Lesson 1: The Self and underlying beliefs and extent of

knowledge to guide the person “For we both are, and know that
Philosophy toward better understanding. we are, and delight in our
being, and our knowledge of
PHILOSOPHY The Greek philosopher it.”
Socrates (469-399 BC) teaches -
Plato was the Father of his ideas to the young Augustine of Hippo
Philosophy and Willhelm Wundt Athenians whilst awaiting his
was the father of modern execution. Though he did not “I think, therefore I am.”
Philosophy write down his work, his
influence was wide. - Rene
Philosophy from the Descartes
Greek words “Philo” and
“Sophia” which literally means The Greek School: The Birth The most significant of the
love of wisdom. of Western Philosophy characteristics attributed to the
What is the definition of “Know self both by Augustine and by
Thy Self”? How do we define  Plato Aristocles ( Father of Descartes is its freedom of
our own selves? Philosophy) choice.

Four Major Theories of The concept of self-

human development knowledge, though not yet  St. Augustine
clearly outlined in the teachings
1. Psychodynamic of classical Greek thinkers, was St. Augustine, also
2. Behaviorism already discussed at practical called Saint Augustine of Hippo,
3. Humanistic and theoretical lengths in the is one of the Latin Fathers of the
4. Cognitive writings and dialogues of Church, one of the Doctors of
thinkers like Plato. the Church, and one of the
WESTERN EASTERN most significant Christian
Plato, a classical Greek thinkers. He was deeply
Socrates Confucius philosopher, who is considered influenced by Plato’s ideas. Not
to be the most important figure surprisingly, he adopted Plato’s
Plato Lao Tse & in the development of Western view that the “self” is an
Taoism philosophy, was born in Athens, immaterial (but rational) soul.
Arisrtotle Buddhism Greece at around 428-423 B.C.
Alongside Aristotle, Plato is one Theory of Forms - A
St. Augustine of the most famous and Christian perspective, Augustine
influential students of Socrates. asserted that these forms were
Descartes concepts existing within the
This bust of the Greek perfect and eternal God where
philosopher Plato (c.428-c.348 the soul belonged.
David Hume
BC) shows one of the most
important philosophers in the  Rene Descartes
Sigmund history of mankind. He is known
Freud especially for his Socratic Rene Descartes was a
dialogues. French philosopher,
Socrates
mathematician, and scientist.
The Greek motto gnothi
He is considered the father of
Was a Greek seauton which means “Know
modern Western philosophy.
philosopher and one of the very Thyself” plays a central role in
few individuals who shaped Plato’s philosophy. Self-
Rene Descartes’ famous
Western thought. knowledge is a practical and
line “Cogito ergo sum”
theoretical task in life and is
translated as “I think, therefore I
Socrates was known for discussed in detail in his
am” became a fundamental
his method of inquiry in testing dialogues and passages in his
element of Western philosophy.
an idea. This is called the works Charmides, Alcibiades I,
Socratic Method whereby an Phaedo and Republic.
“Dubito ergo cogito”
idea was tested by asking a trasnslated as “I doubt,
series of questions to determine Augustine and Descartes therefore I think”
 shares the life of nature in its position in the Confucian
Rationalism - is the inner experience. conception of selfhood.
theory that reason, rather than The family is at the core
experience, is the foundation of  Sigmund Freud of Confucianism, yet it is not
all knowledge. conceived as an end in itself.
Sigmund Freud is a Rather, it is the natural,
 John Locke philosopher, physiologist, and indispensable, and the most
psychologist was one of the desirable environment for
John Locke is a most influential thinkers of the mutual support and personal
philosopher and physician was 20th century. growth.
one of the most influential
Enlightenment thinkers. His most important  Taoism
contribution, particularly in
The Age of psychology, was For Taoism, when
Enlightenment or Age of Reason psychoanalysis, a practice selflessness is attained, the
was an intellectual and devised to treat those who are distinction between "I" and
philosophical movement that mentally ill through dialogue. "other" disappears.
dominated the ideas in Europe
during the 18th century; Psyche - in psychology, The great Tao is all-embracing
is the totality of the human without making distinctions."
“The human mind at birth is a mind, both conscious and
tabula rasa, which means that unconscious. Freud used the  Buddhism
knowledge is derived from analogy of an iceberg to
experience.” describe the Buddhism -As with other
great religious traditions,
 David Hume Three levels of the mind: Buddhism has evolved into
many sects, each with its own
David Hume is a Scottish 1. conscious school of thought departing in
philosopher, economist, and 2. subconscious various ways, sometimes
historian during the Age of 3. unconscious radically, from the teachings of
Reason. He was a fierce its founder Siddhartha
opponent of Descartes’ The Birth of Eastern Gautama. Still, at the heart of
Rationalism. Philosophy Buddhism is the metaphysical
position that denies the
Empiricism –is the idea  Confucius and The ontological reality of the self.
that the origin of knowledge is
Eastern Philosophy
sense experience. Nirvana (literally,
Confucianism
"blowing out," as of a lamp) is
 Immanuel Kant (1724- reached.
More than being a
1804): The Critique of Pure religion, is an ethic governing
Reason human relationships, of which
the most important are the Five
East-West Comparison
Kant's believed that the Cardinal Relationships:
human mind is not merely a The East and the West
cognitive, but a creative, spirit; 1. between ruler and clearly stand in stark contrast
its reason for existence would, minister against each other in their
like that of God, is to create the 2. father and son conceptions of selfhood and
things. His world 3. husband and wife identity. Furthermore, the
conception leaves God, 4. between brothers conceptions from different
freedom and immortality, to 5. between friends Eastern traditions differ not only
the religious realm. with those of the West, but also
In Confucianism, the among themselves.
Immanuel Kant ultimate purpose of life is self-
presented the view that man's realization. Confucian selfhood, being
knowledge is its origin in the self- Self-cultivation is anchored in interpersonal
conscious soul. The Human soul essential to fulfilling this purpose relationships, stands apart from
not merely thinks, but in thinking and thus occupies a central those of the other traditions and
is probably more accessible to George Simmel – sociologist Social Self – is a product
the Western mind. who expressed that people of social interactions and
create social networks by internalizing the
The conceptions from different joining social groups. external(i.e.,other people’s
Eastern traditions differ not only )view about oneself. Mead
with those of the West, but also Social Group – described as
believe that the “self” is not
among themselves. having two or more people
present at birth; rather it
interacting with one another,
develop over time through
In the Western sharing similar characteristics,
conceptions of selfhood and social experiences and
and whose members identify
identity what emerges is an activities.
themselves as part of the group.
individualistic self that is
intensely aware of itself, its
uniqueness, sense of direction, The Self and Sociology
purpose, and free will. Two Kinds of Social Groups:
The self is, thus, both individual
A. Organic group –
The self "belongs" to the and social in character. It works
individual and to no other naturally occurring, and
to control meanings to sustain
person: The individual feels that is highly influenced by
itself, but many of those
he/she has complete and sole your family.
meanings, including the
ownership of his/her self. B. Rational group – formed
meanings of the self, are shared
as a matter of shared
It has an identity unique to the and form the basis of
self-interest, people join
individual. interaction with others and
these groups out of their
ultimately social structure.
own free will.
Lesson 2: The Self Self-Concept
According to
The Self and Sociology The self-concept is the
Sociology set of meanings we hold for
The symbolic interaction ourselves when we look at
perspective in sociological ourselves.
A sociological
social psychology sees the self
approach to self and identity The self-concept
as emerging out of the mind,
begins with the concept that includes not only our idealized
the mind as arising and
there is an inexorable and views of who we are that are
developing out of social
reciprocal relationship between relatively unchanging, but also
interaction, and patterned
the self and society (Stryker, our self-image or working copy
social interaction as forming the
1980). of our self-views that we import
basis of social structure (Mead,
into situations and that is
The self-influenced 1934). The mind is the thinking
subject to constant change
society through the actions of part of the self.
and revision based on
individuals thereby creates
situational influences (Burke,
groups, organizations, networks,
1980).
and institutions. On the other
hand, society influences the self
through its shared language
and meanings that enable a Identity
George Herbert Mead
person to take the role of the One has an identity, an
other, engage in social “internalized positional
interaction, and reflect upon designation” (Stryker, 1980, p.
oneself as an object. George Herbert Mead
was a sociologist from the late 60), for each of the different
1800s. He is well known for his positions or role relationships the
“Theory of the Social Self.” person holds in society.
Social Groups and Social
Network.