GE1 : Understanding the Self

Hello students! Welcome to this course GE 1: . Understanding the

Self!
Understanding ourselves is essential to our being. It’s a reflection
on how we relate and connect with others. That is why in this
course we will get to discover and learn about ourselves better.
This will be a journey in discovering oneself.
Let us begin our journey!
Week 1-2: Unit learning outcomes (ULO): at
the end of the unit you are expected to:
a. Explain the different philosophical
perspectives of the self.
b. Explain how the self has been represented
across disciplines and perspectives.
Big picture in focus : ULOa. Explain the different philosophical
perspectives of the self.
Metalanguage:
• Below are the essential terms that you are going to encouter in the pursuit of ULOa.:
Explain the different philosophical perspectives of the self. Frequently refer to these
definitions to help you understand the succeeding topics.
• Self – The self has many aspects such as self-awareness, self-esteem, self-knowledge
and self-perception. The self holds the cognitive or affective representation of the
individual (Merriam-Webster, 2017)
• Perspectives - the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed
(Merriam Webster Dictionary).
• Philosophy - the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence,
especially when considered as an academic discipline.
• Discipline of Philosophy - From the Greek: philosophia: love of (philo-), wisdom (-
sophia). Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom through the critical investigation of the
nature, causes, or foundations of reality, knowledge, or values, rather than relying
purely on empirical investigation.
Philosophical perspective of the self - philosophy begins in the human’s experience of
reality, being the most Ancient of all intellectual disciplines; philosophy is the
mother of the human and natural sciences. As the love of wisdom, philosophy is
more than just knowledge, seeking to open its students’ minds to critically
become aware of illusions, fraudulent claims, and flawed reasoning.
The Avocado/Artichoke Model the methapors for human nature.
• AVOCADO- the seed at the center contains all the essential information
about what makes an avocado an avocado. If the avocado seed is
planted a new avocado will grow which when it reaches its maturity is
capable of producing another generation of avocado.

• ARTICHOKE- consists of spiny layer that can be peeled off one after the
other. When the last layer is removed there is nothing left. The heart of
the artichoke is its base yet it does not contain the essence of the
artichoke. The artichoke is nothing but its layers
 ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY (AVOCADO VIEW)
• HINDUISM - Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion, according to many scholars,
with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900
million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and
Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world’s Hindus live in India. Because the religion
has no specific founder, it’s difficult to trace its origins and history. Hinduism is
unique in that it’s not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and
philosophies.
 Buddhism - Siddhartha Gautama- we have a very avocado like image of the
core self at the the heart of the person which travels from life to life
hrough the process of reincarnation taking on new bodies but remains
intact.
Hinduism Beliefs - Some basic Hindu concepts include:
• Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as
a “way of life” or a “family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
• Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity,
known as “Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe
there are multiple paths to reaching their god.
• Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and
reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
• One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy
holds that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The
goal is to achieve “moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become
part of the absolute soul.
What is karma?
The pali term karma literally means action or doing. Any kind
of intentional action whether mental, verbal, or physical, is
regarded as karma. It covers all that is included in the phrase
"thought, word and deed". Generally speaking, all good and bad
action constitutes karma. In its ultimate sense karma means
all moral and immoral volition. Involuntary, unintentional or
unconscious actions, though technically deeds, do not
constitute karma, because volition, the most important factor
in determining karma, is absent.
 The Eightfold Path:
• 1. Right view or understanding. Vision of the nature of reality and the path of transformation.
• 2. Right thought or attitude. Liberating emotional intelligence in your life and acting from love and
compassion. An informed heart and feeling mind that are free to practice letting go.
• 3. Right speech. Clear, truthful, uplifting and non-harmful communication.
• 4. Right action. An ethical foundation for life based on the principle of non-exploitation of oneself
and others. The five precepts.
• 5. Right livelihood. This is a livelihood based on correct action the ethical principal of non-
exploitation. The basis of an Ideal society.
• 6. Right effort or diligence. Consciously directing our life energy to the transformative path of
creative and healing action that fosters wholeness. Conscious evolution.
• 7. Right mindfulness. Developing awareness, "if you hold yourself dear watch yourself well".
Levels of Awareness and mindfulness - of things, oneself, feelings, thought, people and Reality.
• 8. http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/8foldpath.htmConcentration, meditation, absorption or
one-pointedness of mind
 THE GREEK RATIONALIST TRADITION (AVOCADO VIEW)
• Socrates:
• 1. Believed in the natural goodness of the human person. No man desires evil as such. His
intention is always directed toward the good in whatever he chooses to act upon
• 2. Evil is not man’s intention; it is the result of ignorance that an action may possibly end with.
• 3. It is imperative that man must examine his life for “ an unexamined life is not worth living”
• Knowledge is virtue
• Ignorance is evil
• The wise man is he who knows what is right and wrong, avoid evil and do what is good
• 4. Man’s body comes from the world of matter, but his reason comes from
the universal reason of MIND OF THE WORLD
PLATO - the soul (mind) itself is divided into 3 parts: reason; appetite (physical
urges); and will (emotion, passion, spirit.) The will is the source of love, anger,
indignation, ambition, aggression, etc.
THE ALLEGORY OF THE CAVE
• The allegory this refers to his leaving behind the impermanent, material
world for the permanent intelligible world. It is a story about the human
journey from darkness to light, from sleeping to waking, from ignorance
to knowledge. For Christians like St. Augustine it represented the soul’s
journey from this world to the heavenly one. Contemporary
commentators often argue that has something to say to us. We look at our
televisions, smartphones, and computer screens rather than
contemplating eternal things
 ARISTOTLE
• HAPPINESS- is a life of moderation. Whatever is extreme is bad.
• CHANGE is necessary for growth and development of beings.
• Aristotle insisted that the human being is a composite of body and soul and that the
soul cannot be separated from the body. Aristotle’s philosophy of self was
constructed in terms of hylomorphism in which the soul of a human being is the form
or the structure of the human body or the human matter, i.e., the functional
organization in virtue of which human beings are able to perform their characteristic
activities of life, including growth, nutrition, reproduction, perception, imagination,
desire, and thinking.
 THE THEOCENTRIC TRADITION (AVOCADO VIEW)
ST. AUGUSTINE
• To be human is to be composite of body and soul.
• Man is ultimately meant to be happy.
• Happiness is the end of every man.
• Everlasting happiness.
• What satisfies perfectly one’s craving for real happiness is his union with God.
• St. Augustine’s philosophy of man is fundamentally a philosophy of love.
• Love is the nature of his God;
• Love is the way towards God;
• Love is the measure of how he has to enjoy or simply exercise his freedom.
• Love is his basis of living morally and fairly with others.
• Augustine thinks that the human being is a compound of body and
soul and that, within this compound, the soul—conceived as both the
life-giving element and the center of consciousness, perception and
thought—is, or ought to be, the ruling part. The rational soul should
control the sensual desires and passions; it can become wise if it turns
to God, who is at the same time the Supreme Being and the Supreme
Good.
 Big picture in focus : ULOb. Explain how the self has been
represented across disciplines and perspectives
Metalanguage:
• Below are the essential terms that you are going to encouter in the pursuit of ULOb.: Explain
the different philosophical perspectives of the self. Please note that you will also be required
to refer to the previous definitions found in ULOa section.
• Philosophy – philosophy is from the greek wordphilo- (loving) and Sophia (knowledge,
wisdom). It means “loving knowledge”or “loving wisdom” or in Greek it meant “the pursuit
of knowledge for its own sake”.
• Empiricism – According to David Hume, is the idea that the origin of all knowledge is sense
experience.
• Transcend – Immanuel Kant’s view of the “self”is transcendental, which means the “self”is
related to a spiritual or nonphysical realm.
• Soul – According to Socrates the state of your inner being determine the quality of your life.
• Mind – refers to the mental functioning
• Body – refers to the physical self.
Methodic doubt

Rene
Descartes
THINK ABOUT THE IDEAS OR
PRINCIPLES THAT ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU.
 BELIEF #1

Human life is
directed towards
happiness.
 BELIEF #2

Every person has ONE TRUE LOVE

which will be his/her destiny!
 BELIEF #3

There is a GOD who will give

meaning to our lives.
Now, are you sure that all
these ideas are true and
deserved to be followed?
 THINKING
OTHERWISE

► Imagine
yourself as
holding the
opposite
belief.
BELIEF #-1

Human life is not

supposed to be
happy.
 BELIEF #-2

Wala naman talagang

FOREVER!
Human beings are
supposed to have
MORE THAN TWO
LOVES.
BELIEF #-3

There is no God,
soul, freedom, and
life after death.
 Doubt is the capacity of
the mind to think otherwise.
To negate.
To not believe.
 DESCARTES' PHILOSOPHICAL PROJECT

If we can apply doubt to every thing and

belief that we have our self and the world,
is there still something left that cannot
anymore be doubted?
DESCARTES' PHILOSOPHICAL PROJECT

We cannot trust our senses.

DESCARTES' PHILOSOPHICAL PROJECT

We cannot trust our feelings.

 DESCARTES' PHILOSOPHICAL PROJECT

► We
seemcannot
"true even
and trust
certain" those
(as knowledge
in that
mathematics)
because
genius there
that is
might the possibility
just be of
tricking an
us evil
into
believing.
 What is the sole
unquestionable fact on which
we can base our knowledge?
 "The fact that i
am doubting ...
Cannot be
anymore open to
doubt."
One cannot anymore doubt that
one is doubting, and since
doubting is a form of thinking,
I think, therefore, I am.
Cogito, ergo, sum
Write your short reflection about these
questions in your journal notebook:
1. Is there something more important than
thinking?
2. What is the importance of thinking in the
acquisition of self-knowledge?

ASSIGNMENT
JOHN LOCKE (1632-1704)
Locke’s Essay
Concerning Human
Understanding is built
on a single premise:
that all of our
knowledge comes
from experience
► He refuses to
accept the notion
that we have innate
ideas
► His theory of
knowledge is
called
► Empiricism.
► The tabula rasa or
“blank tablet” view
of the mind is
Locke’s most famous
epistemological
► Concept.
 IMMANUEL KANT
• Immanuel Kant’s view of the “self”is transcendental, which
means the “self”is related to a spiritual or nonphysical realm.
For him, the self is not in the body. The self is outside the body,
and it does not have the qualities of the body. Despite being
transcendental, Kant stressed that the body and its qualities
are rooted to the “self”. He proposed that it is knowledge that
bridges the “self” and the material things together (Boeree,
1999; Book, 2004).
 SIGMUND FREUD :
Personality Structure
• The id is the completely unconscious, impulsive,
child-like portion of the psyche that operates on the
“pleasure principle” and is the source of basic
impulses and drives.
• The ego acts according to the reality principle (i.e., it
seeks to please the id’s drive in realistic ways that
will benefit in the long term rather than bringing
grief).
• The super-ego aims for perfection. It comprises that
organized part of the personality structure.
 GILBERT RYLE
• Ryle’s project consists in a sustained and punishing
bombardment of the cartesian conception of man,
characteristically labelled “the dogma of the ghost in the
machine“. Ryle is trying to find how far he could push analytical
behaviourism, the doctrine that psychological notions can be
analysed in terms of actual or possible behaviour.
• Man makes his
life activity the
⦿ It is free, conscious

object of his
activity makes him

conscious will
the creature of his

which
species/ or

distinguishes
because he is a

him from animals

creature of his
species that he is a
conscious being
► As a conscious being he is able to:
1. Direct his life-activity
2. Treats his own life as subject
matter and as an object of his
own determination
By means of man’s productivity,
nature appears to him as his work
and his reality and by his labor he
duplicates himself not merely
intellectually, in consciousness, but
also actively in reality and in the
world that he has made man
contemplates his own image
 PAUL CHURCHLAND
• Churchland’s central argument is that the concepts and
theoretical vocabulary we use to think about our selves—using
such terms as belief, desire, fear, sensation, pain, joy—actually
misrepresent the reality of minds and selves. All of these
concepts are part of a commonsense “folk psychology” that
obscures rather than clarifies the nature of human experience.
Eliminative materialists believe that we need to develop a new
vocabulary and conceptual framework that is grounded in
neuroscience and that will be a more accurate reflection of the
human mind and self. Churchland proceeds to state the
arguments that he believes support his position.
 MERLEAU-PONTY

• Maurice Merleau-Ponty believed the physical body to be an

important part of what makes up the subjective self. This
concept stands in contradiction to rationalism and
empiricism. Rationalism asserts that reason and mental
perception, rather than physical senses and experience, are
the basis of knowledge and
 DAVID HUME (1711-1776)
• EMPIRICISM – the idea that the origin of all knowledge is sense experience.
• The BUNDLE THEORY:
• Impressions
• Ideas
 EXISTENTIALISM: THE SELF-
CREATED SELF (ARTICHOKE VIEW)

20th century
philosopher

“I am the master of my
fate, I am the captain of
my soul
 EXISTENTIALISM: THE SELF-
CREATED SELF (ARTICHOKE
VIEW)

His German prison

camp experience
convinced him of 2
things:
1. There was no God
2. Humans had the
capacity to create
Atheistic
their own human
existentialist
nature
► Humans had the capacity to create their
own human nature
- We are not born with a fixed human nature,
an essence to tell us what we are and what
we must become
- Existence precedes essence
- Human nature is not provided it is earned
- Freedom is absolute- freedom is a life
sentence and we cannot say “ I couldn’t
help it” or “I have no choice”
- Everything is within our control
 POSTMODERNISM (ARTICHOKE
VIEW)
- THE PROTEAN SELF
- NEURO SCIENCE AND THE SELF
 THE PROTEAN SELF
► Based on Proteus the shape-shifter of the
Greek Mythology:
► We are nothing but our layers
(like an artichoke, self is like many layers, each
of which is real and functional only at particular
times and particular circumstances)
The world is unpredictable so we need a whole
collection of selves with which to meet it
THE NEUROSCIENCE AND THE
SELF
 ASSIGNMENT
► Individual submission of essay on self: As a
Filipino millennial, how do you understand/
perceive yourself? Does your current self
resonate to the avocado view or to the
artichoke view?