Philosophical

Perspective of
the Self
Opening Prayer
Lord, we offer to you our class today. We pray
that through your Divine Guidance, we would
successfully finish with full understanding the
topic that we are about to discuss.
Lord, we pray for our protection of. And we ask
that you would guard our hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus. That you would wrap us up in
Your love, and deliver us from all evil.
Lord, may we come to know Your goodness and
love, to walk in Your freedom and grace all the
days of our life. Amen.
Chapter Objectives

1. Explain the role of philosophy in

understanding the concept of the self;
2. Discuss the different concepts of the self
from the philosophical perspective;
3. Differentiate the various concepts of the
self and identify the similarities; and
4. Develop your own philosophy of the self.
Western Philosophies

– Socrates
– Plato
– Aristotle
– St. Augustine
PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVES

What is Philosophy?
Greek words : Philos and Sophia
Meaning : Love of wisdom
PHILOSOPHICAL
PERSPECTIVES

– Study of acquiring knowledge through

rational thinking and inquiries that involve in
answering questions regarding the nature and
existence of man and the world we live in

– A desire to know, to discover causes, reasons

and principles of everything
SOCRATES
Socrates
– He is the first martyr of education, knowledge
and philosophy
– His philosophy underlies in the importance of
the notion ”know thy self”
– Men’s goal in life is to obtain happiness
– Understanding ourselves is through internal
questioning or introspection (understanding our
strengths and weaknesses; likes and dislikes)
– incessant soul-searching
Socrates

How can we be truly happy?

(Paano ba talaga maging tunay na
masaya?)
Socrates
The self exists as a dualistic realm =
BODY & SOUL
– Physical realm
– Changeable, transient, imperfect
– The body belongs to the physical
realm
– Ideal realm
– Unchanging, eternal & immortal.
– The soul belongs to the ideal realm.
PLATO
How many souls do you have?
Plato
 Student of Socrates
 Followed the idea of Socrates on
knowing thyself
 According to him a person who is a
follower of truth and wisdom will not
be tempted by vices and will always
be correct/moral/ethical
 The self is an immortal soul
3 Parts of the Soul
1. Appetitive Soul
2. Spirited Soul
3. Rational Soul
3 Parts of the Soul

1. Appetitive Soul – the part

of the person that is driven
by desire and need to satisfy
oneself.
3 Parts of the Soul

2. Spirited Soul – courageous

part of a person, one who
wants to do something or to
right the wrongs that they
observe.
3 Parts of the Soul

3. Rational Soul – the drive

of our lives, the part that
thinks and plan for the future
(the conscious mind).
3 Parts of the Soul
These elements of our selves are in
a dynamic relationship with one
another but sometimes in conflict.
Which part of the soul is
most dominant in you?
Draw a person using the
following four shapes only.
The triangle as the head

The Triangle
– most closely
represents
leadership. General George Patton had the personality traits of a triangle. | Source

– Reason & passion "Get it done."

The square as the head

The square
– places the most
emphasis on
Bill Gates has the personality traits of a square. | Source
organization and
structure. "Get it right, even if it takes all night."
– Reason and power
The circle as the head

– The circle is the

most kind and
caring.
– Spirit / passion
Mother Teresa had the personality traits of a circle. | Source

"Can’t we all just get along?"

The squiggle as the head

– The squiggle is
the most
unique and the
most creative.
Albert Einstein had the personality traits of a squiggle. | Source
– Physical
appetite "Get it done ... differently."
Which part of your soul do you
use when you love someone?

– Reason ?
– Passion /emotion/spirit?
– Physical appetite?
ARISTOTLE
Aristotle
– The soul is the essence of
the self
– Anything with life has a
soul / psyche.
3 Kinds of Souls

1. Vegetative
2. Sentient
3. Rational
3 Kinds of Souls

 Vegetative
- includes physical body that can grow

 Sentient
- has the capacity for sensory experience that includes sensual
desires, feelings and emotions.

 Rational
- capacity to act and think in universal terms. Includes the intellect
that allows man to know and understand things. Rational nature of
the self lead to a good, flourishing & fulfilling life which is self-
actualization.
ST. AGUSTINE
St. Augustine

– A Saint and a Philosopher of the church

– Follows the idea that God encompasses
us all
– Believed that God and his teachings
affect various aspects in life
St. Augustine

The self is created by God beautifully.

– Wisdom by design.
– Body and soul are unified (one
affects the other).
St. Augustine

– The self has an

immortal soul.
– Integrated ideas of
Plato and Christian
teachings
– The body and soul
(“spouses”) struggle to
find happiness, which
exists only in God’s
love.
Happiness
Socrates - to be happy incessant soul-
searching, introspection
Plato - harmony among reason, passion
& physical appetite
Aristotle - happiness is reached through
the rational part of the soul = through
self-actualization.
St. Augustine - happiness is attained
through God’s love (body & soul
continuously seek happiness)
Closing Prayer
Lord, we thank you for guiding us in
conducting our class today. Thank
you for being with us always. Sustain
us with passion in everything we do.
In Jesus mighty name we pray,

Amen.