7GSELF-MODULE 1-UNIT 1-Philosophical Perspective

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Module I. KNOWING THE SELF

This module discusses the different representations and conceptualizations of the
self from various perspectives. It examines the factors and influences that shape one’s
self. It shall also challenge you to evaluate your sense of self using these various
perspectives as you represent yourself in many areas of your life experiences.
Unit 1: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

This unit discusses and examines the philosophical perspectives of the self by
early to modern philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, St. Augustine, Descartes, Locke,
Hume, Kant, Freud, Ryle, Churchland and Merleau-Ponty.
ENGAGE
WHO AM I?
EXPLORE
You have probably heard of different sayings and quotes. Try to interpret
what the following philosophical sayings mean:
“It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.”
“But only he who, himself enlightened, is not afraid of shadows.”
“Know Thyself.”
“Personal Identity depends on Consciousness not on Substance”.
To understand these sayings, and more importantly yourself better, let us
discuss the different philosophical perspectives.
EXPLAIN
*What is Philosophy?
*How is Philosophy relevant in understanding the self?
In this unit, we will look at and understand three groups of philosophical
perspectives, namely: Ancient and Medieval, Modern, and Contemporary.
ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHIES
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Ancient and Medieval Philosophies view and understand the self as a

perfection of the soul via self-examination and self-control. These philosophies
include the perspectives of Socrates, Plato, and St. Augustine.
Ancient Greek philosophers believed that the soul is the essence of man.
The soul or “psyche” was also regarded as the self. The famous statement,
“Know Thyself” presents a requirement in terms of knowing oneself, and that is to
know the limits of oneself, such that knowing one’s strengths should be
balanced with also knowing one’s weaknesses. To know oneself is to do so in
self-moderation, with prudence and good judgment.
SOCRATES
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
To know and understand oneself, one should live

an “examined” life. Living an examined life means:
• having self-knowledge
• being dignified with values and integrity
• having and applying wisdom
• recognizing ignorance
To live an examined life also maintains that one should recognize and
acknowledge that there are things one does not know; that there are things
about the self and about life that still needs to be discovered; that life is a never-
ending search for answers. To this, Socrates stated: “To know, is to know that
you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.”
PLATO
“Human behavior flows from three main sources:

desire, emotion, and knowledge.”
According to Plato, the examination of the self is a

unique experience; it differs from person to person, as
one gets to discover things about him/herself. This
experience then leads to better understanding of the
psyche.
Plato proposed three elements of the psyche: the appetitive, the spirited,
and the mind. These three elements either work together or go against each
other, resulting in a person’s behavior.
The appetitive consists of one’s pleasures, desires, physical satisfactions,
and comforts. It basically holds all those relevant to sustaining a comfortable
environment. An example of this is wanting to sleep in despite having classes, or
enjoying ice cream on a hot, sunny day.
The spirited is the motivated element, which fights back to ensure that the
appetitive is controlled. For instance, telling oneself that education should be
prioritized, it is not good to be lazy, and one should wake up and get ready for
school.
The mind is the most superior element of the psyche, which controls how
the self is expressed. To do this, it controls the appetitive and spirited elements,
thus striking a balance between the two and resulting in more realistic behavior.
To illustrate, perhaps acknowledging that one is still tired and sleepy, but also
realizing the fact that one needs to attend classes, thus, he/she goes to class
and then makes it a point to take a nap afterwards.
Understanding how these three elements work then leads to understanding

of the self, as one sees how behavior results, and determines how to balance
the calls of each element.
ST. AUGUSTINE
“This is the very perfection of man; to find out his

own imperfections.”
St. Augustine considered himself a sinner. He

acknowledged that he had committed bad deeds,
and resolved to change and be a better person. For
St. Augustine, the self develops through self-
presentation and self-realization. One must present
him/herself, accepting who he/she is - strengths, weaknesses, and discerning
what changes to make to be a better individual.
St. Augustine’s perspective centers on religious conviction and belief as

he believed that to be a better person, one should turn to his/her religious beliefs
as this would serve as a guide towards better understanding of oneself. In doing
so, the end goal - happiness in and through God - would be achieved.
MODERN PHILOSOPHIES
Modern philosophical perspectives view the self as a dialectic synthesis

between Rationalism and Empiricism, that is, having different points of view but
coming to a resolution. Rationalism deals with thinking and innate ideas, and
regards reason as the main source of knowledge. Empiricism, on the other hand,
has to do with sense experience where knowledge is based on how one
observes and perceives his/her experiences.
To understand the self then implies the use of both reason and
experience, as such, there is a dialectic synthesis.
RENE DESCARTES
“I think, therefore I am.”
Rene Descartes is a pioneer or Rationalism. To

understand the self, the rational method should be carried
out, where the self exists as one makes use of rational
thought, or to put it simply, when one thinks. Descartes’
concept of Methodic Doubt states that everything must be
subjected to doubt or that everything
should be questioned. It is a way of searching for certainty by systematically and
tentatively doubting everything. When one applies Methodic Doubt, he/she uses
rational thinking, thus, the self exists. For instance, one may question why he is
not good in singing. Instead of simply accepting this as a fact, he reasons out
why he is not good at such, and in doing so, enables his “self” to exist.
Human rationality, according to Descartes, is the primary condition for the

existence of the self. Human beings need to reason in order to:
• evaluate thoughts
• evaluate actions
• establish firm foundations or bases
• protect oneself
• build knowledge
Descartes says, “It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to
use it well.”
JOHN LOCKE
“No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.”
John Locke was an advocate of Empiricism. His concept of

“tabula rasa” explains how the self-starts out as an empty
space. This empty space is then filled with the experiences
one has each and every day, where such experiences are
necessary for sense data - what one sees, hears, smells,
tastes, touches. These sense data are then perceived or
given meaning, and so the empty space is filled with
knowledge of the self. Locke highlighted the capability of man to learn from
experience, and process different perceptions skillfully to form more complex
ideas. From this stems one’s knowledge and understanding of the self. In short,
experience comes before knowledge. For example, to know how one would
behave when a course has been failed, one should first experience failing a
course. From here, one can observe him/herself in terms of his/her behaviors so
there would then be knowledge and understanding of how the self-reacts
towards failure.
ELABORATE
Sense Experience
Sit down, keep quiet, and let your senses work. List down what you see,
hear, smell, taste, and touch. Not all of these may be applicable, but try to have
as much sense data as possible. Then reflect on what you learned through your
sense experience.
What I saw: _______________________________________________________________

What I heard: _____________________________________________________________
What I smelled: ___________________________________________________________

What I tasted: ____________________________________________________________
What I learned (your insight here must incorporate the ideas of Locke and Kant):
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
DAVID HUME
“There is no self.”
Perhaps the most different perspective in terms of the

existence of the self would be that of David Hume. He
proposed the idea that the self does not exist. This is because
the idea of the self is merely derived from impressions.
These impressions may be subjective, temporary, and prejudicial. They do not
persist.
For example, upon asking a person, “Who are you?”, the person can say,
“I am David, a Psychology student, 65 kilograms in weight, and a good singer.
This information, however, can change. One’s physical characteristics,
educational pursuits, and even basic information like one’s name and address
can change. The self, then, cannot exist if information about it is temporary. Even
everyday decisions can change.
IMMANUEL KANT
“If man makes himself a worm, he must not complain when he

is trodden on.”
Immanuel Kant synthesized the rationalist and

empiricist views. He proposed that the self is always
transcendental. The self is outside the body and outside
the qualities of the body. Ideas are perceived by the self,
and they connect the self and the world. Accordingly,
rationality unifies and makes sense of the perceptions we
have in our experiences.
Rationality enables sensible ideas about ourselves and our world. Thus, the
saying above explains that in a way, how we see ourselves is also how
others would see us.
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHIES
The Contemporary philosophical perspectives present a wide variety of theories

that could be used in understanding the self. Much of these is more relatable and
relevant in today’s world.
SIGMUND FREUD
Sigmund Freud contended that the self is the “I” that
constitutes both mental and physical actions, with the “I”
being a product of multiple interacting processes. When
we say, for instance, “I am a Louisian”, it is one’s self being
expressed.
The statement involving one’s thoughts, feelings, and
actions.
Freud introduced two models to enable the

understanding of the self:
Topographical Model
There are things about the self that one knows and is aware of, and at the
same time, there are those that one does not know and is unaware of. For
instance, you know that you are enrolled in this subject, but you do not know if
you will pass the subject.
This model explains how the “I“ is both conscious and unconscious.
Freud’s Iceberg Theory illustrates this.
At the conscious level, one is aware of thoughts, feelings, and

perceptions. These are easily identified and known by the person. The
subconscious level consists of those that one is able to easily remember and
bring into awareness, such as usual memories and stored knowledge. The
unconscious level, on the other hand, houses those that one has either repressed
or forgotten. it consists of those which are unacceptable, undesirable, or painful.
Freud stated that to come to a complete understanding and awareness of the
self, the contents of the unconscious should be made conscious, where
recognition and acceptance of all experiences are present.
What are those things that you are aware of? What are those things that you
have tried to forget? How do these contribute to who you are and how you
understand yourself?
Structural Model
Freud’s structural model looks into the structures of personality or the self, as
Freud proposed. The three structures are the id, ego, and superego.
The ID is the primitive or instinctive component, which consists of one’s

primal urges and wants. In children, the id is most dominant, as the other
structures have not yet been developed. The EGO is the reality principle, and
balances the id and superego. The SUPEREGO synthesizes the values and
morals of society, and includes one’s conscience.
In summary, Freud’s perspective explains that to understand the self, one

needs to be aware of both the conscious and the unconscious, and integrate
the id, ego, and superego.
GILBERT RYLE
“I act, therefore I am.”
Gilbert Ryle stated that the self may be understood based

on the external manifestations - actions, language, expressions –
of a person. Here, physical actions or behaviors are dispositions
of the self.
To illustrate: You are known to be a very responsible student because it is

seen in the way you act, wherein you are observed to be always on time, listen
intently to your Professor, and get good scores.
***REFLECTION:
“You are what you do.” What does this statement mean for you? Do you agree
or disagree with it? Why?
***JOURNAL ENTRY #1: “I act therefore, I am.” (MIDTERMS)
Inventory of my 24 hours
• Make an honest inventory of how you spent your typical 24 hours in the last
week or so
• Tabular format: start from the moment you woke up until you sleep at night
Column 1 : time or time duration
Column 2: activity/ies
• Make a short reflection on how your dominant activities shape your

emotions, thoughts, perspectives and how you see yourself. Be sure to
incorporate concepts that your learned from the Philosophical
Perspectives.
MAURICE MERLEAU-PONTY
“I live in my body.”
Maurice Merleau-Ponty developed a

phenomenological view of the self/ A phenomenological
rhythm explains the perception of the self, and this involves
three dimensions. The first is the empiricist view, followed by
the idealist-intellectual alternative, and lastly, the synthesis of
both views. Merleau proposed that perception is a causal
process, meaning, one’s perceptions are caused by the
intricate experiences of the self, and intellectually processed
while making a distinction between truthful and illusory perceptions.
Merleau-Ponty’s concept of “lived body” refers to an entity that can never

be objectified or known in a completely objective sort of way. The “I” is a single
integrated entity; a blending of mental, physical, and emotional - structured
around a core identity: the self.
PAUL and PATRICIA CHURCHLAND

“Brains are not magical; they are causal machines.”
The Churchlands brought neuroscience into the fore of

understanding the self. Their concept of “Eliminative
Materialism” explains how mental concepts are mistaken
and do not adequately allow people to know about what
is going on with themselves.
As such, these should be abandoned, and focus

should be on brain processes instead. Thus, to understand the self, one
should go for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed
Tomography (CT) Scans, to have a view of the brain’s present condition.
References:
Chafee, J. (2013) Who are you? Consciousness, Identity and the Self. In the Philosopher's
Way: Thinking Critically about Profound Ideas. Pearson. 106 — 169.
Villafuerte, S. Quillope, A. Tunac, R. Borja, E. Understanding the Self, NIEME Publishing House
Inc., Quezon City 2018

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COURSE LEARNING PACKETS TEMPLATE

Document Code FM-STL-013

Module I. KNOWING THE SELF

Unit 1: PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHIES

Ancient and Medieval Philosophies view and understand the self as a

To know and understand oneself, one should live

“Human behavior flows from three main sources:

According to Plato, the examination of the self is a

Understanding how these three elements work then leads to understanding

“This is the very perfection of man; to find out his

St. Augustine considered himself a sinner. He

St. Augustine’s perspective centers on religious conviction and belief as

Modern philosophical perspectives view the self as a dialectic synthesis

Rene Descartes is a pioneer or Rationalism. To

Human rationality, according to Descartes, is the primary condition for the

John Locke was an advocate of Empiricism. His concept of

What I saw: _______________________________________________________________

What I smelled: ___________________________________________________________

Perhaps the most different perspective in terms of the

“If man makes himself a worm, he must not complain when he

Immanuel Kant synthesized the rationalist and

The Contemporary philosophical perspectives present a wide variety of theories

Freud introduced two models to enable the

At the conscious level, one is aware of thoughts, feelings, and

The ID is the primitive or instinctive component, which consists of one’s

In summary, Freud’s perspective explains that to understand the self, one

Gilbert Ryle stated that the self may be understood based

To illustrate: You are known to be a very responsible student because it is

***JOURNAL ENTRY #1: “I act therefore, I am.” (MIDTERMS)

• Make a short reflection on how your dominant activities shape your

Maurice Merleau-Ponty developed a

Merleau-Ponty’s concept of “lived body” refers to an entity that can never

PAUL and PATRICIA CHURCHLAND

The Churchlands brought neuroscience into the fore of

As such, these should be abandoned, and focus

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