Concept of Self" by William James Philosophy

Summary

This report delves into William James' philosophy of the self, exploring the 'I am who I am' concept. James, known as the father of American psychology, differentiates between the I-self (pure ego, internal consciousness) and the Me-self (empirical self, experiences). The Me-self is further divided into material (possessions), social (social identity), and spiritual (core personality and values) aspects. The report emphasizes understanding human behavior and the mind through James' theories.

Takeaways

• 🌟 William James is considered the father of American psychology and introduced the concept of the self in his work 'Principles of Psychology'.
• 🤔 The phrase 'I am who I am' or 'Aku I Ako' raises questions about personal identity and behavior.
• 🧠 Psychology is defined as the science of mind and behavior, encompassing both conscious and unconscious phenomena.
• 🧐 Psychology aims to understand human behavior and mental processes, helping us comprehend how we think, feel, and act.
• 👤 James described two aspects of the self: the I self (Pure ego) and the Me self, with the former being internal and the latter being external.
• 🏠 The Me self is further divided into the material self, social self, and spiritual self, each representing different aspects of an individual's identity.
• 💼 The material self includes physical possessions such as the body, family, clothes, and money.
• 🌐 The social self is how we present ourselves in different social situations, often changing based on context and company.
• 💓 The spiritual self represents our core identity, including personality, values, and beliefs, and tends to remain stable throughout life.
• 🔑 According to James, a person's self is the sum of all that they can call theirs, including both the I self and the Me self.

Q & A

What is the significance of the statement 'I am who I am' in the context of William James' philosophy?

The statement 'I am who I am' is significant as it introduces the concept of self-identity and self-awareness, which is central to William James' philosophy. It prompts the listener to consider the nature of their identity and how it is formed.

How does the concept of 'Aku I Ako' relate to the idea of self in William James' philosophy?

The concept 'Aku I Ako' is a variation of the phrase 'I am who I am' and is used to emphasize the idea that one's identity is a reflection of their thoughts, actions, and feelings. It is directly related to James' exploration of the self as both a knower and a known entity.

What is psychology according to the script?

Psychology is described as the science of mind and behavior. It includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, feelings, and thoughts, with a focus on understanding human behavior and the human mind.

What does psychology aim to achieve according to the transcript?

Psychology aims to understand human behavior and mental processes, allowing individuals to better comprehend how they think, feel, and act.

Who is William James and why is he significant in the field of psychology?

William James is recognized as the father of American psychology and a philosopher. He is significant for being one of the first to postulate a theory of the self in his work 'Principles of Psychology'.

What are the two aspects of the self that William James describes?

William James describes two aspects of the self: the I self and the Me self. The I self refers to the self that knows, thinks, acts, and feels, while the Me self refers to the empirical self, which is composed of personal experiences.

What does the I self represent in William James' theory?

The I self represents the 'knowing' aspect of the self, which is the internal, subjective experience of the individual. It is also referred to as the 'Pure Ego' and reflects the soul or mind of a person.

How is the Me self further divided according to the transcript?

The Me self is divided into the material self, the social self, and the spiritual self. These divisions represent different aspects of an individual's experiences and identity.

What constitutes the material self as described in the script?

The material self consists of what belongs to a person, such as their body, family, clothes, or money. It represents the external factors that contribute to one's identity.

How does the social self differ from the material and spiritual selves?

The social self represents who a person is in a specific social situation. It is dynamic and can change based on the social context and the people one is interacting with.

What is the spiritual self and how does it relate to a person's core identity?

The spiritual self is the core of who a person is, including their personality, values, and beliefs. It typically remains relatively stable throughout their lifetime and is not influenced by social or material factors.

How does William James define a man's self?

According to William James, a man's self is the sum total of all that he can call his, which includes not only his body and psychic powers but also his clothes, house, and other possessions.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Introduction to Self and Psychology

The speaker begins by introducing the concept of 'self' through the philosophy of William James, emphasizing the statement 'I am who I am' or 'Aku I Ako'. They question the essence of identity and how behavior contributes to defining who we are. The paragraph then transitions into a discussion on psychology, defined as the science of mind and behavior, encompassing both conscious and unconscious phenomena. Psychology is presented as a discipline focused on understanding human behavior and mental processes, aiming to provide insights into how we think, feel, and act. The speaker also mentions the importance of internal factors in human behavior and introduces William James as a foundational figure in American psychology, noting his contributions to the theory of self.

05:02

🌟 Components of the Self According to William James

This paragraph delves into William James' theory of the self, which he divided into two aspects: the I-self and the Me-self. The I-self, or 'Pure Ego', refers to the self-aware aspect of a person, encompassing thoughts, actions, and feelings. The Me-self is further divided into the material self, social self, and spiritual self. The material self includes possessions like body, family, clothes, and money. The social self represents how we present ourselves in different social contexts, adapting our behavior and attitudes accordingly. The spiritual self is the core of a person, including personality, values, and beliefs, and remains relatively stable throughout life. James' theory suggests that a person's self is a sum of both the I-self and Me-self, highlighting the importance of both internal and external factors in shaping our identity.

Keywords

💡Self

The concept of 'self' refers to the totality of one's being, encompassing both the individual's identity and their experiences. In the context of the video, it is central to understanding William James' philosophy. The video discusses 'self' as a complex entity with various aspects, including the 'I' self and the 'me' self, which are integral to one's perception of who they are.

💡William James

William James is a pivotal figure in the field of psychology and philosophy. Known as the 'father of American psychology', he introduced the theory of the self in his work 'Principles of Psychology'. The video emphasizes his contributions to understanding the self through the concepts of the 'I' self and the 'me' self.

💡Psychology

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, particularly those affecting behavior. The video uses this term to explain the study of consciousness, unconscious phenomena, feelings, and thoughts. It is presented as a way to understand human behavior and mental processes.

💡I self (Pure Ego)

The 'I self' or 'Pure Ego' is described as the aspect of the self that knows, thinks, acts, and feels. It represents the internal, subjective experience of the individual. The video suggests that this part of the self is the essence of a person, often associated with the soul or mind.

💡Me self

The 'me self' refers to the empirical self, which is based on a person's experiences. It is divided into material, social, and spiritual selves. The video explains that the 'me self' is what a person can call their own, including possessions and experiences, which are more externally focused.

💡Material Self

The 'material self' consists of the tangible possessions and aspects that belong to a person, such as their body, family, clothes, or money. The video uses this term to illustrate the external factors that contribute to one's self-concept.

💡Social Self

The 'social self' is how an individual presents themselves in social situations. The video explains that this aspect of the self can change based on the social context or the people one is interacting with, emphasizing the influence of social dynamics on personal identity.

💡Spiritual Self

The 'spiritual self' represents the core of who a person is, including their personality, values, and beliefs. According to the video, this aspect of the self remains relatively stable throughout life and is not influenced by material or social factors.

💡Conscious and Unconscious

The video mentions the study of 'conscious and unconscious' phenomena as part of psychology. Conscious experiences are those of which we are aware, while unconscious experiences influence our behavior without our direct awareness. These concepts are crucial for understanding the depth of human behavior and mental processes.

💡Behavior

Behavior, as discussed in the video, refers to the actions and reactions of individuals. It is a key aspect of psychology and is influenced by both internal factors, like thoughts and feelings, and external factors, like social situations. The video connects behavior to the study of the self and how it is shaped by various aspects of an individual's identity.

💡Human Mind

The 'human mind' is a central theme in the video, referring to the cognitive and perceptual faculties of an individual. It includes thoughts, feelings, consciousness, and the unconscious. The video underscores the importance of understanding the human mind to comprehend behavior and mental processes.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of self by William James

The statement 'I am who I am' or 'Aku I Ako'

The question of identity and behavior's role in shaping the self

Definition of psychology as the science of mind and behavior

Psychology's focus on understanding human behavior and the mind

William James as the father of American psychology and his contributions

James's theory of the self in 'Principles of Psychology'

The distinction between the I self and the Me self

The I self as the knowing self, or 'Pure ego'

The Me self as the empirical self of our experiences

The Me self is further divided into material, social, and spiritual selves

Material self consists of possessions like body, family, clothes, and money

Social self is how we present ourselves in specific social situations

Spiritual self represents our core personality, values, and beliefs

The spiritual self remains relatively stable throughout life

James's view that a man's self is the sum of all he can call his

Emphasis on the I self and Me self in James's study

Conclusion of the report and acknowledgment

Transcripts

hello everyone good morning my report is

all about the concept of self by William

James philosophy

so this is a statement that I am who I

am or Aku I Ako

statement ion

but this statement begs the question if

you are who you are then who are you

that makes who you who you are

tongue twister

known

as

if you are who you are or

no

behavior

that makes you who you are

okay now let's move on what is

psychology psychology is the science of

mind and behavior psychology includes

the study of conscious and unconscious

phenomena as well as feelings and

thoughts

a psychology

is basically focused on understanding

human behavior and the human mind

and a way of thinking

so it is the scientific study of the

human mind and its function especially

those affective behavior in a given

context and it will help you understand

human behavior and mental processes

and allow you to better understand how

we think how we feel and how we Act

so this is a psychology Hindi language

so basically

internal factors of human behavior

so let's proceed

William James he is the father of

American psychology

William James is also a philosopher and

psychologist

in 1842 1910 was one of the first to

postulate a theory of the self in the

principles of psychology

he also described two aspects of the sub

that he term the eye self and the me

cell

s

William James that ourselves as having

two aspects

aspects

so first is the icel

which refers to the self that know who

he or she is

thinking acting and feeling say itself

reflects the soul of a person or what is

now thought of as the mind and is called

Pure ego

so see William James

is our self that those who you are

saying

so everything in the mind is the itself

that lies within us is the itself

the concern on itself is the existence

of

[Music]

while the missile is the empirical self

of our experiences

so myself refers to describing of

persons personal experiences

and further divided into sub-categories

we have the material self social self

and the spiritual self

so see myself

is basically focused on experiences of

ourselves so our concern yeah is

externally while CI self and pocusnia is

more on internally

okay let's move on the material self

consists of what belongs to a person

such as the body family

clothes and or money

odiba external Factor parinsia

so next we have the social self marks

who you are in a specific social

situation

so we tend to change our actions

thoughts emotions words and many reasons

based on the social situation or the

people with whom we are interacting

[Music]

socially by Young way of attitude

depending on the people

or depending on the situation that we

are in

so next we have the spiritual self it is

who we are at our core

including our personality values and

concerns

our spiritual self is typically remains

relatively stable throughout our

lifetime

so guess that our spiritual self is our

core so we as Christian Nation

is our spiritual self regardless

socially materially

but always remember

nothing is based on our spirit ual self

so Sabi pangani William James

a man's self is the sum total of all

that he can call his not only his body

and his psychic powers but his clothes

and his house

and in clothing

and our house

is referenced to myself

so a man's self Dao is a some total of I

and B cell

s then

always remember that William James and

kanyak proposal or ankanyang study is

more on the eye self and missile

and that's the end of my report thank

you and God bless

[Music]