GE 1 Understanding the Self

Self

"an individual's typical character or behavior", moreover, it can also be defined as "the union of elements (such as body, emotions, thoughts, and sensations) that constitute the individuality and identity of a person".

Identity

"the distinguishing character or personality of an individual" or "sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing".

• "I know that I don't know" • "The unexamined life is not worth living." • "Socratic Method" • By knowing oneself — one can improve your life • The state of your inner being determines the quality of your life • Existence: visible (changes) and invisible (constant) • "When the soul and the body are together nature assigns our body to be a slave and to be ruled and the soul to be ruler and master"

Aristotle

Hereditary Factor

Biological process by which traits and characteristics are passed on from generation to generation; a non-negotiable factor - Relatively fixed and permanent - May readily dictate physical attributes (e.g. hair, height, complexion, eye color, etc), some cognitive traits (like IQ), and some other personal characteristics (e.g., emotions, tendencies)

Environmental Factor

Broadly includes the physical (climate and temperature, forms of land, etc) and communal elements present in our everyday surroundings; geographic or regional in nature - The situation the person is in will harness characteristics that become an integral part of one's identity (ex. A person who lives in a city where resilience and competitiveness is needed to survive will consciously strengthen these skills and traits for instance, through being more communicative, etc)

"All knowledge is derived from human senses." • Bundle theory: "the self or person is a bundle or a collection of different perceptions that are moving in a very fast and successive manner, a perpetual flux • Did not believe in the existence of the "self"; the "self" is a passive observer and the total annihilation comes at death

David Hume

"We are all born tabula rasa"

John Locke

The self consists of sameness of consciousness • The person today = the person yesterday + memories of yesterday (thoughts, experiences and actions)

John Locke

"Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions to others"

Plato

The Theory of forms • The "soul" is the most divine aspect of the human being.

Plato

"Cogito ergo sum" • Claims on the self: • It is constant; it is not prone to change; not affected by time. • Only the immaterial soul remains the same throughout time. • The immaterial soul is the source of our identity. • The body is an immaterial substance. The soul is distinct from the body.

Rene Descartes

"I think, therefore I am"

Rene Descartes

Knowledge is the personification of good while ignorance is that of evil • Self-knowledge is the ultimate virtue; it will lead to ultimate happines

Socrates

All knowledge leads to God. • Deeply influenced by Plato's Ideas • "Forms" -> Christian perspective : the forms exist within the perfect and eternal God where the soul belongs

St. Augustine

Social Factor

Strong foundations of one's being. - The influences of significant people in a person's life. - "The nursery of human nature" (or one's family) is primarily included; the belief is that one learns (directly and indirectly) certain behaviors and characteristics and does not only acquire characteristics biologically - Also includes peer groups, a group that influences the individual at the point when he or she starts to discover and attains a certain degree of independence (e.g. with playmates, classmates, neighbors, friends, etc) - Characteristics are integrated and the process of building one's identity becomes complex and dynamic, even without the person noticing it nor actively participating in the process. - The characteristics of significant others in a person's life can vitally impact one's distinctiveness; shaping one's identity through modeling, imitation, and traits integration.

Person-Volition Factor

The inclination of a person to form and construct a specific identity, which will set him or her apart from the others - Such is believed to emanate from within an individual's mentality but also brought about by the aggregated social-life experiences (e.g. to become revolutionaries, discoverers, inventors, et

Nature

The natural basis of self is anchored on the lens of biological sciences; our traits are passed on to humanity from one generation to another - The traits that are passed on become the blueprint of our self and make us predisposed to certain self-expressions (i.e., attitudes, behavior, tendencies, etc.) - Self is studied structurally and functionally (in terms of molecules to physiological system

Nurture

The self should be viewed as an outcome of various nurturing factors in the context of one's social life - The role of group life in an individual's behavior and attitude is stressed upon - The impact of various social institutions to the self-construal of an individual is emphasize

Appetitive, Rational,Spirited

Three Parts of the Soul