Lesson 1: The Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives PSYCH 1100 Understanding the Self Module 1 Defining the Self: Personal and Developmental Perspectives on Self and Identity CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Lesson Objectives 1. Explain why it is essential to understand the self 2. Describe and discuss the different notions of the self from the points of view of various philosophers across time and place; 3. Compare and contrast how the self has been represented in different philosophical schools and 4. Examine one’s self against the different views of self that were discussed in class CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT What’s in a name? • Is our name our label or identifier? • Is our name our destiny? • Is our name our adventure? Our names signify who we are, they represent us. But no matter how intimately connected we re to our names (even in death we are connected to them), our name is not our personhood. It does not encompass our being. The name does not automatically equate to the self. Our names are just the surface of who we are… CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT The search for understanding and knowledge The very first people to ever explore the meaning of self and the world around them are the Greeks! Specifically, the Greek Philosophers. They have asked about the meaning of life, the center of the universe, and even what it means to live. But the questions we will ask with them will be about the self – what is ‘self’, who is ‘self’, why is ‘self’, how is ‘self’… Today we are philosophers in search of the meaning our of names or rather, the meaning we decide to give them… CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT The self in four schools of thought Self as body, soul, & spirit What is ‘self’ answered by Socrates & Plato Self as a divine thing Who is ‘self’ answered by Augustine & Thomas Aquinas Self as a rational and thinking being Why is ‘self’ answered by Descartes & Kant Self as an experience or experiential being How is ‘self’ answered by Hume, Ryle, & Merleau-Ponty CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Self as body, soul, & spirit • Socrates • The first philosopher to ever systematically question the self • He believed the true task of a philosopher is to “know one’s self” and that an unexamined life is not worth living • Man is composed of body and soul, every person is dualistic • Body – imperfect and impermanent • Soul – permanent and perfect • Plato CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Self as a divine thing • St. Augustine • Following Plato’s view but infused with Christianity • He agreed that man is bifurcated or split in two • One aspect of man lives in the world and yearns to be wit the divine • Another aspect is capable of reaching immortality • The goal of man is to attain a communion of living a virtuous life on Earth as if already with God • St. Thomas Aquinas • Hyle or matter = man’s body, morphe or essence = what makes man CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Self as a rational and thinking being • Rene Descartes • Conceived that a person is body and mind, test things with doubt • Cogito ergo sum – I think therefore I am • Cogito, the mind and then extenzia or extension which is the body • For him is the thinking that makes a man, not just having a mind • Immanuel Kant • A mind that organizes the impressions and perceptions – the apparatus of the mind • The ‘self’ is actively engaged in synthesizing knowledge and experiences CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Self as an experience or experiential being • David Hume • • • • Senses and experiences, empirical evidences are needed in existing The self is but a collection of impressions and ideas Impressions – direct experiences, direct contact Ideas – a concept, a feeling or thought not yet confirmed by experience • Gilbert Ryle • Non-physical self, what truly matters is behavior • Self is not a single entity, but a collection of behaviors • University metaphor • Maurice Merleau-Ponty • Mind and body is intertwined and can not be separated • The living body is one with his thoughts, emotions, experiences – embodied experience CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Pause and process… What idea, concept, school of thought did you relate to the most or understood on a personal level? Pause, process and write it down… It might be helpful in one of our activities or essays in the near future CLSU PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT Closing Activity These final activities will help you maximize and fully absorb all that we talked about today. Please follow the instructions and make sure you have all materials and documents related to the activity. Activity 1. Watch and reflect on the video “Who Am I” by the School of Life on YouTube. Compose your thoughts and ideas inspired by the video in a 250-500 word essay 2. Choose 2 objectives from our Lesson Objectives and answer them briefly in 5-7 sentences. You may refer to our lesson or other sources. Please make sure to properly cite your sources or provide a reference list at the end of your document.
