Philosophy of the Self
Philosophy is often called the mother of all disciplines simply
because all fields of study began philosophical discourses. Anci
as
philosophers attempted to explain natural and social phenomena
d
anu
coming up with their own definitions of how the world works
what factors table
contribute to such phenomena. Thus, it was inevias
to come up with various .
conceptions of what it means to be nu
and in so doing, the different
definitions of the self.
The self haas been
defined
essentially
as unified being, esse
"a
Connected to with
consciousness, awareness, and agency (or, at Ica
the faculty of rational troduced
choice).'" Different philosophers in
specific characteristics and O v e r
meanings of the self, which,
self, Wi
time, transformed from that old
pure abstractions to
scientific proofs. explanatiou *
What Philosophy Says about the Selt
Classical Antiquity
The ancient philosophy of the self can be traced back from one
of 147 Greek aphorisms prominently inscribed in the temple of
Apollo at Delphi know thyself (Greek: yvwei oEautóv, transliterated
gnóthi seautón). This aphorism (or principle) was Socrates's guiding
principle that he imparted to his students. Since Socrates as a guru
preferred to engage his students in endless discussions, it is said that
he had never written down any of his ideas but instead untiringly
articulated concepts and principles with his students. Socrates
believed that the real self is not the physical body, but rather the
psyche (or soul). He further posited that the appearance of the body is
inferior to its functions.
It was Plato, Socrates's prized student, who thoroughly
expounded on Socrates's ideas of the self. Plato's conceptualization
of the self was profoundly introduced in his dialogue, Phaedrus
which has been a popular text for many decades in the subject of
philosophy. The main idea in this dialogue is that the truth can be
distinguished in two forms: the metaphysical realm (mind) and the
physical world (body). Plato suggested that the self is fundamentally
an intellectual entity whose nature exists independent from the
physical world. Plato bifurcated the truth or reality into two: the
ontos (ideal), the ultimate reality which tends to be permanent
ntroduction to Understanding the seln
and spiritual, and the phenomena which refers to the manifes
of the ideal. Compared to ontos, phenomena is
is
festation
impecrfoe
imperfect,
impermanent, and inferior.
Plato's idea of truth about the human self was even moro
expounded and formalized by his prized student, Aristotle, Whi
nile
Plato emphasized the separation of the ideal and phenomenal
existence or being, Aristotle suggested that the ideal is subsumed
in the phenomena. Aristotle called the ideal as essence and the
phenomena as matter. He also emphasized that the two co-exist and
are co-dependent; the essence provides meaning and purpose to the
matter, and the matter provides substance and solidity to essence
The philosophy of the self has been defined through two distinct
lens: empiricism and rationalism. In empiricism, there is no such
thing as innate knowledge; instead, knowledge is derived from
experience-either perceived with the five senses or processed with
the brain. One knows things because he or she has
experienced
it through sensory and bodily
responses. On the other hand,
rationalism argues that there is innate
knowledge; however, there
are different sources of innate
knowledge. Rationalism explains self
from the standpoint of what is "ideal" and
"true," and not rooted in
what is felt by the senses or
body. Conclusions are derived through
logic andreasoning. Some philosophers applied
the self; others used the empirical views of
rational.
From classical
of the self has
antiquity to the contemporary era, philosopny
evolved. From the
Aristotle, renaissance
teachings of Socrates, Plato, ana
and
the contemporary philosophers also detinea
self according to personal and historical contexts. AS Stareu
Fromm, "You can only understand humans
in the context of theu
history. This line is
appropriate in understanding how
have shaped their
own
philosophers
viewpoints
philosophers explained the self from theirof the self. The ancien
scientific evidence was conceptual
of the world since understanu
lack of measures. hard to obtain due to t
incorporated scienceContemporary
to their
philosophers, meanwhile, na ave
advancements that they have theories in the light of the
been exposed to. technologica
What Philosophy Says about the Self
Towards Modern Philosophy
Socrates and Plato have
explained
the self from a theoretical and
logical O
orientation. Aristotle was an
empiricist,
deriving views of the self from physical
and scientific underpinnings. St.
Augustine incorporated the views of
Plato to his religious philosophy. John
Locke, David Hume, and Immanuel
Kant were empiricist philosophers; while Réne Descartes was a
dominant rational philosopher during the Middle Ages. Among
contemporary philosophers, majority are empiricists: Gilbert Ryle,
Patricia Churchland, and Maurice Merleau-Ponty have incorporated
biological and neuroscience in their philosophies.
The varying philosophical standpoints can thus be summarized
as follows:
Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description
Classical Antiquity
Socrates Idealism Socratic Knowledge is the
Philosophy personification of good while
ignorance is that of evil.
Self-knowledge is the ultimate
virtue. As the ultimate virtue, it
will lead to ultimate happiness
Plato ldealism Dualism and Moral virtue is rooted in
ldealism the intellect and leads to
happiness.
Wisdom and knowledge lead
to virtue which will lead to
happiness.
Aristotle Empiricist Aristotelian ldeal is found inside the
Philosophy phenomena and the universals
inside the particulars.
Ideals are ESSENCE and
Phenomena is MATTER.
Matter has no form. Essence
has no mass.
Matter and essence need each
other.
10
he
ntroduction to Undersldiaing se
Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description
Middle Ages
Platonism Neoplatonism All knowledge leads to God.
St. Augustine
Only the pure in heart can
see
God.
Love of God, faith in Him,
and understanding of His
Gospel will ultimately lead to
happiness.
Renaissance
Réne Rationalist Mind-Body " I think, therefore, I am."
Descartes Dualism The mind and soul can exist
without the body.
Establishing the distinction of
soul from the body can make
people believe in the afterlife
and the soul's immortality.
JohnLocke Empiricist Theory of I t is in consciousness alone
Personal ldentity that identity exists, not in the
body and soul.
There is a distinction between
man and person.
The soul may change, but
consciousness remains intact.
David Hume Empiricist
Skeptical All knowledge passes through
Philosophy the senses.
Separate ideas can be joined in
the mind.
There is no self, only a bundle
Immanuel of perceptions.
Rationalist/ Metaphysics of
Kant Reason is the final authority of
Empiricist the Self
morality.
There is inner self and outer
self.
The inner self includes rational
reasoning and psychological
state.
The outer self includes the
body and physical mind, where
representation occurs.
Whal Philosophy Says about the Sel
Philosopher Orientation Philosophy Description
Modern Times
Gilbert Ryle Empiricist The Concept of "I act, therefore, I am."
Mind
The mind is not the seat of self.
It is not
separate, parallel
a
thing to our physical body
The mind is a category mistake,
brought about by habitual use.
The only way it can affect the
other is through the external
world.
Patricia Empiricist Neurophilosophy Afully matured neuroscience
Churchland will eliminate the need for
beliefs since "they are not
real."
The physical brain gives us a
sense of selt.
Maurice Existentialist Phenomenology Both empiricism and
Merleau- of Perception
Empiricist intellectualism are flawed in
Ponty nature.
"We are our bodies."
Our bodily experiences do
not detach the subject/object,
mind/body, rationallirrational.
The table shows how
philosophers view the self from different
standpoints. It must be remembered that in studying the theories
about the self, one should take into account the
philosophers
orientation and historical background. Many other scholars
study
and explain the self. Through their ideas, you may examine yourself
and determine whether you fit into the
given descriptions.
