Philo Perspectives about the Self (not for sharing)

Summary

This lecture explores various philosophical perspectives on the nature of the self, starting with Socrates, who emphasized the importance of self-examination. It covers the dualistic views of philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Augustine, who believed in the separation of body and soul. The lecture also discusses Rene Descartes' concept of the mind, David Hume's idea of the self as a bundle of experiences, and Immanuel Kant's view of the self as the organizer of impressions. Finally, it touches on modern perspectives from Gilbert Ryle and Maurice Merleau-Ponty, who offer alternative views on the self.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lecture focuses on various philosophical perspectives on the self, primarily based on 'Understanding the Self' by Allah Sleeps Rafika Pawilen.
• 🎥 The lecture is supplemented by a TED Talk titled 'Who Am I? A Philosophical Inquiry,' which students are expected to watch.
• 🔍 Socrates is regarded as the first philosopher to systematically question the nature of the self, with his famous idea 'to know oneself.'
• 🧠 Plato, a student of Socrates, introduced the idea of the self having a dualistic nature, composed of body and soul, and divided the soul into three components: rational, spirited, and appetitive.
• 💡 Thomas Aquinas shared similar beliefs, referring to the body as 'hyle' (matter) and the soul as 'morphe' (form), emphasizing the soul as the essence of humanity.
• 🙏 Augustine of Hippo focused on the soul’s eternal nature, stressing that true fulfillment comes through communion with the divine.
• 🧩 René Descartes proposed that the mind and body are separate entities, asserting the famous statement 'I think, therefore I am.'
• 🌪️ David Hume rejected the idea of a coherent self, claiming that the self is merely a bundle of experiences and perceptions.
• 🧠 Immanuel Kant disagreed with Hume, arguing that the mind organizes impressions, and the self is essential for understanding and knowledge acquisition.
• 🌍 Maurice Merleau-Ponty offered a more integrated view of the self, proposing that the body, mind, and emotions are intertwined, leading to a holistic understanding of selfhood.

Q & A

What is the main topic of this lecture?

The lecture focuses on various philosophical perspectives about the nature of the self, particularly within the context of a philosophical inquiry.

Which video was recommended for students to watch before this lecture?

The lecturer recommended a TED Talk video titled 'Who Am I? A Philosophical Inquiry.'

What is one of the key learning outcomes for students after this lecture?

One key learning outcome is that students should be familiar with different philosophies about the self.

Who was the first philosopher to systematically question the true nature of the self?

Socrates was the first philosopher to systematically question the true nature of the self.

How did Plato divide the soul, according to his philosophy?

Plato divided the soul into three components: the rational soul (responsible for reason and intellect), the spirited soul (responsible for emotions), and the appetitive soul (responsible for basic desires).

What was Thomas Aquinas' view on the dualistic nature of the self?

Thomas Aquinas believed in the dualistic nature of the self, referring to the two parts as 'haile' (matter) and 'morphe' (form), with the soul being the essence that animates the body.

How did Augustine of Hippo perceive the soul?

Augustine of Hippo believed that the soul is eternal and can survive even after death, while the body is imperfect and tied to the physical world.

What was René Descartes' famous statement regarding the self?

René Descartes is famous for his statement 'I think, therefore I am,' asserting that the ability to think is proof of the existence of the self.

How did David Hume describe the self?

David Hume believed that the self is merely a collection of experiences, a 'bundle of different perceptions' that are constantly changing.

What is Maurice Merleau-Ponty's view on the relationship between the body and the self?

Maurice Merleau-Ponty viewed the self as an embodied experience, where the body, thoughts, emotions, and experiences are interconnected and inseparable.

Outlines

00:00

🌅 Introduction to Philosophical Perspectives on the Self

The speaker introduces the topic of the self within the context of philosophy, marking it as the first topic in Module 1. The lecture draws on content from the book 'Understanding the Self' by Allah Sleeps Rafika Pawilen. The speaker outlines two primary learning outcomes: familiarizing students with different philosophies about the self and enabling them to articulate their own philosophy. Students are encouraged to integrate the lecture content into a 500-word forum exercise where they express their own views on the self.

05:00

🧐 Socratic Philosophy: The Quest for Self-Knowledge

This section discusses the shift from pre-Socratic philosophers, who were concerned with understanding the material world, to Socrates, who focused on the nature of the self. Socrates is credited as the first philosopher to systematically question the true nature of the self, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge as the philosopher's primary task. His famous assertion that 'an unexamined life is not worth living' highlights his belief in the importance of self-examination.

10:01

🧠 Plato’s Tripartite Soul and the Dualistic Nature of the Self

Plato, a student of Socrates, shares the dualistic view of the self, dividing it into the body and the soul. He further explains the soul by splitting it into three parts: the rational soul (reason and intellect), the spirited soul (emotions), and the appetitive soul (basic desires like eating and sleeping). For Plato, justice in a person is achieved when these three parts work harmoniously, with the rational soul governing the rest.

💡 Thomas Aquinas: The Essence of the Self in Form and Matter

Thomas Aquinas, like Plato, believes in the dualistic nature of the self but uses different terms: 'haile' (matter) and 'morphe' (form). For Aquinas, the body is made of matter, while the soul is the form that gives life to the body. He emphasizes that the soul is what makes us human, animating the body and distinguishing humans from other beings.

🙏 Augustine of Hippo: The Eternal Nature of the Soul

Augustine of Hippo, a Christian philosopher, also supports the dualistic nature of the self, viewing the body as imperfect and the soul as eternal. He argues that true fulfillment comes from reconciling with the divine, which explains the human sense of longing and incompletion in the physical world. Augustine's philosophy suggests that the soul’s purpose is to seek communion with the divine, offering a spiritual explanation for human desires.

🧩 Rene Descartes: The Self as Mind and Body

Rene Descartes proposes a dualistic view of the self as composed of both mind and body. He famously asserts, 'I think, therefore I am,' emphasizing that the ability to think is proof of the self’s existence. Descartes places the mind at the center of self-identity, distinguishing it from the physical body.

💭 David Hume: The Self as a Collection of Experiences

David Hume offers a unique perspective by denying the existence of a unified self. For Hume, the self is merely a bundle of perceptions and experiences that change constantly. He differentiates between impressions (direct experiences) and ideas (copies of impressions), arguing that the self is a fluid collection of these perceptions rather than a coherent entity.

🧠 Immanuel Kant: The Organized Self and the Seat of Knowledge

Immanuel Kant challenges Hume's view, arguing that the mind is essential for organizing perceptions from the external world. He sees the self as not only responsible for our personality but also as the foundation of knowledge acquisition. According to Kant, without the self, we cannot make sense of the world or our experiences.

🔍 Gilbert Ryle: The Self as a Behavioral Concept

Gilbert Ryle rejects the idea of the self as an entity, instead viewing it as a convenient term for describing observable behavior. He likens the self to a university—something that cannot be pinpointed but is represented by various activities and behaviors. For Ryle, the self is not a non-physical reality like the soul but a label for the sum of our actions.

🔄 Maurice Merleau-Ponty: The Integrated Self

Maurice Merleau-Ponty presents a holistic view of the self, rejecting the strict dualism of body and soul. He argues that the self is an embodied experience, where body, thoughts, emotions, and experiences are intertwined and inseparable. For Merleau-Ponty, the self is an integrated whole, not a collection of separate parts.

📚 Conclusion: Developing Your Own Philosophy of the Self

The speaker concludes the lecture by encouraging students to use the notes they have taken to develop their own philosophy of the self. The final slide serves as a reminder for students to reflect on the philosophical perspectives discussed and integrate their insights into a personal philosophy.

Keywords

💡Philosophy of the Self

The 'Philosophy of the Self' refers to the study of the nature, identity, and existence of the self. In the video, it is the central theme, with various philosophical perspectives, from Socrates to Merleau-Ponty, offering different views on what constitutes the self. The lecture emphasizes understanding these perspectives to form one's own philosophy about the self.

💡Dualism

Dualism is the belief that the self is composed of two distinct parts: the body and the soul (or mind). Philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Thomas Aquinas are discussed in the video as proponents of this view, each explaining how these two components interact and define human existence. Dualism is central to many traditional views of the self.

💡Socrates

Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher known for his method of questioning and his focus on self-knowledge. The video highlights his view that the true task of the philosopher is to 'know oneself,' making self-examination a lifelong mission. His philosophy is foundational to the discussion of the self in the video.

💡Plato's Tripartite Soul

Plato, a student of Socrates, expanded on the idea of dualism by proposing that the soul consists of three parts: the rational, spirited, and appetitive. These three parts must work in harmony to achieve justice within the self. This concept illustrates how Plato believed the self could be understood through the balance of reason, emotions, and desires.

💡Thomas Aquinas' Hylomorphism

Thomas Aquinas proposed the idea of 'Hylomorphism,' where the self is composed of 'hyle' (matter) and 'morphe' (form). For Aquinas, the soul (morphe) is the essence that animates the body (hyle), distinguishing humans from other living beings. The video uses Aquinas' theory to explore how the self is understood in a theological context.

💡Augustine of Hippo

Augustine of Hippo was a Christian philosopher who believed in the dualistic nature of the self, asserting that the soul is eternal and the body is imperfect. The video discusses Augustine's view that the soul's ultimate goal is to unite with the divine, which explains human longing and the sense of incompleteness in earthly life.

💡Rene Descartes' Cogito

Rene Descartes is famous for his statement 'Cogito, ergo sum' ('I think, therefore I am'), which asserts that the act of thinking is proof of one's existence. In the video, Descartes' philosophy is presented as an alternative to the traditional dualistic view, focusing on the certainty of the self's existence through the mind's ability to think.

💡David Hume's Bundle Theory

David Hume argued that the self is merely a 'bundle' of perceptions and experiences, without a coherent or unified essence. The video explains Hume's view that what we consider the self is just a collection of different impressions and ideas, challenging traditional notions of a consistent and stable self.

💡Immanuel Kant

Immanuel Kant disagreed with Hume, arguing that the mind actively organizes experiences, making the self necessary for understanding reality. Kant's philosophy, as discussed in the video, suggests that the self is not just a passive receiver of impressions but also the source of knowledge and personality.

💡Merleau-Ponty's Embodiment

Merleau-Ponty introduced the concept of 'embodiment,' rejecting the strict separation of body and mind. According to the video, he viewed the self as an integrated and holistic entity, where body, thoughts, emotions, and experiences are intertwined. This perspective challenges traditional dualism by emphasizing the inseparability of physical and mental experiences.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of examining various philosophical perspectives about the self.

The lecture content is based on the book 'Understanding the Self' by Allah Sleeps Rafika Pawilen, specifically the first chapter.

Learning outcomes include familiarity with different philosophies about the self and the ability to articulate one's own philosophy.

Socrates is credited with being the first philosopher to systematically question the true nature of the self.

Socrates' famous idea: 'An unexamined life is not worth living.'

Plato and Aristotle, students of Socrates, also believed in the dualistic nature of the self, consisting of body and soul.

Plato's division of the soul into three parts: rational, spirited, and appetitive, each playing a specific role in human behavior.

Thomas Aquinas' view on the dualistic nature of the self, differentiating between 'haile' (matter) and 'morphe' (form).

Augustine of Hippo's perspective on the self: the body is imperfect and can only thrive in the physical world, while the soul is eternal.

Rene Descartes' famous assertion: 'I think, therefore I am,' emphasizing the existence of the self through the ability to think.

David Hume's unique perspective: the self is merely a bundle of different perceptions and experiences, rather than a unified entity.

Immanuel Kant's disagreement with Hume, arguing that there must be a mind that organizes impressions, which is central to the self.

Gilbert Ryle's concept of the self as a convenient term for describing behavior rather than an entity or internal reality.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty's integrated view of the self: body, thoughts, emotions, and experiences are intertwined and inseparable.

Closing remarks encouraging students to develop their own philosophy about the self, integrating what they learned from the lecture.

Transcripts

good morning everyone

so in the next 15 minutes we will be

examining the various philosophical

perspectives about the self this is the

first topic under module 1.

by now i assume that you have already

watched

the link that i've posted it's a video

created by ted talk

with the title who am i a philosophical

inquiry

so the content of this lecture was taken

from the book understanding the self by

allah sleeps rafika pawilen

although i'm not asking you to

buy this book because i'm only using the

first chapter of it

so what are the learning outcomes that i

expect from the students after this

short lecture there are two first it's

for you to be familiar with a different

philosophies about the self and second i

expect you to be able to articulate your

own philosophy about the self

yeah if you notice there's there's a

forum where you are instructed to write

in no more than 500 words your own

philosophy so you of course i expect you

to use your own words because that's

your own philosophy but you are allowed

to integrate what you have learned from

this lecture into your own philosophy

so clear so i hope

as we go along to this lecture i hope

you can take down notes

and so that you can do this

exercise after

the history of philosophy is filled with

men and women

who inquired into the fundamental nature

of the self

and the greeks were the ones who

seriously questioned myth and move away

from them in attempting to understand

the reality that can be found in this

world

but before socrates who is known to be

questioning the true nature of the self

pre-socratic philosophers that means

philosophers before socrates were more

interested in things like uh what

the world is made of

why the world is so and what explains

the changes that they've observed around

them

until

socrates came

unlike those pre-socratic philosopher

that we have mentioned a while ago

socrates was more concerned with another

subject matter and that is the problem

of the self he was in fact the first

philosopher who ever engaged in a

systematic questioning about the true

nature of the self

because for socrates

his lifelong mission is to know oneself

because for him the true task of the

philosopher is just that to know oneself

he has been he had been a controversial

figure

in fact he was um

accused of corrupting the minds of the

youth

in that generation

for socrates

he said that an exam in life is not

worth living

and he thought that this is the worst

that could happen to anyone that is to

live but to die inside

now as we are engaged in understanding

ourselves right now we are also doing

like what

um

socrates was doing in his lifetime and

that is to examine oneself who we really

are

now socrates was followed by

his students like plato

and

aristotel

who also believed the dualistic nature

of the self

plato was a student of socrates

both believed in the dualistic nature of

our personhood

that means all individuals have both

the body and the soul so the body um is

an imperfect impermanent aspect of the

self

while

the soul represents that perfect and

permanent part of who we are

but plato

further explained

the soul by dividing it into three

components

one is rational soul the second one a

spirited soul and the third one is a

petitive soul

so the plato emphasizes that justice in

the human person can only be attained if

these three parts of the soul are

working harmoniously with one another

so the rational soul

use reason and intellect to govern the

affairs of the human person

while the spirited part

is in charge of emotions which should be

managed

well and the repetitive soul is in

charge of base desires like eating

drinking sleeping and having sex

this basic desires are also controlled

as well when this ideal state is

attained then the human person's soul

become just and virtuous so that's the

philosophy of plato

now thomas aquinas

like plato

aristotel and socrates believed as well

in the dualistic nature of the self for

thomas aquinas he has a different names

for it for for the two parts the haile

and the morphe so these are greek terms

highly or literally translated as matter

in english refers to the common stuff

that makes up everything in the universe

so our human body is also part of this

um so-called matter or highly

but what is essential for thomas aquinas

is the morphe

okay the morphe or the form

okay this refers to the essence of a

substance or a thing

now it is what makes what it is

so as between the two

it is actually the soul what is what

that animates the body it is what makes

us human it separates us from all other

living beings or animals

so for thomas aquinas

what is important is

or what makes us human is the soul and

not necessarily the body because it is

the soul

that animates the body it is the

substance of the matter

augustine of hippo

was one of the famous philosophers

during the medieval era just like thomas

aquinas

so augustine was a christian philosopher

he believed also in the dualistic nature

of the self that is we are made

up of body and soul for him the body is

imperfect

and can only thrive in the imperfect

physical reality of the world

however

augustine

asserted that the soul

can

survive

until

even after death because the soul is

eternal in nature

so

the the goal of every human person is to

attain this communion and bleeds with

the divine by living his life on earth

in virtue

so this is this has actually some

implications in our life which maybe we

can all relate sometimes no matter what

we do in the physical realm in our world

we have this longing we have this

we feel this emptiness that no matter

what we do we always long for something

more

this perhaps can be best explained by

augustine

we feel that emptiness we feel that

there's

always something lacking because we are

still in this imperfect physical world

now we can only attain

some kind of a meaning some kind of a

completion

only we if we reconcile ourselves to the

divine which represents the eternal

so somehow in my opinion this actually

makes sense that would explain why

people always feel that there's

something lacking because we are made

our soul is made to be reconciled with

the one who created us

for those of you who do not really buy

the idea that we are composed of a body

and a soul

perhaps rene descartes would be your

best friend rene descartes believed that

we are composed of a body and the mind

the only thing that what cannot doubt is

the existence of the self

i think therefore i am

the fact that you can think

that you have a the mental faculty

should lead us to conclude without the

trace of doubt that we exist okay

so ganon

david hume has a unique perspective

about what the self is made of

palazzo

there is really no unified or coherent

self for him the self is just a

combination of experiences

in with a particular person

so to coat him it is simply a bundle or

collection of different perceptions

which succeed each other with an

inconceivable rapidity so the self is a

combination of impressions and ideas

impressions or products offer direct

experiences with the world for example

when we touch a hot stove okay the sense

the

sense that we got from that is called

impressions now what are ideas ideas are

copies of impressions which are still in

the imaginary stage for example

we want to imagine the idea of falling

in love though so that's still an idea

because they're just copies of

impressions because we have no direct

experience of that direct experience

we uh labeled that as impressions so

that's according to david hume again

david hume does not believe in the idea

of a self

that is coherent in unified for him it's

just a random you know collection of

experiences that we have

in every in our daily lives

however emmanuel kant

disagreed

thinking of the self as a mere

combination of impressions

was problematic

because

for kant there is necessarily a mind

that organizes the impression that we

get from the external world

along with the different apparatuses of

the mind goes the self without the self

we cannot organize the different

impression that we get in relation to

our existence

so the self is not just what gives

us our personality

it is also the seat of knowledge

acquisition for all human persons

okay this strange philosopher named

gilbert ryle

thought that the self is not an entity

that one can pinpoint or find but rather

it is just a convenient name that people

use to describe the behavior that that

is manifested in our day-to-day life so

it's like going to like a university you

might visit or drop by the gym or go to

the cafeteria or visit the your teachers

in the faculty room but you cannot

really pinpoint which one is a

university

so just like the self for ryle

it's just a convenient name when we say

self it is just a convenient name that

refers to all our behavior that is seen

externally

displayed in our day-to-day life so rile

does not really believe in the

non-physical reality of the self such as

the soul

or internal reality of the self such as

personality

now the last philosophy that we're going

to talk about is that of marlo

ponti

for marlo ponti

although he believed in the dualistic

nature of the self he does not really

believe in dualism meaning that the body

and soul are separate for him whether

it's the body or thoughts or emotions

and experience they are an embodied

experience

they are so intertwined that they cannot

be separated from one another in a way

it's more his view of the self is more

integrated and holistic

he is saying that the self is

composed of these things integrated into

one it's not separate but integrated

now this is the last slide of our

presentation so i hope you

are able to take down notes and

you are now ready to come up with your

own

philosophy about the self thank you for

listening and see you again soon