(PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF) MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHERS

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? ST. AUGUSTINE

- Is an activity people undertake when they seek - Self is made up of a body and a soul.
to understand fundamental truths - The Self According to St. Augustine:
PHILO- Love (Body- imperfect aspect of man that is bound
SOPHIA- Wisdom to perish on earth.)
PHILO + SOPHIA- Love of Wisdom (Soul- capable of reaching immortality by
staying after death in an eternal realm with the
ANCIENT PHILOSOPHERS all-transcendent of God.)
- Defined self in the context of his relationship
SOCRATES with God.
- Father of western philosophy.  Happiness if found in God alone.
- The Self According to Socrates:  “My heart is restless until it rests in
(Body- physical, tangible, mortal, attached with you”
each other when alive, both parts are present in
physical realm, upon death, it will stay in the ST. THOMAS AQUINA
physical realm.) - United faith and reason
(Soul- immortal, unchanging, attached with  Some truths are known through
each other when alive, both parts are present in reason, and some are known
physical realm, upon death, it will travel to through divine revelation.
ideal realm.) - The Self According to St. Aquinas:
- The true self is not about what we own, our (Matter/ Body/ Hyle- body)
social status, our reputation, or even body. (Form/ Soul/ Morphe- animates the body)
 Our true self is our soul. “MAN IS AN EMBODIED SOUL”
- Ignorance is the beginning of wisdom.
- An unexamined life is not worth living.
 The goal is to “know thyself” MODERN PHILOSOPHERS
- “Annoying” philosopher
 Preferred death over exile RENE DESCARTES
- Father of Modern Philosophy
PLATO  Founded Dualism
- Student of Socrates  Existence is divided into
 Wrote socrates’ teachings 2 distinct parts: Mind
- The Self According to Plato: and Body.
(Body- Perishable, changing, transitory, shell of  Founded Rationalism
the soul)  Reason is the source of
(Soul- immortal, permanent, changeless, divine, knowledge.
giver of life to the body) - The Self According to Rene Descartes:
“SELF IS A SOUL USING BODY” (Material body- should not be trusted.)
(Mind- the thing that thinks.)
- TRIPARTITE SOUL - Realities should be subjected to doubt
 Rational/Logical (seeks truth and is  COGITO ERGO SUM
swayed by facts and arguments.)  I think therefore I am.
 Spirited/Emotional (how feelings  I doubt therefore I
fuel your actions.) exist.
 Appetitive/Physical Desires (drives
you to eat, have sex, and protect JOHN LOCKE
yourself.) - Father of Empricism
- Our life’s journey is a continuous striving to free  Knowledge came from experiences
our soul from imprisonment. (senses)
 TABULA RASA
ARISTOTLE  “EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST
- Student of Plato TEACHER”
“Composite View of Self” - There’s no self
 The body and the soul are one.  Self is just a bundle of Impressions
- Reason over senses
(Reason- Happiness, Senses- Chaos) DAVID HUME
- Golden Mean - There’s no self
 Living life in moderation, is doing  Self is just a bundle of Impressions
things in consonance with reason. - The Self According to David Hume:
 Living in accordance to the golden (Impression- from direct experiences)
mean, we will achieve (Idea- Couples of Impressions)
EUDAIMONIA.
 CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHERS

GILBERT RYLE
- “I act therefore, I am”
 Mind and body are one

PAUL CHURCHLAND
- Materialism
 If a thing cannot be recognized by
the senses, it doesn’t exist.

(SOCIOLOGICAL PRESPECTIVES OF THE SELF)

CHARLES- HORTON COOLEY

- Primary Groups
 Small group of people who share
intimate relationship with each
other.
 Main source and basic foundation
of an individual’s sense of self and
identity.
- LOOKING-GLASS SELF THEORY
 People create their self-image
based on how they think others see
them.
 Three-Phases of the Looking-Glass
Self Theory:
 We imagine how we
present ourselves to
others.
 We imagine how others
evaluate us.
 We develop some sort
of feeling about
ourselves based upon
our perception of what
we think others have
us.
 People do not “judge” you, it’s just
the way you think about how
people see you.

ERVING GOFFMAN
- Dramaturgical Theory
 People are actors.
 Front stage
 Back stage
 Impression management

LEON FESTINGER
- Self-Comparison Theory
 Self-evaluation
 Self-enhancement
 Upward social comparison
 Downward social comparison
 Passive downward
social comparison
 Active downward social
comparison