UTS Series: Self From the Perspective of Philosophy (Part II)

Summary

In this lecture, the concept of self according to Medieval philosophers St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine is explored. Aquinas views the soul as the form of the body, immortal and unique to humans, emphasizing self-knowledge through interaction with the environment. Augustine, however, presents a dualistic perspective, suggesting the soul is restless until it finds rest in God. True self-knowledge and happiness are found through a loving relationship with God and others, avoiding self-obsession and embracing spiritual life.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Thomas Aquinas believed that the soul is the form of the body and the organizing principle of life.
• 🌿 Aquinas thought that the human soul is immortal and unique to humans because of its capacity to reason.
• 📚 According to Aquinas, self-knowledge is deeply connected to our experiences and interactions with the world around us.
• 🏛️ Aquinas emphasized that we understand ourselves not as isolated beings but as agents interacting with our environment.
• 🏷️ Labels we apply to ourselves, like 'gardener' or 'coffee lover', reflect our connection to the world and how we understand ourselves.
• 🔍 St. Augustine viewed humans as having a dualistic nature, with a separation between the body and the soul.
• 🕊️ For Augustine, the soul's immortality is tied to its longing for and connection to the Divine or God.
• 💡 Augustine believed that true self-understanding comes through our relationship with God.
• 🌟 Self-presentation and self-realization, according to Augustine, involve acknowledging sinfulness and finding salvation through faith in God.
• 🤔 Augustine suggested that humans are in search of happiness, which can only be achieved by loving God and others in the right way.
• 🌱 Happiness, according to Augustine, comes from proper love, avoiding self-overemphasis, and embracing a spiritual life.

Q & A

What is the concept of self according to Thomas Aquinas?

According to Thomas Aquinas, the self is a combination of soul and body, where the soul is the form of the body that animates it and gives it life. The soul is also considered the first act of a physical body with life potential and is the organizing principle of a living physical body. The human soul is unique because it has the capacity to reason, which is not found in other beings, and it is immortal, surviving the death of the physical body.

How does Aquinas differentiate between different types of souls?

Aquinas differentiates between the vegetative soul, the sensitive soul, and the rational soul. The rational soul is unique to humans, as it is the capacity to reason, which sets humans apart from other beings in the universe.

What is the significance of self-knowledge according to Aquinas?

For Aquinas, self-knowledge is about having a deeper understanding of oneself. It is believed that humans are not isolated selves but are in connection with the environment. Self-knowledge is dependent on our experiences of the world around us, and we understand ourselves through our interactions with our environment.

How does Aquinas view the relationship between self and the environment?

Aquinas sees the self as not being an isolated mind but always as an agent interacting with the environment. Our self-understanding is connected to our experiences and our feelings towards other things, which are derived from our interactions with the world around us.

What is the concept of self according to St. Augustine?

St. Augustine views the self as having a dualistic nature, with a separation between the body and the soul. The soul is imperfect and always seeks to be united with the Divine, which is God. The self is restless until it finds rest in God, and self-understanding is deeply connected to our relationship with God.

How does St. Augustine describe the process of self-development?

For St. Augustine, self-development occurs through self-presentation, which involves acknowledging one's sinfulness, and self-realization, which is finding salvation through faith in God. This process leads to a deeper understanding of oneself and a connection with the Divine.

What is the role of love in achieving happiness according to St. Augustine?

St. Augustine believes that happiness is achieved through wisdom, which comes from the knowledge of how to love God and others rightly. It involves avoiding an overemphasis on self and embracing a spiritual life to achieve proper love.

How does Aquinas's view on self relate to the concept of self-knowledge?

Aquinas's view on self as a combination of body and soul that interacts with the environment implies that self-knowledge is not just an internal reflection but also a result of our experiences and interactions with the world. It is through these interactions that we come to understand ourselves better.

What is the significance of the rational soul in Aquinas's philosophy?

The rational soul is significant in Aquinas's philosophy because it is what makes humans unique among all beings. It is the capacity for reason that distinguishes humans and allows for self-knowledge, self-understanding, and the ability to interact meaningfully with the environment.

How does St. Augustine's view on the self differ from Aquinas's?

While Aquinas sees the self as a combination of body and soul with an emphasis on the soul's role in animating the body and facilitating self-knowledge through interaction with the environment, St. Augustine emphasizes a dualistic view with a focus on the soul's restlessness and its ultimate quest for union with the Divine, God.

What is the ultimate goal of self-knowledge according to the philosophies of Aquinas and St. Augustine?

According to Aquinas, the ultimate goal of self-knowledge is to understand one's role and purpose in the world and to live in harmony with the environment. For St. Augustine, the ultimate goal is to find rest and fulfillment in God, which is achieved through a proper understanding of oneself in relation to the Divine.