UNDERSTANDING THE SELF The body and the soul can be separated Plato

believes that the soul is just residing in the

body temporarily.
PLATO’S Concept of the Self - When the human person dies the soul
Plato- can be gleaned from his notion of the DEPARTS from the body leaving the
SOUL. latter to DECOMPOSE

- We cannot find in PLATO a full articulation The 3 parts of the SOUL:

of the concept of the ‘’SELF’’. 1. RATIONAL SOUL
- According to Plato the rational soul is
 Questions asked in Ancient Greek’s located in the HEAD.
conception of the self:  Think, reflect, analyze, and do
- ‘’What is the fundamental truth about other cognitive functions.
human nature?’’ or
- What defines the fundamental identity of 2. SPIRITUAL SOUL
an individual?’’ - The spiritual soul on the other hand is
 These question however give us an idea of located in the CHEST, it enables the
- HOW DID THE ANCIENT GREEK person to experience
PHILOSOPHERS UNDERSTAND THE SELF’’,  Happiness, joy sadness,
THAT IS, AS HUMAN PERSONS CAPABLE abomination, anger, and other
OF REASON AND ACTION? emotional feelings.
These aspect of the human person that is 3. APPETITIVE SOUL
the capacity to think and to act point to - The appetitive soul is located in the
the idea of the ABDOMEN, this is the part of the soul
‘’SOUL’’ that drives the human person to
‘’THE TRUE SELF OF THE HUMAN PERSON IS experience
THE ‘’ RATIONAL SOUL’’.  Physical pain, hunger, thirst, and
- How does Plato conceive of the soul as other physical wants.
the true self of human?
- Rational Soul - SUPERIOR
Plato conceives of the self as a:
THE SELF IS A KNOWER. In the Allegory of the Chariot, which Plato
developed in his work Phaedrus:
‘’SELF’’ ‘’KNOWLEDGE’’
RATIONAL SOUL- Plato illustrated the role
Plato’s concept of the self is practically of the rational soul as the CHARIOTEER
constructed on the basis of his reflections on
the nature of the rational soul as the highest  Rational soul- drives his horses onward
form of cognition. and upward, keeping his team working
together in harmony towards the realm of
 The human person is a dichotomy of body the gods, a place of illumination, reality and
and soul. truth
- BODY- is the material and destructible  The chariot is pulled by two winged
part of the human person horses one MORTAL and other IMMORTAL
- SOUL- is the immaterial and indestructible
part MORTAL HORSE- deformed and obstinate;
PLATO ARGUES THAT: ‘’crooked lumbering animal of dark color, with
The soul is an entity distinct from the body. grey eyes and blood-red complexion; the mate
For Plato, the SOUL is the SELF. of insolence and pride, shag-eared and deaf,
hardly yielding to whip and spur’’
- IMMORTAL HORSE- is noble and game, - It was PLATO who wrote his
‘’ upright and clearly made his color is white philosophy
and his eyes dark; he is a lover of honor and - Socrates did not write anything It was
modesty and temperance, and the follower Plato who systematically articulated
of the true glory; he needs no touch of the Socrates’s philosophy through his famous
whip, but is guided by word and admonition dialogues, which also chronicled
only’’ Socrates’s life

DESTINATION- Beauty, Wisdom, Courage, SOCRATES- was eventually accused of

Justice, and Goodness corrupting the youth of Athens and
sentenced to death by drinking hemlock
BLACK AND WHITE HORSES- Desire and Spirit
CHARIOTEER- Reason or Rational Soul - He could have opted for exile
BUT CHOSE DEATH INSTEAD
- Reason- Must have a vision
and purpose, he must know where It can be surmised that Socrates used his
he is heading and he must know death as a final lesson for his students to
and understand the nature of the face the adversities of life calmly and
two horses if he wishes to properly squarely
harness the chariot and reach his ‘’Rather than flee like chickens and ducks
destination. when faced with storms in life’’
- Rational soul- the rational
SOCRATES’S- was fully convinced that:
soul as the true self, therefore,
PHILOSOPHY MUST OBTAIN PRACTICAL
must at all times control the
RESULTS FOR THE GREATER WELLBEING OF
spiritual and appetitive soul’’. BUT
SOCIETY
according to PLATO, if the rational
soul is successful, that is, if the The very first step towards the
charioteer is able to harmonize the realization of this goal:
two horses, a well-balance = is the acquisition of wisdom through:
personality is attained. KNOWING ONE’S SELF

SOCRATES’S Concept of the Self ‘’ULTIMATE WISDOM COMES FROM

KNOWING ONESELF’’

Socrates- was an ancient Greek HOW DOES SOCRATES VIEW THE SLEF?
philosopher considered to be the - The key to understanding Socrates’s
FORERUNNER OF THE WESTERN concept of the self is through the
PHILOSOPHY philosopher’s take on the: SOUL
He was: 1. a scholar - But Socrates’s concept of the SOUL
2. Teacher should not be viewed from the vantage
3. Philosopher point of Christianity
Who influenced countless of thinkers = a religious conception of the soul
throughout generations
- The ancient Greeks lived long before
His method of questioning, famously known the existence of Christianity so that for
as the: SOCRATIC METHOD them:
laid the groundwork of Western system of The concept of the SOUL did not
logic in particular and philosophy in general have the same religious connotations
PLATO- was considered to be his that it has for us today
greatest student BUT WHAT DOES SOCRATES ACTUALLY
MEAN BY SOUL?
- We cannot know for certain what Socrates = cannot be acquired EXOGENOUSLY
really meant by the term: SOUL but most But ENDOGENOUSLY
scholars in philosophy agreed with FREDERICK
- For this reason, it is paramount that we
COBBLESTONE
devote considerable amount of
= A famous historian of philosophy
ATTENTION, ENERGY, and RESOURCES to
= who believes that when SOCRATES speaks
making our soul as good and beautiful as
of the SOUL;
possible
The philosopher refers to:
A THINKING AND WILLING SUBJECT - Socrates’s most famous statement:
‘’THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT
It is safe to assume that the SOUL
WORTHLIVING.’’
= IS THE INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL
- This gives us a clear idea of what Socrates
PERSONALITY OF HUMANS
meant by:
‘’ THE SOUL IS THE ESSENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE IN THIS CONTEXT: TO KNOW
HUMAN PERSON’’ IS TO KNOW ONESELF
= it is the essence of human to think and will
THE ‘’SOUL’’ OR ‘’THE SELF’’ For us to attain the GOOD LIFE: WE NEED
= is the responsible agent in knowing and TO EXAMINE OUR LIFE
acting rightly or wrongly - The reason for this is quite obvious:
VIRTUE: (which for Socrates is identical
For Socrates the SOUL is the SET with knowledge)
= OF KNOWLEDGE AND IGNORANCE = is intrinsic to the human person, and
= OF GOODNESS AND BADNESS which can be accessed through self-
THE ‘’SOUL’’ examination
- is the essence of the human person VIRTUE IS INTRINSIC TO THE HUMAN PERSON
- THE SOUL= IS THE PERSON’S TRUE SELF Was convinced that the human person can
discover the TRUTH = the truth of the Good
- In fact Socrates said that, when we turn
Life
inward in search for self-knowledge
TRUTH = she then does what she thinks is
= we would eventually discover our true
the right thing to do
self
The famous Socratic dictum:
- The SELF is our: INNER BEING
‘’KNOWING WHAT IS RIGHT IS DOING WHAT IS
Socrates urges us to take care of our ‘’SOUL’’ RIGHT.’’

BUT WHY WE SHOUL WE TAKE CARE OF OUR IF KNOWING WHAT IS RIGHT IS DOING WHAT
SOUL? IS RIGHT, WHAT ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF
- According to Socrates, we need to EVIL?
take care of our soul to attain the: - This seems to be a problem in Socrates’s
GOOD LIFE = this is the ultimate goal of concept of the self
Socrates’s philosophy - Socrates seems to think that humans were
angels, that once they know the right thing
As Socrates said, THE HUMAN PERSON
to do, they act accordingly
MUST SEE TO IT THAT HER LIFE IS GEARED
- Was very much aware of the existence of
TOWARDS KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOOD LIFE
evil in the world
THE GOOD LIFE: = being wise and virtuous THOSE WHO COMMIT EVIL ACTS ARE
- is attained through the acquisition of: IGNORANT OF THE TRUTH
Knowledge, Wisdom, Virtue - They are ignorant in the sense that they
don’t have an immediate realization of the :
- Knowledge of the ‘’ GOOD LIFE’’ GOOD
EXAMINING ONE’S SELF
- Is the most important task one  Virtue- deepest and most basic
can undertake propensity of man
For it alone will give her the knowledge  Self-Knowledge- source of all wisdom
necessary to answer the question: HOW ONE
OUGHT TO LIVE HER LIFE
PLATO: The idea Self, The Perfect Self
 The famous Socratic dictum:
- Man is dual nature of body and soul,
KNOWING WHAT IS RIGHT IS DOING WHAT
 Three components of the soul:
IS RIGHT
1. Rational Soul- (omniscient or all
- Once the person knows her SELF = she
knowing, allow us to be thinkers, and we
may the learn how to care of it
use our intellect)
ONE’S TRUE SELF
2. The Spirited Soul- (allows us to be
- should not be identified with what:
contemplative it allows men to regain
1. One owns
perfections, emotions and the feeling
2. With one’s social status
that we have)
3. Reputation
3. The Appetitive Soul- (basic urges, our
4. Even with one’s body
desire to eat, sexual urges)
- It is the state of the SOUL = THE PERSON’S
INNER BEING  Man- omniscient or all-knowing before he
= which determines the quality of one’s life came to be born into this world
It’s not the money, fame, elegant clothes, nice  Contemplation- allows man to regain
house, beautiful and expensive car or high-tech perfections
that makes life meaningful but  Happiness- fruit or virtue; attained by
1. KNOWLEDGE constant imitation of the divine exemplar of
2. WISDOM virtue
3. VIRTUE

THE TRUE SELF FOR SOCRATES’S ST. AUGUSTINE:

Is one that is lived in accordance with If I am mistaken, I am
knowledge, wisdom, and virtue.
 He is known for his quote ‘’ Si fallor,
‘’THE TRUE SELF IS THE VIRTUOUS sum’’ or if I am mistaken, I am
SELF’’  Man is of a bifurcated nature.
 It is by the illumination of God, by
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF: The ‘’divide light,’’ that we can knowledge
Self from Various Philosophical  ‘’ only some divinity can show man what
Perspectives is true.’’

‘’The Philosophical View of Self’’

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS:
- First Philosophers is Socrates who focused Self- Knowledge
on identifying the self
 Man is composed of matter and form.
Socrates: Know Yourself - Matter - ‘’common stuff that make up
 Every man is composed of body and soul. everything’’
 To know yourself- to bring his inner self to
life - Form- ‘’essence of a substance or thing’’
‘’The man who does not follow  Theory of Self-Knowledge-
good fails to do so because he does not all our self-knowledge is dependent
recognize it.’’
on our experience of the world GILBERT RYLE:
around us.
The Self is How You Behave
 Reject a view that the mind is
‘’always on,’’ never sleeping,  Summarizes the essential elements of
subconsciously self-aware in the the dualistic view of the self- mind and body
background as distinct entities (supporting Plato, St.
 Aquinas argues, our awareness of our selves Augustine, Descartes, and others.)
is triggered and shape by our experiences of
 The ‘’self’’ is not an entity one can
objects in our environment.
locate and analyze, but simply the convenient
name that people use to refer to all behaviors
RENE DESCARTES:
that people make
I think, therefore I am
(Law of attraction)
 He is famous for his code ‘’Cogito, ergo MAURICE MERLEAU- PONTY:
sum’’ for I think, therefore I am The Self is Embodied Subjectively

 The division between the ‘’mind’’ and the

 Man- thinking entity distinct from the body
‘’body’’ is a product of confused thinking.
 Must use his mind and thinking
abilities to investigate and develop  The mind and body are so intertwined
himself that they cannot be separated from one
another
DAVID HUME:
The Self is the Bundle Theory of Mind SUMMARIZE

 Man- has no ‘’clear and intelligible’’ idea of Socrates, Plato, Augustine

the self  The self is an immortal soul that exists
over time.
 Self- bundle or collection of different
Descartes
perceptions which succeed each other
 Impression- basic object of our  The self is a thinking thing, distinct from
experience or sensation the body.
 Ideas- copies of impressions
John Locke

 Personal identity is made possible by

IMMANUEL KANT: Respect for Self self-consciousness.

 Man- only creatures who governs and David Hume

directs himself and his actions
 There is no ‘’self’’ only a bundle of
constantly changing perceptions passing
 Should not be used as tool
through the theater of our mind.
 Should be treated equally
Immanuel Kant

 The self is unifying subject, an organizing

consciousness that makes intelligible
experience possible.
Thomas Aquinas

 Our Self- Knowledge depends on our

experience.

Gilbert Ryle

 The self is the way people behave.

Maurice Merleau- Ponty

 The self is embodied subjectivity.