UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

Group 1
Chapter 1: The Self from Various Perspectives
- People often ask “Who am I?”, a question that can be approached through philosophy
and science.
- Philosophical perspective: Religion and philosophy describe humans as a union of body
and soul created by a higher being.
- Scientific perspective: Humans can be studied by breaking down the body into parts
(heart, brain, arms, legs, face). Science explains how the body works like a machine and
has helped uncover human anatomy and evolution.

However, science has limits.

For example, cloning cannot give a human its spirit or soul, which is essential to being truly
human.

The question remains:

Can the brain alone answer “Who am I?”, or is faith also needed to understand the self?

Lesson 1: Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

This section introduces different philosophers’ views:
1. Socrates – Emphasized knowing oneself.
2. Plato – Saw the self as composed of body and soul, with the soul being immortal.
3. St. Augustine – Focused on the soul’s relationship with God.
4. Rene Descartes – Believed the self is the mind; “I think, therefore I am.”
5. John Locke – Defined the self through consciousness and memory.
6. David Hume – Argued that the self is a collection of perceptions, not a permanent identity.
Socrates
- Socrates’ existence is known only through his students (like Plato). He left no writings of
his own.
- He taught the importance of “knowing oneself” (gnothi seauton).
- By knowing who we are, life becomes clearer, and we can act without contradiction.
- He asked deep questions like “Who am I?” or “What is justice?” to push people to define
themselves.
- For him, self-knowledge means understanding one’s limits and abilities; the self must be
worked on, not just realized.
- Knowledge is virtue; ignorance is vice. Admitting ignorance is the first step toward
learning.
- Answers are subjective, but constant questioning helps one understand oneself better.

Socrates’ View on the Self (Dualism):

1. Body and Soul – Socrates believed humans are made of two parts:
o Soul: divine, immortal, unchanging, and the ruler of the body. It existed before the
body and gives it life.
o Body: mortal, weak, and inconsistent. It is temporary and dies, but the soul
continues living.
2. Death – It is the release of the soul from the body. The soul is immortal, like how fire
always has heat.
3. Emotions and Actions – The body is affected by emotions and desires, but the soul guides
them through reason and judgment.
4. Superiority of the Soul – The soul is higher and more important than the body because it
governs life and survives after death.

EXPLANATION:
Socrates believed that every person is made up of a body and a soul. The body is mortal,
weak, and full of emotions, while the soul is immortal, strong, and responsible for giving life and
guiding us with reason. For him, the soul is more important than the body because it continues
to exist even after death. He also taught the importance of the saying “Know thyself,” which
means that we should understand who we are, our strengths, weaknesses, and purpose in life. In
real life, this teaching can be applied when we face problems or make decisions. For example,
instead of just following what others say or being controlled by emotions, we should reflect on
ourselves, know what is right, and act based on reason. Socrates reminds us that true wisdom
comes from admitting that we don’t know everything and being willing to learn. This helps us
grow as better individuals, students, and members of society.
Plato
- A student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, Plato was one of the most influential
ancient Greek philosophers.
- He believed in idealism, saying that the physical world (what we see and touch) is not the
ultimate reality.
- For him, the real and eternal world is made up of ideas or forms (perfect, unchanging
essences of things).
- Example: All the dogs we see are imperfect copies, but the “idea of a dog” is perfect and
eternal.
- He said that our world is just a shadow of the true reality, which exists in a higher,
immaterial realm.
- Plato also believed in the soul as the true self. The soul is eternal and survives even after
death.
- According to him, the body changes and dies, but the soul continues to exist in the world
of ideas.

Plato’s View on the Self (Dualism):

1. Body and Soul – The body belongs to the physical world (changing and temporary), while
the soul belongs to the world of ideas (eternal and unchanging).
2. Ideas/Forms – The real essence of things exists beyond what we see. For example, the
“idea of man” is more real than individual men.
3. Objective Reality – Ideas are not just thoughts; they are real and independent of the
physical world.
4. Enduring Self – The soul is the enduring part of us. Even after death, it continues to exist.

EXPLANATION:
Plato believed that what we see around us, people, objects, and animals, are not the true
reality but only copies of perfect forms or ideas. For example, many men exist, but what makes
them all “men” is the eternal idea of man. He taught that our soul is more important than the
body because it connects us to this eternal reality. In real life, this means we should not only focus
on temporary physical things but also develop our inner self, values, and wisdom. For instance,
instead of chasing only material wealth or appearances, we should work on our character and
knowledge, because these are lasting and closer to the true essence of life.
St. Augustine
- One of the most influential Christian philosophers who reflected deeply on time, memory,
and the self.
- He believed that time is not a property of the world but of the mind.
- The three times (past, present, future) exist in the soul:
o Past = memory
o Present = direct experience
o Future = expectation
- Past and future are not real outside the mind—they exist only through memory and
anticipation.
- He introduced the importance of introspection (awareness of one’s own thoughts), which
shaped psychology.
- For him, consciousness and memory give us identity, since they connect past, present, and
future.
- He said that time feels like “extendedness” in the mind, stretching backward to past
actions and forward to future possibilities.
- Memory, expectation, and self-consciousness show the superiority of humans over other
creatures.

St. Augustine’s View on the Self and Time:

1. Time and Mind – Time is not “out there” in the world but exists in our consciousness.
2. Threefold Present – The present of the past (memory), the present of the present
(experience), and the present of the future (expectation).
3. Role of Memory – Memory preserves the past, connects it to the present, and helps us
anticipate the future.
4. Identity – A person’s identity comes from consciousness that stretches across time,
holding together past, present, and future.

EXPLANATION:
St. Augustine taught that time is something we experience in our minds. The past lives in
memory, the present in direct experience, and the future in expectation. Without memory and
anticipation, we could not make sense of our lives or see ourselves as the same person over time.
In real life, this means our memories and hopes shape who we are. For example, your childhood
may no longer exist physically, but it still exists in your memory, influencing your present self and
your future choices. This shows that our sense of self comes from how we connect our past,
present, and future experiences.
Rene Descartes
- Rene Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician, best known for the phrase
“Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”).
- He believed that our senses can deceive us, so we cannot always trust what we see, hear,
or feel.
- However, even if everything is doubted, the act of thinking proves the existence of the
self.
- For Descartes, the self is a thinking thing (mind) that is different from the body.
- The mind (thought) always comes first, and it directs the body (action).
- Humans are self-aware and free to choose what they think and do, which shapes their
reality.
- His philosophy strongly influenced Western thought and the idea that humans are rational
beings.
- In the Philippines, the word “diskarte” comes from his name, symbolizing human creativity
and resourcefulness.

Descartes’ View on the Self (Dualism):

1. Mind and Body – The self is composed of two distinct substances:
o Mind (thought): non-physical, rational, and the essence of the self.
o Body: physical, extended in space, and separate from the mind.
2. Certainty – While the body and senses can be doubted, the existence of the thinking mind
cannot be.
3. Freedom of Thought – Thoughts define actions. For example, if one thinks they are strong,
they become strong; if they think they are weak, they become weak.
4. Rationality – Humans are special because they are capable of reasoning, questioning
existence, and creating meaning.

EXPLANATION:
Descartes taught that the most certain truth is our ability to think. Even if we doubt
everything else like what we see in dreams or illusions—we cannot doubt the fact that we are
doubting and thinking. This is why he said “I think, therefore I am.” He separated the mind and
body, believing that the mind is the real essence of who we are. In real life, this means that our
thoughts shape our actions and identity. For example, if a student believes “I can succeed,” their
mindset will drive their actions toward success. Descartes reminds us that our power to think and
choose makes us masters of our own lives.
John Locke
- An English philosopher known as the “Father of Liberalism.”
- His philosophy of the self is based on consciousness and memory, not the soul or the body.
- For Locke, personal identity is found in one’s consciousness (awareness of thoughts and
experiences).
- The body and soul may change, but if consciousness continues, the person remains the
same.
- In his example of “The Prince and the Cobbler”, he explained that if a prince’s
consciousness enters a cobbler’s body, the person is still the prince because identity is tied
to consciousness, not the physical body.
- He also introduced the idea of tabula rasa (“blank slate”), meaning every person is born
without built-in ideas, and all knowledge comes from experience.

Locke’s View on the Self (Consciousness Theory):

1. Personal Identity – Found in consciousness and memory, not in the brain, body, or soul.
2. Continuity of Self – If you remember past experiences, you are the same person who lived
them.
3. Soul vs. Person – The soul may remain the same, but if consciousness changes, you
become a different person.
4. Tabula Rasa – The mind starts as a blank slate; experiences shape who we become.

EXPLANATION:
Locke believed that what makes you “you” is not your body or even your soul, but your
consciousness (your memories and awareness). For example, if you lost all your memories, in a
way, you would no longer be the same person. This means our identity depends on what we
remember and are aware of. His idea of tabula rasa also tells us that people are not born good or
bad but shaped by their experiences. In real life, this shows the importance of learning and
reflection, our actions, choices, and memories build who we are. For instance, a student who
studies hard and learns from experience becomes knowledgeable and responsible because their
consciousness develops through those experiences.
David Hume
- A Scottish philosopher known for his skepticism and empiricism.
- He argued that there is no permanent self
- what we call the “self” is only a bundle of perceptions (thoughts, feelings, sensations)
constantly changing.
- For Hume, the self is not a fixed entity but a collection of impressions and experiences.
- He believed the soul or mind is just a product of memory and imagination, not a real
substance.
- He said: when perceptions stop (like in deep sleep or death), the self disappears.
- Hume also rejected the idea that identity comes from the body. Instead, a person is the
same only if they have the same memories.

Hume’s View on the Self (Bundle Theory):

1. No Permanent Self – The self is not a stable entity, only a series of perceptions.
2. Perceptions – Happiness, sadness, hunger, love, or pain are temporary impressions that
make up who we are at the moment.
3. Memory – Identity continues only through memory; without it, there is no self.
4. Death and Non-Entity – When perceptions stop (like after death), the self-ceases to exist.

EXPLANATION:
Hume believed that the self is not something permanent inside us, but rather the
collection of our changing experiences. For example, when you are happy, your “self” is happy at
that moment. When you are hungry, that becomes yourself at that time. Our identity only
continues because we remember past experiences, but without memory, there would be no
lasting “you.” In real life, this teaches us that who we are is shaped by our day-to-day experiences
and feelings, not by an unchanging essence. For instance, a person may feel different today than
yesterday, but what connects them is their memory of those past moments.
CONCLUSION
The question “Who am I?” has many answers depending on how we look at it—through
philosophy, religion, or science. Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, St. Augustine, Descartes, Locke,
and Hume each gave different ways of understanding the self, from the soul and reason, to
consciousness, memory, and even just our changing experiences. What they all show us is that
the self is not just the body we see, but also our thoughts, choices, and connections to others and
to God. In real life, this means that knowing ourselves—our strengths, weaknesses, memories,
and values—helps us make wiser decisions and live with purpose. Understanding the self is a
lifelong journey, and by reflecting on it, we grow as individuals and members of society.