The Philosophical Perspectives | Understanding The Self- Lesson 1, Unit 1 | Philippines

Summary

The video script explores philosophical perspectives on the self, from ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates and Plato to modern philosophers like Descartes and Hume. It discusses the dualistic nature of the self, the Socratic method of introspection, and the importance of virtue. The script also covers theories of the self as a bundle of perceptions, the mind-body problem, and the self as a manifestation of behaviors. Emphasizing the need for self-discovery and the dangers of living without introspection, the lecture encourages viewers to question their identities and behaviors.

Takeaways

• 📚 The discussion revolves around philosophical perspectives on the self, focusing on ancient and modern philosophers' views.
• 🔍 Socrates is recognized as the first to systematically question the self, advocating for introspection and self-examination.
• 🌟 Socrates' famous quote emphasizes the importance of examining one's life to make it worth living.
• 💭 Plato introduced a tripartite theory of the self, dividing it into the rational, spirited, and appetitive aspects.
• 🕊️ Augustine, influenced by Christianity, viewed the self as having a body that dies and a soul that seeks eternal communion with God.
• 🧠 Thomas Aquinas contributed to the understanding of the self by differentiating between 'hyle' (matter) and 'morphe' (form or essence), suggesting humans are distinguished by their rational soul.
• 🤔 Descartes, the father of modern philosophy, proposed that the self is dualistic, consisting of a body and a mind, with the mind being the essence of the self.
• 🌀 Hume, an empiricist, suggested that the self is a bundle of perceptions and impressions, denying the existence of an internal, non-physical self.
• 🧩 Gilbert Ryle rejected the concept of an internal, non-physical self, arguing that the self is a convenient name for all behaviors.
• 🌐 Merleau-Ponty, a phenomenologist, dismissed the mind-body bifurcation, arguing that the living body, thoughts, and experiences are all one.
• 📅 The instructor emphasizes the importance of meeting deadlines and not relying on extensions, advocating for a structured approach to learning.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the discussion in the transcript?

The main theme of the discussion is the philosophical perspectives on the conceptualization of the self, including the views of ancient philosophers like Socrates and Plato, and modern philosophers like Descartes and Hume.

Who is considered the first person to ask questions about the self according to the transcript?

Socrates is considered the first person to ask questions about the self, focusing internally rather than on the world.

What is the famous line coined by Socrates mentioned in the transcript?

The famous line coined by Socrates is 'The unexamined life is not worth living,' emphasizing the importance of introspection.

What are the two aspects of the self according to Socrates' theory?

According to Socrates' theory, the two aspects of the self are the body and the soul, with the soul being perfect and permanent, and the body imperfect and impermanent.

How does Plato's theory of the self differ from Socrates'?

Plato's theory differs from Socrates' by dividing the soul into three components: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive aspects, rather than just body and soul.

What does the rational aspect of the soul represent according to Plato?

The rational aspect of the soul represents the mind, the thinking aspect where logic and reasoning occur.

How does Augustine's view of the self integrate with Christianity?

Augustine agrees with Plato and Socrates that there are two aspects of the self, but he infuses this with Christianity by stating that the body is bound to die and the soul anticipates living eternally with God.

What are the two aspects that Thomas Aquinas believes constitute the self?

Thomas Aquinas believes the self is constituted by 'hyle' (the matter that makes up everything in the universe) and 'morphe' (the essence of a substance or thing).

What is the main concept of Descartes' view on the self?

Descartes' view on the self is that the self is dualistic in nature, consisting of a body and a mind, and that the only thing that cannot be doubted is the existence of the self, as expressed in 'Cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am).

What is the main idea behind David Hume's concept of the self?

David Hume's concept of the self is that it is a bundle of perceptions and impressions, rather than an entity that can be located and analyzed.

How does Gilbert Ryle view the self in relation to behavior?

Gilbert Ryle views the self as not an internal, non-physical entity but as a convenient name people use to refer to all behaviors they make, suggesting that the self is defined by one's actions and activities.

What is the stance of Maurice Merleau-Ponty on the mind-body problem?

Maurice Merleau-Ponty is against the dualistic partition of the mind and body, arguing that the living body, thoughts, and experiences are all one and cannot be separated.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Introduction to Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

The paragraph introduces the topic of philosophical perspectives on the self. It mentions the Greeks' early attempts to conceptualize the self and highlights Socrates as a pivotal figure who first asked introspective questions, moving the focus from the external world to the individual. Socrates' Socratic method of questioning is briefly explained as a way to arrive at real answers through systematic inquiry. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and introspection, as advocated by Socrates, who famously stated that 'the unexamined life is not worth living.' It suggests that understanding oneself is crucial for making informed decisions about one's future and for living a life that aligns with one's true desires and virtues.

05:00

🔮 Socrates' Dualistic Theory of the Self

This paragraph delves into Socrates' dualistic theory of the self, which posits that a person is composed of two distinct aspects: the body and the soul. It contrasts the soul as perfect and permanent with the body as imperfect and impermanent. The discussion then shifts to Plato's tripartite theory, which further divides the soul into three components: the rational, the spirited, and the appetitive. Plato's theory emphasizes the rational aspect as the prime mover that should guide human behavior, suggesting that decisions should be made using logic and reasoning rather than being driven by emotions or basic drives.

10:01

🌟 The Integration of Christianity with Platonic Thought

The paragraph discusses how Augustine integrated Christian beliefs with Platonic philosophy. Augustine agreed with the dualistic concept of the self but infused it with Christian doctrines, proposing that the body is mortal while the soul anticipates eternal life with God. The goal for humans, according to Augustine, is to achieve communion and bliss with the divine by living virtuously on Earth. Virtue is a recurring theme from Socrates to Augustine, suggesting its importance in understanding the self.

15:01

📚 Thomas Aquinas' Take on the Human Soul

Thomas Aquinas' perspective on the self is presented, where he discusses the concepts of 'hyle' (matter) and 'morphe' (form). Aquinas suggests that while the body is made of common matter, the soul is the unique form that distinguishes humans from other living creatures. He argues that the soul is what connects humans to the divine and makes us capable of reason and moral behavior. Aquinas' theory is not falsifiable, meaning it cannot be proven or disproven, and is more of a philosophical concept than a scientific one.

20:05

🤔 Modern Conceptualizations of the Self

The paragraph explores modern philosophical views on the self, starting with René Descartes, who is considered the father of modern philosophy. Descartes proposed that the self is dualistic, consisting of a body and a mind. He is famous for the assertion 'cogito, ergo sum' (I think, therefore I am), which emphasizes that the act of doubting one's existence is proof of the self's existence. Descartes differentiates between 'cogito' (the thinking thing) and 'extensa' (the body), moving the focus from the soul to the mind. The paragraph also mentions David Hume, an empiricist who believed that the self is a bundle of perceptions and impressions, rather than an immaterial mind.

25:07

🌈 Varying Theories on the Self and Their Implications

This paragraph introduces Gilbert Ryle's rejection of the concept of an internal, non-physical self. Ryle argues that the self is not an entity that can be located and analyzed but is instead a convenient term for all behaviors. The self, according to Ryle, is defined by consistent behaviors over time. The paragraph also touches on the idea that self-conceptualizations can change as new behaviors emerge. Lastly, it mentions Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological view that the mind and body are not separate entities but are interconnected, with the living body, thoughts, and experiences all forming a unified whole.

📅 Conclusion and Reminder on Assignments

The final paragraph concludes the discussion on theories of the self and provides a reminder about assignment deadlines. It emphasizes the importance of submitting work on time and not relying on extensions. The speaker assures that the deadlines are lenient but warns that late submissions will not be accepted after a certain period. The paragraph ends on a positive note, encouraging continued learning and enjoyment of the subject matter.

Keywords

💡Philosophical Perspectives

Philosophical perspectives refer to the various ways of understanding and interpreting the world and human experience. In the video, philosophical perspectives are used to explore different theories of the self, which is the central theme. The script discusses ancient Greek philosophers to modern thinkers, each offering unique insights into the nature of the self.

💡Self

The 'self' is a central concept in the video, referring to the individual's identity, consciousness, and sense of being. The script delves into how the self has been conceptualized by various philosophers, emphasizing its importance in understanding human behavior and decision-making.

💡Socratic Method

The Socratic Method is a form of inquiry and discussion between individuals, based on questions to explore and discover ideas. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as a way to introspect and question oneself, leading to a deeper understanding of one's own identity and values.

💡Dualism

Dualism is the philosophical concept that the world consists of two fundamental, separate elements. In the video, it is used to describe theories that divide the self into two parts, such as body and soul or mind and body, which is a recurring theme in the discussion of self-conceptualization.

💡Introspection

Introspection is the process of looking inward to examine one's own thoughts and feelings. The video encourages introspection as a means to understand the self better, aligning with Socrates' view that an unexamined life is not worth living.

💡Virtue

Virtue, in the context of the video, refers to moral excellence or goodness. It is discussed as a quality that individuals should strive to attain to preserve their souls, as suggested by Socrates, and is a recurring theme in the philosophical exploration of the self.

💡Empiricism

Empiricism is a philosophical theory that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. The video contrasts this with the concept of the self, suggesting that while the external world can be experienced and known through senses, the self is more complex and not solely reliant on empirical data.

💡Rational Aspect

The rational aspect refers to the logical and reasoning part of the self, as discussed in the video in relation to Plato's tripartite theory of the soul. It is the aspect that should guide human behavior and decision-making, according to this perspective.

💡Phenomenology

Phenomenology is a philosophical method that focuses on the study of structures of consciousness and the experiences as they are lived. The video mentions phenomenologist Merleau-Ponty, who rejected the mind-body dualism, arguing that the living body, thoughts, and experiences are all one.

💡Bundle Theory

Bundle theory is a concept in metaphysics and philosophy of mind that suggests that the self is not a single, unified entity but a collection or bundle of perceptions and experiences. The video uses this theory to illustrate one view of the self as a succession of fleeting impressions.

💡Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a psychological theory that focuses on observable behavior and its relation to environmental factors, rather than internal mental states. The video touches on this concept when discussing how behaviors can define the self, suggesting that repeated behaviors over time can shape one's self-concept.

Highlights

Discussion of philosophical perspectives on the self.

Ancient Greeks' attempts to conceptualize the self.

Socrates as the first to systematically question the self.

Socrates' famous line: 'The unexamined life is not worth living.'

Importance of introspection and self-discovery according to Socrates.

Plato's tripartite theory of the self: rational, spirited, and appetitive aspects.

Plato's advice to use logic and reasoning over emotions for decision-making.

Augustine's Christian-infused view of the self as dualistic, with an emphasis on the soul's eternal life with God.

Thomas Aquinas' concept of the self as both 'hylomorphism', body and soul.

Descartes' assertion that the only thing that cannot be doubted is the existence of the self.

David Hume's empiricist view that the self is a bundle of perceptions.

Gilbert Ryle's rejection of an internal, non-physical self, suggesting it's a convenient name for behaviors.

Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological perspective that the mind and body are not separate entities.

The self as a concept that evolves with behaviors and experiences.

The importance of deadlines and the consequences of missing them in the context of self-concept.

Encouragement to learn from the discussion and apply it to personal growth.

Transcripts

yes so today

um we will be discussing the

philosophical perspectives so

particularly what are the philosophical

conceptualizations of the self

so there are

there are a lot actually no um

the greeks where the there are a lot of

men and women from

from

um

ancient times were who tried to

conceptualize the self

and um

yes so

there are different perspectives of the

self that can best be understood by

revisiting its prime movers so when we

say prime movers these are the ancient

people

that try to

ask questions about the self

and we will be talking about them from

ancient times so particularly we'll be

talking about our

daddy no daddy

socrates and the rest of the um

philosophers

um down to renee descartes the first uh

recognized modern philosopher um in

conceptualizing the self

so before socrates actually there are

other greeks um namely paramedics

pythagoras

who ask questions but not about the self

rather they ask questions about the

world so what does it consist of what

matter

does it composed of um they ask

questions such as how is the world

tied up as one despite its diversity

and then

came socrates he finally asked questions

about the stuff he was the first ever

person

i mean at the time he was the first one

who asked internally so his focus rather

is not so world but young

self so he was the first ever to visit

the problems of the self

he was also the first to engage in a

systematic questioning about the

self so they call that the socratic

method of questioning um you don't need

to learn that much about that it's sort

of a questioning style to come up to the

um

a real question i mean real answers so

he also

coined the this very famous um line not

that the unexamined life is not worth

living so if you're not introspective

you don't try to

[Music]

think

he thinks that if you're not that type

of person to ask questions about

yourself then you have a life that is

not worth living

so try asking questions about yourself

now and um

what do you like what what don't you

like what are your strengths what are

your weaknesses what are your traumas

what are your biases

so he also said that most humans were

not fully aware of who they were and the

virtues they were supposed to attain to

preserve their souls so a lot of us know

are going through life not really

knowing what we like

and we

[Music]

we have jobs that we don't like we

partner with people we don't love and

that's

what socata says no that we're

sacrificing our souls

in return okay so this is again time and

time again um how i told you how this is

very beneficial for you because you're

in the period of

questioning yourself you're in the

period of discovering parts of yourself

and it will be really helpful to know

concepts theories um

maybe explanations of your behavior so

that it will help you in um

deciding for your future

fall in love somehow wrong people

okay so next

so here it is so the worst thing this is

still in connection to what i said a

while ago now that the worst thing that

anyone can do to themselves is to live

but die inside okay a lot of us are just

going through life surviving but not

really living it

so i have a meme here not on the outside

a skirt skirt but on the inside i hurt

her

okay so

yeah so it's really important that we

will be able to

um identify and discover ourselves

so we're going to go over we're now at

the part where i will be discussing

about the theory of socrates so for him

um the human person is dualistic

[Music]

um um this two aspects of the self

consists of the body

this one

and the soul so um the soul though the

soul is imper is perfect and permanent

but the body is impermanent and also

imperfect so very simple original theory

is a protestant there's two parts of the

self the body and the soul the body is

perfect and permanent i mean the body is

imperfect and impermanent and the soul

is perfect and permanent

okay

and

come

blood play-doh play-doh platoon

but angelia

different and different lungs young

conceptualization sub is that it is

composed of the three components

extend

socrates here divide into two not the

body and the soul

sibling

divide into three and

aspects of self which is the rational

um aspect the spirited aspect and the

repetitive aspect of course the rational

aspect is the mind our the thinking

aspect no the the aspect where there we

can observe logic and reasoning the

spirited as the compose of things such

as the feelings the moods emotions and

the repetitive aspect is

are those that are the basic drives of

human for example sleeping eating or

having sex those are drives as well

um

according to plato know that this

part no money not just at us because

kanye shadow but the rational aspect

should be the prime mover so yeah not

really prime mover number sia i'm a

leader kumbhagasa all aspects so

according to plato we should always use

our logic our reasoning and not let this

to

drive our decisions no so for example if

um socrates reminds us to set it aside

because emotions are fleeting no and

after

that's when you decide

now do not decide when you're too happy

or you are too angry so make sure that

you make decisions

okay especially very important decisions

in life no um

um we should always use our heads when

we decide so that's the the

um reminder or the theory of

plato

so if you have questions you can just

type in the comments in this loom video

um it's down below

youtuber

okay

now we move on to augustine so the

following two are already um

not really catholic christian

um

conceptualizations with the theories

that the first two provided

so um

according to uh sorry

so augustine actually agrees with um

plato and socrates know that there are

two but he infused it with christianity

okay yankee

about christian

um doctrines no yanging on is that the

body is bound to die on earth and the

soul is

always anticipating doubt to live

eternally

with god so madonna angola's a soul to

live in communion with

god

so the goal of every human person is to

attain this communion and bliss with the

divine by living his life on earth and

virtues as you can see people

um virtue is always been is always

brought up not from socrates to

augustine so

um

if you're um

interested uh actually no there's a

virtue ethics that um the philosophy

um

subject discusses maybe you can watch

that or read about that

but that's not part of our discussion so

we will move on to the next

okay so thomas aquinas so he is still um

the

two aspects into highly and for me

i'm morphy sorry

okay so highly is the common stuff stuff

that makes up everything in the universe

and then morphe is the essence of a

substance or a thing

in other terms

now if you you try to connect all the

concepts that i've discussed now

um morphe though is sort of like the

soul and then highly is the body

um

according to aquinas that the morphe or

the soul is what makes us separate from

all the living creatures though we have

the

morphe that makes us distinct from pigs

from dogs from cows

and monastery and it's what makes us

humans dao and

supreme being

soul

so well

these theories natoni mates no um it's

not really falsifiable so we cannot

really guarantee if they're um

if they're

true

now we're just discussing um concepts

okay

basic future

philosophers

okay

and now we go to

the modern conceptualization so serenade

the cards um

modern philosophy

[Music]

so he is the father of modern philosophy

so he conceived of human person as

having a body and mind saying

drive away

from the the self is still dualistic in

nature

and

for him

no anything in the world can be doubted

with the existence of the world can be

doubted but

you can assure that the self truly

exists how this how did he explain this

in a way no he said

when you doubt that you're existing no

when you doubt about your existence

exists by you

meaning to say na existence of the

doubting self so now exist in oneself

exist

thus

there is the existence of adopting self

there is an existence of the self am i

getting it right

again

therefore i am now

existence a doubting self therefore

there is an existence of the self

so he said that the only thing that one

cannot doubt is the existence of self

that is

a while ago so he said there are two

distinct entities for the self we have

the kogito or the thing that thinks and

extenza the extension of the mind which

is the body so also my difference nila

dualistic paren but he is no longer

talking about the soul instead he's

talking about the mind okay he said

kogito the thing

that

thanks

so for the cards though the body is

nothing else but a machine machine

machine that is attached to

the mind

so

important is

because

and then we move on to david you so

david yum is an empiricist what do we

mean to say when we say

empiricist or empiricism empiricism

class is actually the school of thought

that adopts the idea that knowledge is

only possible if it is sensed and

experienced okay

so

if touch

that's not possible that's not existing

morgan impress empiricism no um for

example

i touch this jug no i can feel it

i can

i can feel named culture i can see an

orange

now one once i had those input no it's

sensed no when you say sense our senses

vision touch

um what else smelling

if we can

have those experiences if we have those

senses

then

this is possible the knowledge is

possible no but

in contrast other theories not the self

the mind

cannot be touched

right cannot be sensed

actually for him that's not the

conceptualization of self rather the

self is nothing else but a bundle of

impressions okay what are impressions

um

later on uh

um

yes i will discuss the about impressions

okay

impressions what are great

impressions again from a person's point

of view

is those things or stimulus

[Music]

okay so these are senses of the

eyes the ears the nose the mouth

those are impressions

now

not the bundle of

impressions for example

right now i want you to look around

right now

[Music]

is only sitting there

imagining what it will feel like if she

or if he touched samantha's arms

okay so that's the only difference an

impression emoji sense emotion

experience but an idea

imagine

sometimes

we think that um we love someone when in

fact we just like the idea of having a

boyfriend or a girlfriend we like the

idea of

of love but not the person itself so you

be careful okay

so yeah mother so anasha self is is um a

bundle of person perceptions which

succeed each other

which succeed each other in flux and

flow some wave wave rama soldiers

and actually the next theory theorists

would would um contrast this one which

is

agricultural orbs but not a difference

um

impressions

organizing principle you know and we

have this um so-called the mind no that

organizes this and

one of its apparatus is the self so a

mind though marina

officer

says

functions

which will organize thoughts about

our own being so organized

um

and then you would grow up and into

thinking nah maybe i'm the type of

person that i'm just scared against sex

ghana so that's for a manual can okay

no the self is the seat of knowledge

acquisition among human persons

then we move on to gilbert ryall okay so

it's the world so see gilbert can you

see tito gilbert

he blatantly denies the concept of an

internal

um

non-physical self

the previous thinkers even according to

the courts that the mind is um part of

the self the rest of them conceptualizes

highly the soul for him

that the person manifests in his

day-to-day life so he suggests that the

self is not an entity one can locate and

analyze but a convenient name

that people use to refer to all

behaviors people make

examples

how you act as

an activity is given to you so for

example when you're in elementary you're

used to wasani activity

um

weeks ahead

so for

this day

this

from elementary down to high school

senior high school and then college if

you keep on repeating that and you you

summarize the behavior into one that is

how you define yourself now so that is

what makes you so if you're the type

donna

maybe you're the type of person

he league or

planning ahead okay so canada night

to-do

[Music]

so those behaviors from elementary down

to your um high school and then college

um

into defining who you are so maybe you

define yourself as

um

procrastinator no maybe delete

academically incline but you're good in

sports no so again

okay so what i'm giving here as an

example is very simplistic in a way no

very simple yeah but there are a lot of

behaviors and sometimes this pics can be

[Music]

um

cannabis

incongruent sometimes sometimes

we have we define ourselves

um next year

on the next day but sometimes

sometimes not procrastinating

sometimes we have behaviors that way and

it does not mean that these two

behaviors cannot co-exist again they

come

and then they change you know if new

behavior comes then we our

conceptualizations change okay

but um more on that later now theories

about the self and and such now there is

always

um a a particular theory for a

particular concept

so mariana gina

okay so he is a phenom

phenomenologist so the mind body

bifurcation is a futile endeavor

separates itself into two

we don't know where the mind ends and

the body starts

he dismisses he was against the

partition duelist of me renee the cards

no

for him the living body his thoughts

and um

experiences are all one okay

and we are now in the last part of our

discussion so this is your activity

actually no um again i told you do not

worry about the deadlines um

as long as

papers you're good to go

so as i've explained time and time again

for example if the deadline is next week

even if next next

grab is the next thing

if for example april last week was april

nissan anna

and then

but the next day that you know

milagra

okay

but since the deadline is also very

lenient um

and it's months nano months of course

now

no

i will no longer accept those who are um

late no matter the reason okay we need

to have

um

uh what do you call this we need to have

a

um

guideline to follow no we cannot bust a

bus

and and

i'm the type of person that can easily

um detect those stories

okay so um again um deadline is very

lenient so if i've already checked it

after a month no that it was given to

you um your output will no longer be

accepted okay

so what are the shots so hopefully um

you've learned something today

um yeah don't forget to answer your next

activity thank you and always um have

fun and learning