Understanding the Self

POLITICAL SELF

Politics ought to be the part time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights and privileges
of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful in our national heritage. ( Dwight
Eisenhower)

Politics ( J. Mitchell)

 Collective decision-making or the making of public policies for an entire society.

 Consists of social relations involving authority and power, the regulation of political units,
and the methods used to formulate and apply social policies

The Political Self

Accdg to Plato, “ the just man is a citizen of the perfect polis ( society) which he happens to be
born

This allows him to actively participate in society thus gaining self-identity, an active citizen of
society.

Accdg to Aristotle, Man develops an “agonal self”

Agonal self – is the central feature of a social system

- Has the capacity to be a member of society- as a citizen

Rousseau, Hegel and Marx feature the “ essential self”

Accdg to Rousseau, from a unique self, men have to become citizens first before they become
individuals to achieve happiness and fulfillment.

Accdg. To Hegel, the “essential self” is a being capable of self- consciousness and aware of the
oneness of the universe

Accdt. To Marx, the essential self is the “laboring self”

Establishing a Democratic Culture:

Democratic culture – is the desire and ability of individuals in a population to participate actively on
government affairs

-Ex. Collective decisions

Sustainable Development

 Is closely linked to the development of democratic culture

  The development of democratic culture entails the condition for a better consideration of
the common good in the exercise of democratic forms of representation as in economic
activities, in scientific and technical development

Democracy

 Is a form of government
 It is a government of the people, by the people and for the people

Preservation and promotion of democratic culture depends on the following conditions:

- Right to freedom of conscience, religious beliefs and thought

- Academic freedom
- Mutual love and cooperation
- Avoidance of crimes and evil
- Equal behavior
- Loyal in duties
- Voice against injustice

Features of a democratic culture:

a. sovereignty – is the power to do everything in a state w/o accountability

- It is the prime factor of democracy.

- In government, it is that public authority which directs or orders what is to be done by

each member in relation to the organization

Rule of Law – states that people’s representatives have the rule according to the laws of the state not
according to their own self interests.

Election – it is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses individuals to hold office

- It is the life blood of a democratic culture.

Social Justice- is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and
opportunities

THE UNIQUE FILIPINO IDENTITY

Filipinos – are Orientals but have been in contact with Western civilization for centuries

Accdg to Pres. Sergio Osmena, Filipinos are equally at home in the traditions and civilizations of both the
East and the West.
Filipinos belong to the brown race and are proud of it.

Filipinos came from various ethno-linguistic groups.

- 175 ethno- linguistic groups each with its own language, identity, culture and
history

The modern Filipino identity was developed in conjunction with Spanish, Chinese, American and
Japanese influences.

- Filipino culture is now a mix of the influence of the East and the West.

UNIQUE FILIPINO TRAITS:

Hospitality – most lovable trait

Family-oriented : close family ties

Respect for the elderly -ex. Pagmamano, saying po or opo

Ability to survive