LP1:Philosophical Self
Philosophers in relating to the concept of the Self
1. Socrates was concerned on the problem of the self
● Dualistic - every man is composed of body and soul
● "An examined life is worth living'
● There is a soul before the body, existing in the realm of ideas.
● Once the soul comes into a material world, he forgot everything
● Socratic Method
2. Plato founded the Academy; considered as the prototype of today's universities.
● Dichotomy between the ideal (World of Forms) and material world.
Three components of the soul:
● Rational Soul-the rational function of a person
● Spirited Soul-courageous part of a person who wanted to do good and avoid bad.
● Appetitive Soul - is a part of a person who is inclined to pleasures.
Plato also relates these different souls to the social classes:
● Rational soul - Leaders, Kings, and Philosophers
● Spirited soul - Soldiers
● Appetitive soul - peasant
3. St. Augustine
● The world of materials is not our final home but only a temporary one.
● The real world is the one where God is.
4. St. Thomas Aquinas
● Man is composed of matter and form.
● Matter (hyle)- common stuff that makes up everything.
● Form (morpe)- essence of the living.
5. Rene Descartes
● FATHER OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY
● "I think, therefore I am"
MIND AND BODY
● Doubts the existence of his own physical body.
HE DEFINES THESE TWO SUBSTANCES AS THE:
● res cogitans - the thinking being.
● es extensa - the measurable thing.
6. John Locke- He senses experience create the self
BLANK SLATE THEORY OR TABULA RASA THEORY
● The self is a blank sheet of paper and the experiences of five senses serve as a pencil
to construct the self.
EMPIRICISTS
● knowledge originates from sense experiences
7. David Hume
● Self came from the collection or bundle of perceptions or apprehension.
● Once the body that contains the five senses disintegrated the concept about the self will
vanish so there is no stable self.
LP2: SOCIOLOGICAL SELF
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?
• Sociology comes from the Latin word socius, meaning “companion”, and logos which means
“study”. It is the study of human social connections and institutions.
• Sociology covers a wide range of topics, from crime to religion, from the family to the state,
from racial and social class divides to shared cultural ideas, and from societal stability to
dramatic upheaval in whole countries.
• Sociology's goal of understanding how human behavior and consciousness influence and are
shaped by surrounding cultural and social systems unifies the study of these different topics.
WHAT DOES SOCIOLOGY SAY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SELF?
• Socialization is a complex, lifelong process. George Herbert Mead and Charles Horton Cooley
are some of the sociologists who have made lasting contributions to our understanding of
human development related to the construction of self and identity as embedded in society and
culture.
“What gives its human character is that the individual through language addresses himself in the
role of the others in the group and thus becomes aware of them in his own conduct.”
From this statement we can glean that Mead highlights the importance of the people around us
as they influence the development of the self.
KAPWA
The core value of the Filipino according to Filipino Psychology.
Comparison of Eastern and Western Self and Society
Types of Kapwa
Ibang-tao - other people/stranger
Hindi Ibang-tao - family/close friends
SOME FILIPINO VALUES ACCORDING TO SIKOLOHIYANG PILIPINO
• HIYA
• UTANG NA LOOB
• PAKIKIRAMDAM
• PAKIKISAMA
• KAGANDAHANG-LOOB
• KAPWA O PAKIKIPAGKAPWA
MODERNIZATION
Modernization has significantly changed society, and this influences how the individual
develops his or her self-identity.
• Industrialism - extensive use of material power.
• Capitalism - competitive product markets and labor power.
• Institutions of surveillance - massive increase in power and reach by institutions.
• Dynamism - having vigorous activity and progress.
SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL NETWORKS
Social Group -characterized by having two or more people interacting with one another,
sharing similar characteristics, and whose members identify themselves as part of the group.
Social Network - ties that connect you to the social group.
Organic -naturally occurring and highly influenced by one's family; gives feeling of rootedness;
implies less freedom and greater conformity.
Rational - made up of different people coming from different places; formed as a
matter of shared self-interest.
MEAD AND THE SOCIAL SELF
We learned a lot by watching other people.
Can you also :watch" yourself?
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
1. CATEGORIZATION - We categorize objects in order to understand them and identify [Link]
a very similar way, we categorize people.
2. SELF IDENTIFICATION - We categorize objects in order to understand them and identify
them. In a very similar way, we categorize people
3. SELF COMPARISON- then tend to compare that group with other groups.
DEVELOPING THE SELF
Three stages of Self-development according to Mead.
IMITATION
(children initially can only mimic the gestures and words of others);
allows us to express ourselves and to comprehend what other's express.
PLAY
(beginning at age three, children play the roles of specific people, such as a firefighter or the
Lone Ranger);
Role-playing and assuming the role of others.
GAME
(in the first years of school.
TWO SIDES OF THE SELF
Mead sees the person as an active process, not just a reflection of the society.
Who is Charles Cooley?
- American sociologist
-founding member of the american sociological association (1905)
-pioneering contributor to sociological perspectives.
LP4 PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
Definition of Terms:
“Me”- a person refers to when talking about their personal experiences.
"I"- capable of thinking and reflecting
Humanism- active role of the individual in shaping their internal and their external worlds.
Self-concept- how someone thinks about, evaluates or perceives themselves
Global self-worth -overall appraisal of one’s worth or value as a person
Self-reactiveness -involves making choices.
Self-reflectiveness-ability to reflect on our decisions, choices and consequences.
Psychology
According to the American Psychological Association,psychology is the scientific study of the
mind and [Link] is multidisciplinary. In this course packet we will capture various concepts
and theories about the self from psychological perspectives.
Definition of Self
People often say that I am who I am, but "If you are who you are, then who are you that makes
you who you are?".What makes you, you? According to Jhangiani and Tarry(2014),"Self is the
sense of personal identity and of who we are as individuals.”
