The Philosophical Perspectives | Understanding The Self- Lesson 1, Unit 1 | Philippines
Summary
TLDRThe 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
- ๐ The discussion revolves around philosophical perspectives on the self, focusing on ancient and modern philosophers' views.
- ๐ Socrates is recognized as the first to systematically question the self, advocating for introspection and self-examination.
- ๐ Socrates' famous quote emphasizes the importance of examining one's life to make it worth living.
- ๐ญ Plato introduced a tripartite theory of the self, dividing it into the rational, spirited, and appetitive aspects.
- ๐๏ธ Augustine, influenced by Christianity, viewed the self as having a body that dies and a soul that seeks eternal communion with God.
- ๐ง 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.
- ๐ค 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.
- ๐ Hume, an empiricist, suggested that the self is a bundle of perceptions and impressions, denying the existence of an internal, non-physical self.
- ๐งฉ Gilbert Ryle rejected the concept of an internal, non-physical self, arguing that the self is a convenient name for all behaviors.
- ๐ Merleau-Ponty, a phenomenologist, dismissed the mind-body bifurcation, arguing that the living body, thoughts, and experiences are all one.
- ๐ 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
๐ 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.
๐ฎ 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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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.
๐ค Modern Conceptualizations of the Self
The paragraph explores modern philosophical views on the self, starting with Renรฉ 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.
๐ 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.
๐ 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กPhilosophical Perspectives
๐กSelf
๐กSocratic Method
๐กDualism
๐กIntrospection
๐กVirtue
๐กEmpiricism
๐กRational Aspect
๐กPhenomenology
๐กBundle Theory
๐กBehaviorism
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
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