UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Pre self or potential self Rene Descartes Philosophy of Self( 1596-

1650)
• Every person born with four beginnings ,which do not
encapsulate the concept of self as yet.
• To him the self is a thinking person, in his writing Cogito
➢Heart of compassion
ergo Sum;( I think therefore I am) He stressed that mind is a
➢Heart of righteousness substance within the brain capable of thinking ( affirming,
➢Heart of propriety doubting, judging etc.)
➢Heart of wisdom
• The self then is regarded the one that makes us aware to
A self a such would developed the perfection of virtues through perceive the external world. Descartes emphasized the notion
practice. Personality in the human perception is an achieved of self which is made of consciousness(observer-observed)that
state of moral excellence rather than human condition. forms our thinking and guides our behavior. It is the self that
perceives the world.

The western philosophy of self David Hume: Scottish Empirist (1711-1776)

The western philosophy of self encompasses all views of the • The Self is nothing more than the mental perceptions which
self that emanated from the European and American continent, are available to our memory. This perceptions relies on our
postulated by thinkers from these regions. previous experiences that give meaning based on the
principles of cause and effects. We view things as distinct but
they are connected together by resemblance ,contiguity or
Socrates: The First Moral Philosopher ( 470- causation. All perceptions of the mind is divided in two
399 B.C.E) distinct kinds,the impression and ideas..impressions are the
original form of all our ideas. He said the mind is simply a
bonded of perception and experiences.
Know Thyself-Man must stand and live according to his nature,
Man has to look to look to himself. To find what? by what John Locke : English Empirical Philosopher
means and how then. This knowledge of oneself can be
(1632-1704)
achieved only through the Socratic method.
Locke’s idea of the self and consciousness is based on the
The Teaching of Socrates of Self principle that there is no self without a consciousness. In this
➢To understand the self is to know thyself, the particular regard, irrespective of the nature of the self, the most
characteristics of the self determine its identity. important thing is the consciousness that we as human beings
➢This assertion, imperative in the form, indicates that man possess.
must stand and live according to his nature. • Mind is consist of memory where our consciousness
➢Man has to look at himself. To find what? By what means? resides.
How, then. This knowledge of oneself can be achieved only
through the Socratic method through the dialogue between the • The self ( consciousness is a thinking intelligent being, that
has reason
soul and itself or between a student and his teacher. Without this
work on oneself, life is worthless. and reflection and continuous to define ones personal
identity.
Aristotle-Father of western Philosophy • Consciousness determines oneself that continues to grow
and develop through times that form our personal identity.
Aristotle Treatise on the Soul ( 3 kinds of Memory therefore is a necessary condition of personality
identity.
Soul)
➢The self is made up of the soul which is the core essence of Sigmund Freud: Drive theory of self
a loving being which is not separated from the body. The soul
is the one that acts within the body ( ex. Just as we cannot Believed that to have a strong sense of self (or ego), the id
separate the activity of cutting from the knife ) The Knife is the and the superego have to be in harmony. In other words,
Body and the act of cutting is the soul. your desires and social obligations should coincide.
1. The vegetative Soul-It can grow and nourish itself 2.
Sensitive Soul-it can experience sensations and move locally. SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
3. Rational Soul-Is it ability to receive froms of other things
• Kapwa Theory (Virgilio G. Enriquez) In Filipino, kapwa is the
and compare them using the NOUS ( intellect) and LOGOS
( reason) unity of the “self” and “others”. Kapwa is recognition of
shared identity, an inner self shared with others. The
concept of kapwa as a shared inner self turns out to be very
important, psychologically as well as philosophically.
 UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
The Philosophy of Self refers to the conditions of identity Two aspects of Soul ( Self)
that make the individual distinct from all others.
Hindu indigenous Peoples ( people who lived in North India,
Identity means the qualities, characteristics, beliefs, etc. that South of Asia who share some common ancestry with the
makes person or group unique from one another. ancient Indians)Believe that the self is made up of two aspects:
Atman and Brahman.(Self -Soul and real self)
CONCEPTS OF SELF ATMAN-secular word which means essence, breath or soul. It
means real -self of the individual ,the innermost essence of the
• Self knowledge- refers to ones knowledge and person.
understanding of ones own learning ,characters, ➢Eternal, imperishable ,beyond times.
motivations and capability. To have self ➢Different from the body or mind or consciousness.
knowledge ,one must know/his her particular ➢Spiritual concept for Hindus.
➢The body houses the atman until the body dies.
experiences, sensation, attitudes and beliefs.
Brahman- connotes the highest universal principles ,the
• Self activity- is defined as an independent and ultimate reality in the universe .It is the pervasive , genderless
self determined action of one person.It is the quality or infinite, eternal truth bliss which does not change ,yet is the
state of being self-active or self action.( it is a power of cause of all changes. As metaphysical concept is the single
moving oneself without the help or aid of others) binding unity behind diversity in all that exist in the universe.
The creator ,preserver or transformer and reabsorber of
•Self independent of senses-refers to the everything.
inner self. It focused in internal attributes like our
Buddhist philosophy of Self ( 5th century
abilities, natural intelligence not acquired one.( self of
worth and self esteem) BCE

•Self Identity-is the particular characteristics of the Five skandhas or the Five Heaps Skandhas means heaps,
aggregates, collections or grouping.
self that determines individuals uniqueness among
1. Form-the physical form the body and the six sense organs
others( ex. Gender identity,ID Card and
and their objects.
personal ,social identity).
2. Sensation-it is made up of feelings,(Both emotional and
• Self image- is a mental picture of an individual physical) and senses.( seeing, hearing, tasting, touching and
and is quite resistant to change through time regarding smelling.)
one abilities, personality and role ( ex. A person who 3. Perception-takes in most thinking, which includes
sees herself beautiful and smart, a mental picture of a conceptualization, cognition, reasoning.
person about himself at the past or present. 4. Mental formations-Includes habits, prejudices, and
predisposition ( human violations or willfulness ,is also a part of
the fourth skandhas, virtues and not virtues)
The Eastern Philosophy 5. Consciousness-is awareness of or sensitivity to an
object, but without conceptualization.it is a base that ties the
The eastern Philosophies of Self encompasses experience of life together.
all views of the self that emanated from The
Asian continent, postulated by the thinkers Confucian Philosophy ( 551 BC-479 B.C)
from this region
The human adult self in Confucianism

Hindu Philosophy of self-1500 BCE • The human adult self, in Confucianism is defined as an achieved
state of moral excellence rather than a human condition. One may
speak of human being in Confucianism only as such with regard
The Ancient Indian Believe that the self is made up of two to the human potential to become a human being.
aspects. The ATMAN and BHRAMAN
• Virtues has a big role in achieving the concept of self.
Atman-(self soul) means real self ,breath or soul. It is the
• Personality as such is not seen as inherently existing, but as
innermost essence and soul of the person. Hinduism
something that is being formed through upbringing and
considered Atman as eternal, imperishable, beyond times it environment.
is different from the body or mind or consciousness and
accept it is as the spiritual self-concepts for the Hindus. • Human being is seen as social being( some have even used the
term social animal)