Presentation1 understanding the self.pptx

UTS

1. UNDERSTANDING THE SELF DEFINING THE SELF: LOOKING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

2. INTRODUCTION Answering the question “Who am I?” is fundamentally hard. When asked the question it focuses us to go in deep, to ask ourselves and find the answers ourselves as well. Understanding the Self will try to answer this daunting question? A particular field of study will help us get there, which is Philosophy.

3. WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY? Philos – love of Sophia – wisdom “Philosophy is the love of wisdom” DEFINITION OF PHILOSOPHY Philosophy is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It seeks to answer the fundamental question of existence, knowledge, truth, morality, nature of man, and other aspects of life through the use of rational or logical thinking.

4. ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY SOCRATES a Greek philosopher the self is synonymous with the soul He believes that every human possesses an immortal soul that survives the physical body. Socrates believed that the real self is not the physical body, but rather the psyche (or soul) The famous line of Socrates, “Know thy Self”, tells each man to bring his inner self to light. Some Socratic ideas were: • “the worst thing that can happen to anyone is to live but die inside.” • “every person is dualistic” • “the true task of the philosopher is to know oneself.” • Body + soul = Man • imperfect/permanent (body) + perfect & permanent (soul) = Individual

5. ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY The self/soul/mind according to Plato, is the best aspect of the human beings by which the FORMS (ideas) are known. REASON is the divine essence that enables us to think deeply, make wise decisions and achieve the true understanding of eternal truths. PHYSICALAPPETITE includes our biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and sexual desires. SPIRIT or PASSION composes the basic emotions like love, anger, ambition, aggressiveness, and empathy. PLATO a Greek philosopher the physical world is not really the “real” world because the ultimate reality exists beyond the physical world. He introduces the idea of a three-part soul/self-reason, physical appetite, and spirit or passion.

6. ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Augustine believes that the physical body is radically different form the inferior to its inhabitant, the immortal soul. The aspects of the self/soul according to St. Augustine’s are: • It is able to be aware of itself. • It recognizes the self as a holistic one. • It is aware of its unity. ST. AGUSTINE a African philosopher He integrates the ideas of Plato and teachings of Christianity. He adopted Plato’s view that the “self” is an immaterial (but rational) soul.

7. MODERN PHILOSOPHY For him, the act of thinking about the self – of being self-conscious – I in it proof that there is a self. Descartes’ claims about the “self” are: • It is constant; it is not prone to change; and it is not affected by time. • Only the immaterial soul remains the same throughout the time. • The immaterial soul is the source of our identity. RENE DESCARTES a French philosopher The Father of Modern Philosophy The Latin phrase Cogito Ergo Sum – “I think therefore I am” is the keystone of Descartes’ concept of self.

8. MODERN PHILOSOPHY RENE DESCARTES THE SOUL THE BODY It is a conscious, thinking substance that is unaffected by time. It is known only to itself (only you know your own mental event and others correct your mental states). It is not made up of parts. It views the entirely of itself with no hidden or separate compartments. It is both conscious and aware of itself at the same time. It is a material substance that changes through time. It can be doubted; The public can correct claims about the body It is made up of physical, quantifiable, divisible parts.