MODULE 2:
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
& SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
Philosophy is often called the mother of all disciplines simply because all
fields of study began as philosophical musings. Ancient philosophers attempted to
explain natural and social phenomena, coming up with their own definitions of how
the world works and what factors contribute to such phenomena. Thus, it was
inevitable to come up with various conceptions of what it means to be human, and in
so doing, the different definitions of the self.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
Philosophy comes from the Greek words philo (loving) and sophia (knowledge, wisdom).
At its simplest, philosophy means “loving knowledge” of “loving wisdom.” The term
philosophy as originally used by the Greeks meant “the pursuit of knowledge for its own
sake.”
Greek philosophy was started by Socrates, with his aphorism/principle of “know thyself,”
which is also inscribed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Socrates believed that the real self is not the physical
body, but rather the psyche, or the soul.
He also believed that the goal of life is to be happy.
According to Socrates, the virtuous man is a happy
man, and that virtue alone is the one and only supreme
good that will secure his/her happiness.
Virtue is defined as moral excellence, and an individual
is considered virtuous if his/her character is made up of
the moral qualities that are accepted as virtues, i.e.,
courage, temperance, prudence, and justice
Plato, a student of Socrates, supported his idea.
He believed that the self/soul/mind is the aspect of the
human beings by which the Forms (Ideas) are known.
Plato suggested that the “soul” is indeed the most
divine aspect of the human being which is composed
of three parts that harmoniously work with each other
(rational, spirited, appetitive).
The three parts of the soul according to Plato are:
1. The Appetitive (sensual)- the element that enjoys
sensual experiences, such as food, drink, and sex
2. The Rational (reasoning)- the element that forbids the
person to enjoy the sensual experiences; the part that
loves truth, hence, should rule over the other part of the
soul through the use of reason
3. The Spirited (feeling)- the element that is inclined
toward reason but understands the demands of
passion; the part that loves honor and victory.
Aristotle, a student of Plato, argued that the essence
of self (ideal) is absorbed by the phenomena (matter).
He emphasized that these 2 co-exist, and is dependent
with one another.
Two lens of Philosophy of Self in Greek Times:
Rationalism – explains self from the standpoint of what is ideal and true, and
what not is rooted with senses.
Empiricism – according to it, there is no such thing as innate knowledge; all
knowledge are derived from experience – through five senses or what is
perceived by our brain.
MODERN PHILOSOPHY
St. Augustine incoporated the views of Plato to his religious philosophy. He
believed that the human being who is both soul and body is meant to tend to
higher, divine, and heavenly matters because of his/her capacity to ascend and
comprehend truths through the mind.
John Locke believed that the “self” consists of memory; that the person existing
now is the same person yesterday because he/she remembers the thoughts,
experiences, or actions of the earlier self.
David Hume asserted that the notion of the “self” could not be verified through
observation.
Immanuel Kant view the “self” as transcendental, which means the “self” is
related to a spiritual or nonphysical real. For Kant, the self is not in the body
Rène Descartes is the Father of Modern Philosophy. His famous “I think
therefore, I am.” The fact that one thinks should lead one to conclude without
trace of doubt that he exists.
CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY
Gilbert Ryle, Patricia Churchland, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty have incorporated
biological and neuroscience in their philosophies.
SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE
Natural and social sciences encompass a number of disciplines that have deliberated on
and explained the concept and nature of the self.
Biological/Physiological Sciences
Neurophilosophy (attributed to Paul and Patricia Churchland) is concerned with the
association of the brain and the mind.
Psychoneuroimmunology describes the shaping of the self as similar to how the
human immune system functions.
Social Sciences
Psychology defined as the study of human behavior, sees the self as a theoretical
construct.
Psychoanalysis (proposed by Sigmund Freud) focuses on the “unconscious” as a core
element of the self.
Behaviorism maintains that the study of behavior should be made from an observable
and measurable perspective.
Social Cognitive Theory considers behavior as a function of the environment and
internal attributes.
Humanistic Perspective draws its assumptions from the observed criticisms of
psychoanalysis and behaviorism. It believes that every individual has the ability to reach
self-actualization and transcendence, and that each person is inherently good or
possesses something that is good.
Sociology is the study of the collective behavior of people within the society and focuses
on social problems encountered by individuals.
Anthropology is the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space
and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture.
Political Science (PolSci) is concerned with the participation of individuals in
establishing a government and making political choices.
Economics describes and analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of
goods and services
