Lesson 1 - Philosophical Perspective of the Self Flashcards
Self is?
S-SICUP
separate - distinct and unique
self-contained - self-contained with own thoughts
independent - does not need others to exist
consistent - characteristics are more or less the same
unitary - center of all experiences
private - sorts out feelings and information within the self
Socrates
AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING
Dualistic: Man is composed of body (imperfect & impermanent) and soul (perfect & permanent)
Socratic approach
self is already existing in the realm of ideas, however when one is born into the material world, he forgot everything
one can connect life to his past self by examining life
Plato
THE SOUL IS IMMORTAL
the world we exist is not the real world but a replica of the real world (exist only in the realm of ideas/world of forms)
Soul according to plato?
most divine aspect of self
3 components of soul according to plato
rational - uses reason; sort things out; exert control
spirited - neutral; emotion and passion
appetitive - pursues desire; basic needs
physical realm
changeable, transient, imperfect
body belongs to physical realm
ideal realm
unchanging, eternal, immortal
soul belongs to ideal realm
aristotle
THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF SELF
the body and soul are not two separate elements
soul cannot exist without the body
soul is the essence of self
aristotle: kinds of soul
vegetative - physical body that can grow (plants)
sentient - sensual desires, feelings, emotions (animals)
rational - intellect that makes man human (humans)
St auGUSTINE
I AM DOUBTING THEREFORE I AM
believed humankind is created in the image of God
self is known only through knowing God
st augustine: ideal world
where God is
st augustine: 2 aspects of a person
imperfect and capable of reaching immortality
Rene Descartes
I THINK THEREFORE I AM
DESCARTES: 2 distinct entities
cogito (mind)
extenza (body)
JOHN LOCKE
SELF IS CONSIOUSNESS
tabula rasa (mind is a blank slate)
self is constructed from experiences
experience = memory
DAVID HUME
THERE IS NO SELF
all knowledge is derived from imagination
empiricism (senses)
HUME: Bundle theory
self is a collection of impressions (products of direct experiences)
IMMANUEL KANT
WE CONSTRUCT THE SELF
self constructs its own reality
the self is an organizing principle to our experiences
GILBERT RYLE
THE SELF IS THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE
convenient name that ppl use to refer to all behaviors that people make
PAUL CHURCHLAND
THE SELF IS THE BRAIN
self is inseparable to brain and the physiology of the body
if the brain is gone, there is no self
physical - brain, imaginary - mind
there is no mind
MAURICE MERLEAU PONTY
The self is an embodied subjectivity
all knowledge about ourselves and the world is based on a subjective experience
mind and body cannot be separated
