Module 1

The Self from

Different
Perspectives
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 In this module:
The Philosophical View of Self

The Christian or Biblical View of Self

The Psychological View of Self

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
At the completion of this module, students must be able to:
 Discuss the conceptualization and representation of the self
from various disciplines and perspectives;
 Examine oneself against the different philosophical perspectives;

 Cite relevance of the biblical views of self in real-life situation and;

 Appreciate the relevance of psychological view of self in real-life

situation.
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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 Lesson 1

The Philosophical
View of Self

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

 At the completion of this lesson, students must be able to:

 Discuss the representation of self from different philosophical

views; and

 Examine oneself against the different perspectives.

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 Activity 1

How well do you know

yourself?

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

Answer the following questions: about yourself:

1. How would you characterize yourself?

2. What makes you stand out from the rest?
3. How has your self transformed itself?
4. How is yourself connected to your body?
5. How is yourself related to other selves?
6. What will happen to your self after you die?

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
Can one truly know the self?

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

SOCRATES: Greek Philosopher “Know Yourself”
He considers man from the point of view of his inner life.
The line: “Know yourself”, tells each man to bring his
inner self to light.
The man who does not follow the good fails to do so because
he does not recognize it.

The core of Socratic ethics is the concept of virtue and

knowledge.
VIRTUE is the deepest and most basic propensity of man.

SELF-KNOWLEDGE is the source of all wisdom.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self
PLATO: “ The Ideal Self, the Perfect Self “
Man is omniscient or all knowing before he came to be born into
the world.
With his separation from the paradise of truth and knowledge
and his long exile on earth, he forgot most of the knowledge he
had.. However, by constant remembering, through contemplation
and doing good, he can regain his former perfections.

Man should imitate his former self. He should live a life of virtue in
which true human perfection exists.
Happiness which is the fruit of virtue is attained by the constant
imitation of the divine exemplar of virtue embodies in man’s former
perfect self.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
Immanuel Kant: German Philosopher “Respect for Self “
Man is the only creature who governs and directs himself and his
actions, who sets up ends for himself and his purpose, and who
freely orders means for the attainment of his aims.

Every man is thus an end in himself and should never be treated

merely as a means-as per the order of the Creator and the natural
order of things. This rule is a plain dictum of reason and justice:

RESPECT others as you would respect yourself.

A person should not be used as a tool, instrument or device to

accomplish another’s private ends. Thus, all men are gifted with
the same basic rights and should treat each other as equal.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
RENE DESCARTES: French Philosopher
“ I think, therefore I am ”
The self is a thinking entity distinct from the body.

His first famous principle was – Cognito, ergu sum

{I think, therefore I am)

Although the mind and the body are independent from each
other, and serve their own function, man must use his own
mind and thinking abilities to investigate, analyze, experiment,
and develop himself.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

“I think, therefore I am”
A philosophical proof of existence based on the fact
that someone is capable of any form of thought
necessarily exists.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

John Locke: English Philosopher “Personal Identity“

Locke holds that personal identity (the self) is a matter of

psychological continuity.

Personal identity is founded on consciousness (memory),

and not on the substance of either the soul or the body.

Personal identity is the concept about oneself that evolves

over the course of an individual‘s life. It may include aspects
of life that man has no control over, such as where he grew
up or the color of his skin, as well as the choices he makes,
like how he spends his time and what he believes.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

David Hume: Scottish Philosopher
“ The Self is the Bundle Theory of Mind ”
Hume is skeptical about the existence of the self.

For him, man has no ―clear and intelligible‖ idea of the self.
He posits that no single impression of the self exists; rather,
the self is just the thing to which all perception of a man is
ascribed.

Put simply, a person can never observe oneself without some other perceptions.
Thus, Hume asserts that we call the ―self‖ is really just ―a bundle or collection
of different perceptions which succeed each other with an inconceivable rapidity
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 Activity 2
Which among the presented philosophies do you agree on the
most? How does it relate to your own belief as an individual?

SOCRATES: “KnowYourself” RENE DESCARTES: “Ithink,thereforeIam”

PLATO: “TheIdealSelf, thePerfectSelf“ JOHNLOCKE: “PersonalIdentity“

IMMANUELKANT: “RespectforSelf DAVIDHUME:

“ “ TheSelfistheBundleTheoryof Mind”

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

 Activity 1
The Self from Different Perspectives
(Short Assessment)
Write your own philosophical reflection on the following statement below. Use
the different philosophical views of self of the philosophers discussed.

1. “An unexamined Life (self) is not worth living.”

2. “Self is man’s product of aspirations and deeds.”

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

END OF MODULE 1: LESSON 1

Thank You
 Lesson 2
The Christian
or Biblical
View of Self
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 At the completion of this lesson, students must be able to:

 Discuss the representation of the biblical view of self; and

 Cite relevance of the biblical view of self in real-life situation

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 Activity 1
Finding Bible Verses that talk
about the nature of man or
(self)
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
Answer the following questions: about yourself:

1. Why did you choose the verse?

2. Explain the meaning of the verse you have cited.
3. Why do you believe in the words written in the
Bible? If, not, why?
4. What happens if you don’t believe on those verses?
Does it affect you in some way?

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 Psalm139:14
Youarewonderfullymade
You are not a mistake because God
does not make mistakes. His works
are marvelous. You don’t need to
look down on yourself. Go created
you without any limit.
You are made in his image and
likeness. Therefore, God is beautiful
and glorious, and so are you.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

 Matthew5: 14-15
You’rethelightofthisworld
The Bible tells us that we are light of
this world, so we carry this
consciousness that we are light no
matter what the circumstances we
find ourselves in.

Light signifies knowledge and

direction; as believers, mean are
supposed to see their way through us.
We are to path the way for others to
follow.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 John5:30
WeareableinChrist

God has created us in such a way that

we are only able to o all we can by his
power and will.

By ourselves, we can do nothing but

with Christ by our side; all these is
possible,

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

 1Corinthians4:3
Godisyourjudge

No man is expected to judge another

because God is our judge. So, don’t
get worked out and bother about
what other people say; focus on God,
who is your judge.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

 1Timothy4:12
LovewhatGodhasgivenyou
You don’t need to look at others or
compare yourself with your peers.
God has made you with unique
qualities and characters, and you
must accept, develop, and love it.

If you don’t cherish what you

possess inside you, no one will.
Loving yourself the way you are is
the first step in maximizing your
potentials and becoming the best.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
Other Bible verses about the self…

Ephesians 5: 29 – Take good care of yourself

Proverbs 19: 8– Apply wisdom in love
1 Peter 4: 8– Love covers all sins
Romans 13: 8-10– Love should be your only debt
1 John 4:19– He loved you first
Ephesians 4:32– Just as Christ forgave you, forgive another
Philippians 3:13– You are not bound by your past mistakes
Philippians 4:13– Nothing is too difficult for the Lord
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 THEHOLYBIBLE

GOD created man in his divine image. He created him; male and female. God
blessed them saying – Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.
Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds in the air, and all the living
things that move on the earth.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 GENESIS1:24-28
According to the Holy Writ, man, following his redemption by the
Savior from eternal bondage, now shares in the infinite merits of his
Redeemer and has become not only the inheritor of the new earth but
also the heir of heavenly kingdom.

Thus, it is appropriate to think of the ―self as the multi-bejeweled

crown of creation- the many gems thereof representing and radiating
the glorious facets of man‘s self that include the physical, intellectual,
moral, religious, social, political, economic, emotional, sentient,
aesthetic, sensual, and sexual aspects.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

ST.AUGUSTINE
LOVEANDJUSTICE:
asthefoundationofindividualself
St. Augustine believes that a virtuous life is a
dynamism of live. It is a constant following
and turning towards love while a wicked life
is a constant turning away from love.

Loving God means loving one’s fellowmen;

and loving one’s fellowmen denotes never
doing any harm to another or, as the golden
principle of justice states, doing unto others
as you would have them do unto you.
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
Lesson 2 The Biblical View of Self (Short Assessment)

Based on the presented diagram of the

crown of self, which three (3) glorious
facets of man’s face do you think is the
most prevailing in yourself?
Explain each briefly.

GED 1 – Understanding the Self

END OF MODULE 1: LESSON 2

Thank You
 Lesson 3

The
Psychological
View of Self
GED 1 – Understanding the Self
 At the completion of this lesson, students must be able to:

 Discuss the representation of the biblical view of self; and

 Cite relevance of the biblical view of self in real-life situation

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GED 1 – Understanding the Self