Western Perspectives of the Self

A. The DUALISTIC and METAPHYSICAL SELF

(SOCRATES, PLATO, ST. AUGUSTINE)

SOCRATES, PLATO and ST. AUGUSTINE

Historical Period: Classical Era to the Middle Ages

Dominant View on SELF: DUALISM and METAPHYSICAL

Dualism from the root word Duo meaning TWO.

It believes that THE SELF consists of TWO

INDEPENDENT ELEMENTS, namely the PHYSICAL
BODY and THE MIND or SOUL
SOCRATES
an Ancient Greek philosopher

the first philosopher who engaged in a

systematic questioning about the SELF

his life-long mission, (the task of a philosopher) is

to KNOW THYSELF
SOCRATES characterizes the SELF as having two
separate elements – PHYSICAL BODY and the
MENTAL/MIND or SOUL

The PHYSICAL BODY…

exists in the material field
finite
has earthly existence
mortal
transitory
The MIND OR SOUL…

non-material
absolute
eternal or permanent substance
resides in the infinite world
has capacity for reason
Socrates’ famous quote:

“The unexamined life is not

worth living.”

To Socrates, the worst that can happen to anyone is to

live but die inside.
PLATO

reverberated the teaching of

Socrates

conceived a three-part SOUL

or SELF:

-reason (rational soul)

-physical appetite (appetitive soul)
-spirit or passion (spirited soul)
RATIONAL SOUL- gives man the ability to think deeply,
reflectively and critically (reason)
APPETITIVE SOUL- refers to our basic survival
mechanisms (physical/biological needs)
SPIRITED SOUL- gives us the capacity for emotional
experiences (passion)
Plato, just like Socrates, asserts that REASON is that
part of SELF that gives the human being the power to
control his/her feelings and desire to the point that
he/she becomes wise, virtuous and enlightened.
Plato’s writing entitled “ The Republic”
emphasized that the RATIONAL SOUL has to
govern the affairs of the human person including
the emotion and biological parts.
ST AUGUSTINE

Augustine’s view of man reflects the entire spirit

of the Medieval world when it comes to man.

His view of human person is a combination of the

ancient view of Plato and Christianity.
ST. AGUSTINE (Aurelius Augustinus)

agreed that man by nature is divided:

*the BODY, an aspect of man that dwells in the world, is

imperfect and it continuously yearns to be with the DIVINE. It
is bound to die on earth.
ST. AGUSTINE (Aurelius Augustinus)

*while the SOUL is capable of reaching immortality;

it can stay after death in an eternal kingdom in
communion with the all-transcendent God by living
his life on earth in virtue.
B. THE DUALISTIC and RATIONAL SELF
( Rene Descartes)
RENE DESCARTES

the Father of Modern Philosophy

conceived the human person as a combination of :

cogito, the thing that thinks which is the MIND and

extenza (or extension of the mind) which is the BODY
Rene Descartes

His famous quote “ I THINK THEREFORE I AM.”

This means that, the fact that one thinks leads to

conclusion that he exists.
RENE DESCARTES

his quote reflects that the SELF is capable of thinking and

reasoning apart from the body…it is an immortal, conscious
substance that is part of the spiritual realm and is subject to the
laws of reason and God’s will. This continues to exist even after
the physical body’s death as it seeks to unite with the spiritual
realm and God’s infinite and eternal mind.
C. THE EMPIRICISTS’ SELF: Personal Identity
and Consciousness

(John Locke)
JOHN LOCKE

British Philosopher who is considered as

the Father of Empiricism

forwarded an alternative to metaphysical and dualism

(EMPIRICISM)

EMPIRICISM is the school of thought that promotes the

idea that knowledge can only be possible if it is sensed and
experienced.
JOHN LOCKE

claims that the ultimate source of knowledge is direct or

sense experience that is comprehensible through our
capacity for conscious awareness, reflection and
remembering
JOHN LOCKE

believes that the basic quality of the SELF is being

conscious or aware that he is thinking which is necessary
for the rational process to unfold.