iep.utm.edu/kantview/
#:~:text=Kant%20argued
 %20that%20the
%20moral,with%20a
%20universal%20moral
%20law.

9 Gilbert Ryle Gilbert Ryle believes that the self is the way THE PHILOSOPHICAL
people behave. It means that the self is the same PERSPECTIVE OF THE
as bodily behavior. SELF. (2018, September 6).
THE PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVE OF THE
SELF. – I am Rolex.
https://iamrolex.wordpress.co
m/2018/09/06/the-
philosophical-perspective-of-
the-self/

10 Maurice Maurice Merleu-Ponty believes that we cannot Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

Merleu- separate the certainty of our thoughts from that (n.d.). Maurice Merleau-
Ponty our perceptions. Ponty (Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
https://plato.stanford.edu/entr
ies/merleau-ponty/
1. Among the ten (10) philosophers and their philosophical ideas about the self, choose which of these
philosophers has similar views about the self. Explain your reasons behind your choice and specify,
in particular, the shared ideas or beliefs.

The Philisophers who have similar views about the self are Socrates, Plato and Augustine of
Hippo. They have similar views about the self because these three persons talks about physical
body and soul. Socrates believes that the self exists in two parts which are the physical and
soul. Plato believes that the self has three parts which are the rational soul, spiritual soul and
appetitive soul. Augustine of Hippo believes that the human being is a compound of body and
soul. In conclusion, they have similar views about the self and soul.
 2. Rubrics for rating
3.
a. Philosophers and key arguments/concepts about self

Areas Scoring and Descriptive Indicators

0 2 3 4 5
Completion No input/ The philosophers The philosophers The philosophers The philosophers
writing. are less than 5. The are more than 5 but are 8 in total. The are either 9 or 10 in
discussion contents less than 8. The discussion contents total. The
about their discussion contents of their discussion contents
arguments/concepts about their arguments/concepts of their
about the arguments/concepts about self/existence arguments/concepts
self/existence are about self/existence are substantial about self/existence
very limited are somehow are very substantial
limited

Clarity and The discussion is The discussion is The discussion is The discussion is
Organization not clear and somehow clear and clear and very clear and
organized. The organized. The organized. The organized. The
writing is confusing writing requires writing may or may writing needs no
and requires supplementary not ask for additional
additional in-depth information additional information
information information

References There are very There are limited There are enough There are
limited references/citations. references/ overwhelming
references/citations. The information is citations. The references/
The information is referenced from information is citations (more
referenced from reputable sources referenced from than 3 per
wikis and reputable sources, philosopher). The
Wikipedia such as articles, information is
books, etc referenced from
reputable sources,
such as articles,
books, etc

b. Philosophers and shared beliefs/concepts

Areas Scoring and Descriptive Indicators

0 2 3 4 5
Completion No input/ The philosophers The philosophers The philosophers The philosophers
writing. are arguably shared somehow shared shared their shared their
beliefs/concepts. their beliefs/concepts. beliefs/concepts.
The discussion beliefs/concepts. The discussion The discussion
contents about their The discussion contents about their contents about
choices and shared contents about their choices and shared their choices and
beliefs are very choices and shared beliefs are shared beliefs are
limited beliefs are somehow substantial very substantial
limited

Clarity and The discussion is The discussion is The discussion is The discussion is
Organization not clear and somehow clear and clear and very clear and
organized. The organized. The organized. The organized. The
writing is writing requires writing may or may writing needs no
confusing and supplementary not ask for additional
requires additional information additional information
in-depth information
information