Lesson 1

Question 1

Socrates and Plato: What is Dualism?

Answer 1

The self is composed of two parts: the body (imperfect, temporary) and the soul (perfect, eternal).

Example sentence: Plato believed in dualism, emphasizing the distinction between the material body and the immortal soul.

Question 2

Plato’s Three Parts of the Soul: What are they?

Answer 2

Rational Soul: Governs reason and intellect.
Spirited Soul: Responsible for emotions.
Appetitive Soul: Controls desires and basic instincts.

Question 3

Augustine and Thomas Aquinas: What is Augustine’s View?

Answer 3

The self is both imperfect and immortal. The soul can achieve immortality through communion with God.

Question 4

Augustine and Thomas Aquinas: What is Aquinas’ View?

Answer 4

Man is made of matter (body) and form (soul), drawing from Aristotle. The soul gives life to the body and makes humans distinct.

Question 5

Rene Descartes: What is Cogito Ergo Sum?

Answer 5

The mind is the essence of the self, while the body is just an extension. The mind defines existence.

Question 6

David Hume: What is Empiricism?

Answer 6

The self is just a collection of impressions and perceptions. There is no constant self, only changing experiences.

Example sentence: Hume’s empiricism challenges the idea of a fixed self.

Question 7

David Hume: What is Bundle Theory?

Answer 7

The self is an accumulation of ever-changing experiences.

Question 8

Immanuel Kant: What is the Self as an Organizing Principle?

Answer 8

The mind organizes and synthesizes experiences. It goes beyond the physical world, enabling us to experience both real and abstract things.

Question 9

Gilbert Ryle: What is his Critique of Dualism?

Answer 9

Denied the idea of a non-physical self. The self is a collection of behaviors, not a separate mental entity.

Question 10

Maurice Merleau-Ponty: What is Embodied Subjectivity?

Answer 10

The self is a combination of the mind and body, inseparable and intertwined. The self is shaped by experiences, thoughts, and emotions.