THE PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF THE SELF
Socrates' Concept of the Self
• Socrates: Ancient Greek philosopher,
forerunner of Western philosophy.
• Scholar, teacher, and influential
philosopher across generations.
• Famous for the "Socratic Method" of
questioning.
• Laid the groundwork for Western logic
and philosophy.
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Socrates' Concept of the Self
• Socrates: Practical philosophy for societal improvement
through self-knowledge.
• Soul as essence of intellect and morality.
• Introspection reveals true self.
• Nurturing soul vital for Good Life of wisdom and virtue.
• Self-examination yields crucial knowledge.
• "Unexamined life not worth living."
• Ignorance breeds evil; self-reflection leads to understanding
and right action.
• Self-awareness and truth guide righteousness.
Socrates' Concept of the Self
Socrates:
• True self transcends material possessions and social
status.
• Quality of life determined by the state of the soul, the
inner being.
• True selfhood achieved through knowledge, wisdom,
and virtue.
• Meaningfulness derived from cultivating these
qualities, not wealth or fame.
• Virtuous self represents the true self according to
Socrates.
Assumption
This approach to self-knowledge can have relevance for civil
engineering students in the following ways:
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Self-Reflection
Intellectual Curiosity
Ethical Considerations
Collaborative Dialogue
Lifelong Learning
Plato's Concept of the Self
• Plato's concept of the self is based on his
understanding of the soul.
• Ancient Greek philosophy views the self as
rational beings capable of reason and action.
• Plato considers the rational soul as the true self,
separate from the physical body.
• The self, according to Plato, is closely tied to
knowledge and is seen as a knower.
• Plato recognizes the dual nature of humans:
mortal and perishable bodies, and immortal and
indestructible souls.
• Plato argues that the soul is distinct from the
body and represents the true essence of the self.
Plato's Concept of the Self
According to Plato, the soul, conceived of as self, has
three parts, namely:
1) the rational soul,
2) the spiritual soul, and
3) the appetitive soul
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Plato locates the rational soul in the head for cognition.
The spiritual soul in the chest handles emotions.
The appetitive soul in the abdomen drives desires.
The rational soul guides morally and rationally.
The rational soul is depicted as the charioteer in the Allegory
of the Chariot.
The mortal horse represents desire, the immortal horse
represents spirit.
The charioteer aims to control and harmonize the horses.
The charioteer symbolizes the rational soul with vision and
purpose.
The rational soul must control the spiritual and appetitive
souls.
Plato's concept of the true self involves harmonizing and
controlling the other souls.
Assumption
Plato's concept of the self is closely tied to his
theory of Forms or Ideas
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Ideal Forms
The Process of Remembrance
The Philosopher-King
Dialectic Inquiry
The Theory of Forms and Beauty
Aristotle's Concept of the Self
• Aristotle diverged from Plato's philosophies on the
concept of the self.
• Aristotle considered humans as "rational animals"
in his concept of the self.
• He defined the soul as the principle of life present
in all living beings.
• Aristotle categorized souls into vegetative (plants),
sensitive (animals), and rational (humans).
• He argued that humans are essentially animals
that think due to their rationality.
• According to Aristotle, the self is a combination of
body and soul, inseparable through
hylomorphism.
• The soul serves as the form or structure of the
human body, enabling life activities.
• Aristotle emphasized the significance of the body
as the "matter" for the soul.
• The self, in Aristotle's view, is a unified creature
consisting of both body and soul.
Assumption
Aristotle's concept of the self is closely tied to his philosophy of virtue
ethics and the pursuit of eudaimonia, which refers to living a
fulfilling and flourishing life.
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Telos and Function
Practical Wisdom
Virtues
Golden Mean
Community and Social Responsibility
Continual Learning and Growth
Rene Descartes Concept of Self
• Descartes sees a human person as composed of a
material body and a non-material mind. The mind, or
soul, is superior to the body as it is the seat of "mental
states" like thinking, imagining, and analyzing.
• The mind or soul, on the other hand, is an immaterial
substance that thinks (consciousness of self and
objects).
• Descartes famously states, "I think, therefore, I am," as a
demonstration of his existence and the certainty of his
mind.
• Descartes argues that the mind perceives and reasons,
distinguishing objects correctly, even if the senses can
be deceived.
• The mind and body are distinct substances but interact
with each other, causing changes in each other.
• Descartes claims that the mind and body can exist
separately, relying on clear and distinct conceptions of
each.
• Descartes invokes God's role in establishing the causal
relations between mind and body for the well-being of
the composite entity.
Assumption
Descartes' concept of the self is best
encapsulated in his famous statement,
"Cogito, ergo sum" or "I think, therefore
I am."
• Self-Identity
• Rational Inquiry
• Doubt and Skepticism
• Cartesian Coordinates
• Methodical Approach
• Integration of Science and
Engineering
David Hume Concept of the Self
• According to Hume, there is no such thing as a self. He
argues that the concept of the self is an illusion.
• Hume's theory of ideas states that ideas come from
impressions, which are based on concrete experiences.
• Hume's laws of association (resemblance, contiguity,
cause and effect) explain how ideas are connected and
form a coherent whole.
• Hume's theory of knowledge centers around matters of
fact, which are propositions based on empirical evidence.
• Hume argues that the knowledge of cause and effect is
not derived from reason a priori but is based on habitual
connections observed through experience.
• Hume rejects the idea of a necessary connection
between cause and effect and attributes it to custom or
habit.
• Applying his theory of ideas, Hume concludes that there
is no impression or concrete experience of the self as a
substance.
• Hume considers the idea of the self to be a mere fiction
and an illusion, as there is no guarantee of its existence
in reality.
Assumption
Hume's concept of the selfchallenges the notion of a fixed
and substantial identity;
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Perceptions and Experiences
Empirical Observation
Custom and Habit
Social Interactions
Critique of Personal Identity
Skepticism and Empiricism
Immanuel Kant's Concept of the Self
• Kant's concept of the self is foundational to his
moral theory.
• The self has a two-fold nature: homo noumenon
(godlike self) and homo phenomenon (physical
self).
• The noumenon is the essence of things, beyond
experience, while the phenomenon is the
empirical part that can be known.
• In Kantian ethics, the focus is on the noumenal
self, as it possesses freedom and moral
obligation.
• The noumenal self has two aspects: free choice
and will.
• The phenomenal self serves as a bridge to
understanding the noumenal self.
• The moral principle based on reason, specifically
the categorical imperative, guides the
phenomenal self towards actualizing the
noumenal self.
Assumption
Hume's concept of the self-challenges the notion of a fixed and substantial
identity. He argued that the self is not a unified and enduring entity but
rather a bundle of perceptions and experiences.
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Perceptions and Experiences
Empirical Observations
Custom and Habit
Social Interactions
Critique of Personal Identity
Skepticism and Empiricism