THE SELF FROM

VARIOUS
PERSPECTIVE
Objectives:

 TOKNOW THE PHILOSOPHERS DIFFER

EXPLAINATION OF SELF.
 TOKNOW THE SELF FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
PHILOSOPHY AND SOCIOLOGY.
 In man’s pursuit of knowledge and truth, thinkers for
centuries have searched for explanations and reasons for
everything that exist around him. In Athens of Ancient
Greece, approximately 600 BCE, marked the birth of
Philosophy (literally, ‘love of wisdom’) as it influenced
Western thought and still has until today. The Greeks in
search for knowledge came up with answers that are both
cognitive and scientific in nature (Price, 2000).
SOCRATES

Of the many Greek philosophers, none can

surpass the popularity of the ‘big three’. These
were Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. All three shared
philosophical academic bond. Socrates was the
mentor of Plato and Plato was the mentor of
Aristotle.
A stonemason with a sharp mind, Socrates wanted to
discover the essential nature of knowledge, justice, beauty
and goodness (Moore and Bruder, 2002). However,
Socrates did not write anything, he was not a writer. A lot of
his thoughts were only known through Plato’s writing (The
Dialogues).
It was through Plato where it was learned that Socrates was
a brilliant debater and was idolized by many Athenians.
This angered the Sophists who brought him to trial, and
where finally he was sentenced to death.
 SOCRATIC METHOD

Socrate’s method for discovering what is essential in the world

and in people is what is known as the Socratic/Dialectic
method. This method involves the search for correct/proper
definition of a thing. The result is a definition that cannot be
refuted anymore by Socratic reasoning. In this method,
Socrates did not lecture, he instead would ask questions and
engage the person in a discussion. He would begin by acting
as if he did not know anything and would get the other person
to clarify their ideas and resolve logical inconsistencies
(Price, 2000).
Socrates’ influence was reflected in his famous statement which
he fully lived by, “the unexamined life is nit worth living.” He
believed that his mission in life was to seek the highest knowledge
and convince others who were willing to seek this knowledge with
him. His Socratic method allowed him to questions people’s beliefs
and ideas, exposing their misconceptions and get them to attach
their souls. The touching of the soul, may mean helping the person
to get in touch to his true self. The true self, Socrates said, is not the
body but the soul. Virtue is inner goodness, and real beauty is that
of the soul (Price, 2000).
Plato

Plato’s real name is Aristocles (428-348 BCE). He was born

in Athens to one of Greece’s Aristocratic families. Plato
left Athens for 12 years after the death of Socrates. When
he returned he established a school known as the
academy. Socrates left a strong influenced of Plato. Both
believed that philosophy is more than analyses but rather
is a way of life. Socrates did not write anything but Plato
wrote more that 20 dialouged with Socrates as
protagonist in most of them (Price, 2000).
Plato’s metqphysics (philosophical study on the causes
and nature of things) is known as the “Theory of Forms.” In
his Theory of forms Plato explain that form refers to what
are real. They are not object that encoundered with the
senses but can only be grasped intellectually. Plato’s form
have the following characteristics:
1. The form are ageless and therefore eternal.
2. The form are unchanging and therefore permanent.
3. The forms are unmoving and invisible.
Plato’s Dualism

1. THE REALM OF THE SHADOWS

2. THE REALM OF FORM
Plato’s described the soul as having
three components

 THE REASON
 THE SPIRITED
 THE APPETITES
Plato’s Theory and Becoming

Plato further illustrated his philosophy of the search for

knowledge using the ‘Allegory of the Cave’. In the
allegory of the cave, what people in the cave see are
only shadows of reality which theu believed are real
things and represents knowledge. What these people
fail to realized that the shadows are not real for
according to plato, “Only the forms are real.”
For Plato, love is the way of knowing and realizing the
truth. Love is a process of seeking higher stages of
being. The greater the love, the more intellictual
compojent it will contain. Lifelong longing and pursuit
seek even higher stages of love whivh leads to the
possesion of absoulute beauty. It is this pursuit that
motivates man and transform people and societies. To
love the highest according to Plato is to become the
best (Moore and Brueder, 2002).