Lesson 1 & 2

Question 1

Q1: What is the self, and how is it understood according to philosophical perspectives?

Answer 1

A1: The self is foundational to our identity but is not static or fixed at birth. It is an evolving concept that is shaped by our actions, reflections, and experiences. Understanding the self is a lifelong process that requires active engagement.

Question 2

Q2: How did Socrates shift the focus of philosophy?

Answer 2

A2: Socrates shifted the focus of philosophy from the physical world to understanding the self. He emphasized self-awareness and self-examination, famously encouraging people to “know thyself.”

Question 3

Q3: What is Socratic dualism, and how did Socrates view the soul?

Answer 3

A3: Socratic dualism is the belief that humans are composed of both body and soul. Socrates believed that the soul is the essence of a person and the true source of their identity, while the body is temporary.

Question 4

Q4: How did Plato expand on Socratic dualism?

Answer 4

A4: Plato supported Socratic dualism, emphasizing the separation between body and soul. He expanded on this by dividing the soul into three parts:

1. Rational soul – governs reason and logic.
2. Spirited soul – associated with emotions and willpower.
3. Appetitive soul – deals with desires and instincts.

Question 5

Q5: According to Plato, what is the role of the soul, and how does it achieve enlightenment?

Answer 5

A5: For Plato, the soul seeks truth and achieves enlightenment through intellectual pursuits. The body, in contrast, is seen as inferior and often distracts the soul from its true purpose of knowledge and wisdom.

Question 6

Q6: How did St. Augustine’s view of the self combine elements of Plato’s philosophy and Christian theology?

Answer 6

A6: St. Augustine was deeply influenced by Plato but combined his ideas with Christian theology. He argued that the soul strives to reach God through a combination of faith and reason. For Augustine, the soul:

1. Is self-aware and understands itself.
2. Sees itself as a unified, whole being.
3. Recognizes its spiritual journey toward God.

Question 7

Q7: What did St. Augustine believe about the body and the soul?

Answer 7

A7: Augustine believed that the physical body is inferior to the soul and acts as a testing ground for the soul’s eternal destiny. The body is temporary, while the soul’s purpose is to reach union with God.

Question 8

Q8: How did Thomas Aquinas build upon Augustine’s ideas about the self?

Answer 8

A8: Thomas Aquinas built upon Augustine’s ideas by focusing on the relationship between matter (the body) and form (the soul). He argued that humans are composed of both matter and form, with the soul being the form that gives life and purpose to the body, making a person truly human.

Question 9

Q9: What is René Descartes’ famous statement, and what does it signify?

Answer 9

A9: René Descartes is famous for the statement “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”). This emphasizes the mind as the true essence of the self, suggesting that thinking and self-awareness are what define human identity.

Question 10

Q10: How did Descartes view the relationship between the mind and body?

Answer 10

A10: Descartes believed that the human person consists of two separate entities: the cogito (thinking mind) and extenza (physical body). He argued that the mind is the primary source of identity, distinct from the body.

Question 11

Q11: What is David Hume’s view on the existence of the self?

Answer 11

A11: David Hume denied the existence of a permanent self. According to him, the self is nothing more than a “bundle of perceptions” — a collection of sensations, thoughts, and experiences that we connect over time.

Question 12

Q12: How did Hume distinguish between impressions and ideas?

Answer 12

A12: Hume divided human experiences into two categories:

1. Impressions – Immediate, strong sensations we directly experience.
2. Ideas – Fainter copies of impressions that we recall or think about.

Hume argued that what we consider the self is simply a series of connected experiences, not a fixed, unchanging entity.

Question 13

Q13: How did Immanuel Kant differentiate between the empirical and transcendental self?

Answer 13

A13: Kant introduced two aspects of the self:

1. Empirical self – The self that changes over time, shaped by experiences, physical traits, attitudes, and emotions.
2. Transcendental self – The constant, unchanging aspect of the self that makes experience possible. It is the “I” that thinks and perceives, and it is necessary for all human experience.

Question 14

Q14: How did Kant’s view of the self differ from Hume’s?

Answer 14

A14: Unlike Hume, who denied a permanent self, Kant believed that the transcendental self is necessary for all human experiences and does not change. The empirical self is shaped by experiences, but the transcendental self remains constant.

Question 15

Q15: What critique did Gilbert Ryle offer regarding Descartes’ mind-body dualism?

Answer 15

A15: Gilbert Ryle critiqued Descartes’ idea of mind-body dualism, coining the term “ghost in the machine.” He argued that the self is not an inner, separate entity (a “ghost”) but rather is best understood through a person’s behaviors and interactions with the world.

Question 16

Q16: How does Ryle define the self?

Answer 16

A16: According to Ryle, the self is not something you can locate or analyze in isolation. It is defined by a person’s actions and behaviors in the world, not by an internal, immaterial mind.

Question 17

Q17: What is Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s view of the mind-body relationship?

Answer 17

A17: Merleau-Ponty rejected Cartesian dualism and argued that the mind and body are inseparable. He believed that all human experiences are embodied and that the body is not just a physical shell but an essential part of how we engage with the world.

Question 18

Q18: What is the significance of the body in Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy?

Answer 18

A18: For Merleau-Ponty, the body is central to experience. Every experience is fundamentally rooted in the body, and we cannot separate the physical from the mental. The body is essential in shaping how we perceive and interact with the world around us.

Question 19

Q19: How would you summarize the key ideas of each philosopher regarding the self?

Answer 19

A19: Here’s a quick recap:

1. Socrates: Body and soul dualism.
2. Plato: Rational, spirited, and appetitive components of the soul.
3. Augustine: Soul is unified, self-aware, and seeks God.
4. Aquinas: Soul animates the body.
5. Descartes: Mind and body are distinct.
6. Hume: Self is a collection of experiences.
7. Kant: Empirical (changing) and transcendental (constant) selves.
8. Ryle: Self is defined by behavior.
9. Merleau-Ponty: Mind and body are inseparable.

Question 20

Q1: According to William James, what are the two aspects of the self?

Answer 20

A1: William James identified two aspects of the self:

1. “I”: The thinking, acting, and feeling self; the one who experiences.
2. “Me”: The physical and psychological characteristics that define who you are; the observed self.

Question 21

Q2: How does Carl Rogers distinguish between the “I” and the “Me”?

Answer 21

A2: Carl Rogers made a similar distinction to William James:

1. “I”: The self that acts and decides, the active and experiencing part of the person.
2. “Me”: The self as an object of reflection, how you view yourself and your self-perception.

Question 22

Q3: What is the difference between identity and self-concept?

Answer 22

A3:

1. Identity: Refers to the personal characteristics, social roles, responsibilities, and affiliations that define a person.
2. Self-concept: Refers to what comes to mind when you are asked, “Who are you?” It is your mental image of yourself.

Question 23

Q4: What is a self-schema according to Carl Rogers?

Answer 23

A4: A self-schema is an organized system or collection of knowledge about oneself, which can include elements like family, nationality, hobbies, religion, etc.

Question 24

Q5: How did Freud explain the self and its mental processes?

Answer 24

A5: Freud saw the self and its behavior as the result of the interaction between three parts of the psyche:

1. Id: The instinctual and primal desires.
2. Ego: The rational, reality-oriented self that mediates between desires and reality.
3. Superego: The moral conscience and ideals.

Question 25

Q6: According to George Herbert Mead, how is the self developed?

Answer 25

A6: Mead argued that the self is developed through social interaction. It is a social product influenced by how others affirm and reinforce our identity.

Question 26

Q7: What are the three reasons why self and identity are considered social products, according to Mead?

Answer 26

A7: Mead proposed three reasons: 1. We do not create ourselves from nothing – we are influenced by external factors. 2. We need others to affirm who we think we are – social validation plays a key role. 3. Our values may be influenced by the social or historical context – our identity is shaped by the society and time period in which we live.

Question 27

Q8: What are the two types of self-awareness identified by Carver and Scheier?

Answer 27

A8: Carver and Scheier identified two types of self-awareness: 1. Private self: Internal standards, private thoughts, and feelings. 2. Public self: The image you present to others, often geared toward maintaining a good public appearance.

Question 28

Q9: What are the three types of self-awareness, according to Carver and Scheier?

Answer 28

A9: The three types of self-awareness are: 1. Actual self: Who you are right now, your present identity. 2. Ideal self: Who you want to be, your aspirational self. 3. Ought self: Who you think you should be, based on obligations or expectations.

Question 29

Q10: What is self-consciousness, and how can it affect us?

Answer 29

A10: Self-consciousness occurs when self-awareness becomes overwhelming, leading to concerns about being observed or criticized by others. It can result in excessive worry about how others perceive us.

Question 30

Q11: How does social comparison affect self-esteem?

Answer 30

A11: Social comparison can affect self-esteem in two key ways: 1. Downward comparison: Comparing yourself to those who are less well-off, which can boost self-esteem. 2. Upward comparison: Comparing yourself to those who are better off, which can lower self-esteem or inspire self-improvement.

Question 31

Q12: What are some common reactions when we feel outperformed by others?

Answer 31

A12: When feeling outperformed, people may: 1. Distance themselves from the person or redefine their relationship (e.g., silent treatment, changing friends). 2. Reconsider the importance of the skill or achievement. 3. Strengthen their resolve to improve themselves in that area.

Question 32

Q13: What is narcissism?

Answer 32

A13: Narcissism is characterized by an overly high self-esteem, self-admiration, and self-centeredness. Narcissistic individuals have an inflated sense of their own importance.

Question 33

Q14: What does Confucianism emphasize regarding the self?

Answer 33

A14: Confucianism emphasizes ethical conduct, focusing on how one should act according to their relationships with others. It promotes self-cultivation, where the goal is to become a virtuous person, or chun-tzu, who harmonizes with society. The self is seen as embedded in social relationships and is described as a "subdued self."

Question 34

Q15: What is the view of the self in Taoism?

Answer 34

A15: Taoism rejects a fixed definition of the self and emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (the natural way of the universe). The self is seen as part of the universe, one of its many forms, rather than an isolated individual.

Question 35

Q16: How does Buddhism view the self?

Answer 35

A16: In Buddhism, the self is seen as an illusion, born from ignorance and the desire to control things. This false sense of self is the root of suffering, and liberation comes from realizing the emptiness of the self.

Question 36

Q17: How do Western and Eastern cultures differ in their views on the self?

Answer 36

A17: 1. Western thought (individualistic) emphasizes personal achievement, independence, and equality. The self is distinct from others, and individualism is prioritized. 2. Eastern thought (collectivistic) emphasizes social roles, harmony, and hierarchy. The self is interconnected with the group, and societal harmony is valued over individual needs.

Question 37

Q18: How do Americans and Asians typically describe themselves?

Answer 37

A18: Americans tend to describe themselves by personal attributes, focusing on achievements and individuality. Asians, in contrast, tend to emphasize social roles and the context of their actions, often downplaying individual achievements to maintain harmony in relationships.

Question 38

Q19: What are the key differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures?

Answer 38

A19: 1. Individualistic cultures (e.g., Western cultures) prioritize personal goals, independence, and equality. The self is seen as distinct from others, and people are more likely to be straightforward in communication. 2. Collectivistic cultures (e.g., Eastern cultures) prioritize group goals, harmony, and hierarchy. The self is interconnected with the group, and cooperation is valued. There is more emphasis on maintaining social harmony and respecting authority.