Philosophic

al
perspective
of the self
 List
2

en!

Take down notes if

necessary.
P.S. she may say something
not in the presentation. 
PHILOSOPHY 3

• Etymological definition- ‘love

for wisdom’
• Employs the inquisitive mind
to discover the ultimate
causes, reasons, and
principles of everything.
• It intends to give a wider
1.Socrates
- Ancient greek philosopher
 5

“An unexamined
life is not worth
living”
- Socrates
Know 6

thyself.
The individual person can
have a meaningful and
happy life only if he
becomes virtuous and
know the value of himself
that can be achieved
through incessant soul-
 7

• Self-knowledge
is the source of
all wisdom.
• The Socratic
method-
‘introspection
’ is carefully
examining
one’s thoughts
2.plato
- Ancient greek philosopher
 “We can easily 9

forgive a child who

is afraid of the dark.
The real tragedy of
life is when men are
afraid of light.”
the self is an 10

immortal soul
• Three-part soul/self:
reason, physical
appetite, and spirit or
passion.
 R- think deeply, make wise
decisions
 PA- basic biological needs
 11

• Genuine
happiness can
only be
achieved by
people who
consistently
make sure that
their Reason is
in control of
3.st. augustine
- African philosopher
- A.k.a St. Augustine of Hippo
- He integrates the ideas of Plato
and teachings of Christianity
 13

“Knowledge can
only come by seeing
the truth that dwells
within us.”
- St. Augustine
the self has an 14

immortal soul
• The physical body is radically
different from and inferior to
its inhabitant, the immortal
soul
• Body as the ‘spouse’ of the
soul, attached by a ‘natural
appetite’
the self has an 15

immortal soul
• Humankind is created in the
image and likeness of God
and so is always geared
towards the good.
• Self-knowledge is the
consequence of knowing God,
through reflection, prayers,
 16

• God is
transcenden
t and the
SELF seeks
to be united
with Him
through
4.RenĖ
descartes
- French philosopher
- Father of Modern Philosophy
 18

“Cogito
ergo
sum.”
 19

“I think, therefore I am.”

- Renė Descartes
I think therefore I
am
20

•The fact that we

are thinking and
are self-conscious
is in itself proof
 21

Essence of the human self

analy
doub
ts zes

understan
Essence of reaso
the human
ds
self ns
questi
ons
Two dimensions of the human 22

self (descartes)
THINKING PHYSICAL BODY
ENTITY (SOUL)
Material
Non-material
Mortal
immortal
Non-thinking
Conscious entity
being
Fully governed by
Independent of the physical laws
the physical of nature
laws
5. David hume
- Scottish Philosopher
 24

“A wise man
proportions his
belief to the
evidence.”
- David Hume
There is no self
25

•Through
introspection, man
will discover that
there is no self,
There is no self
26

• Impres • Ideas
sions  Thoughts
 Hate and ideas
 Love from
 Joy impressio
 Grief ns that
 Pain are less
cold lively and
There is no self
27

•People have no
experience of a simple
and individual
impression that they
can call the self where
6. Immanuel
kant
- German Philosopher
 29

“Science is
organized
knowledge. Wisdom
is organized life.”
- Kant
We construct the
self 🔨
30

•It is the self that makes

experiencing an
intelligible world
possible because it
actively organize and
We construct the
self 🔨
31

•Self uses
‘transcendental
deduction of
categories’ to
construct an orderly
12 categories
(kant)🔨
32

QUANTI
QUALITY RELATION MODALITY
TY
Inherence
Possibility-
&
Unity Reality impossibili
subsistenc
ty
e
Existence-
Negatio Cause &
Plurality nonexiste
n Effect
nce
We construct the
self 🔨
33

• These categories are

analytic, and represents the
very bottom level of
conceptual organization.
• Self uses these categories
(in our mind)and
experiences to filter, order,
We construct the
self 🔨
34

•The self transcends

experience because
the mind can grasp
aspects of reality which
are not limited to the
Tha
nks
35

Any questions?