UNIT 1: THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES Flashcards
what is the “self” ?
it is not something that one finds, it is something that one creates
what is self understanding
it is the awareness and ability to understand one’s own actions
it is the study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking
philosophy
inquiry into the fundamental nature of the self
philosophical perspective
what is socrates’ view?
• human choice was motivated by the desire got happiness
• KNOW THYSELF
• the knowledge of oneself can be achieved through SOCRATIC METHOD
what is socratic method?
the dialogue between the soul and itself, or between a student and his teacher
what is plato’s view?
• good life requires a certain kind of knowledge and habituation to health emotional responses
• TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE OF THE SOUL
• believe soul exists before birth and after death
dualist view
the mind (or the soul) is comprised of a non-physical substance, while the body is constituted of the physical substance known as matter
3 parts of the soul according to plato
• reason
• appetite (physical urges)
• will (emotion, passion, spirit)
head, enables human to think, COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
rational soul
chest, enables person to experience EMOTIONAL FEELINGS
spiritual soul
abdomen, drives the human experience physical wants
appetitive soul
what is st. augustine’s view?
• knowledge of our true self entails knowledge of our divine origin and will enable us to return to it
• deeply rooted in christian faith
• turning in and upwards from body to soul, we will finally be able to transcends ourselves and get in touch with God
what is rene descartes’ view?
• cogito ergo sum
• i think therefore i am
• if i can think, therefore i must exist
2 dimensions of the self as:
• thinking entity and
• physical body
it is something that can exist independently (i.e mind)
substance
what is john locke’s view?
• personal identity id a matter of psychological continuity
• “EMPTY MIND” / tabula rasa
• sensations and reflections being two sources of ideas
what is David Hume’s view?
• perceptions are removed as i sleep
• insensible = i must not exist
• machine that may be turned on and off
what is immanuel kant’s view?
• defend the heterogeneity of body and soul
• body = outer sense
• soul = inner sense
• “when we are conscious of ourselves as subject, we are conscious of ourselves as the single common subject”
what is sigmund freud’s view?
the human psyche structured into 3 parts
it is impulsive, response to the instincts, PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
id
it is the decision making component, and operates according to the reality principle
ego
control the id’s impulses, persuades the ego to turn to moralistic goals
super ego
two systems of super ego
• conscience - to feel guilty
• ideal self - imaginary picture
what is gilbert ryle’s view?
• dualist conception is analogous to the dualism
• human body - subject to the mechanical laws which govern bodies in space
• mind - processes are not accessible to other people
“only i am able to perceive the process of my mind”
• PRIVACY
what is maurice merleu-ponty’s view?
• self embodied subjectivity
• “i live in my body”
• opposed the dualist
• we should turn our attention to the lived body
what is paul churchland’s view?
• the self is the human brain
• when the brain is gone, there is no self
• ELIMINATIVE MATERIALISM
what is eliminative materialism?
eliminate terminologies because it is not purely based on science, form a vocabulary based on neuroscience
what is eliminative materialism to paul churchland?
ordinary folk psychology of the mind is wrong
