Lecture Notes on the Self from Various Philosophical Perspectives

Introduction

• Today's topic: Understanding the self through various philosophical perspectives.
• Approaching the self from different disciplines: philosophical, sociological, psychological, physical, sexual, digital, economic.

Defining the Self

• Key guide questions:
  • What do we mean by the self?
  • Is the self a soul, a body, or something else?
  • Is the self unique or similar to others?
  • Components of the self: mind, body, and possibly a soul.
• Philosophical inquiries about self:
  • Are we souls, bodies, or figments of someone else's imagination?
  • Are we just living in a dream?
  • The existence of the self and its connections with others.

Philosophical Perspectives

Socrates

• Early focus on the self, contrasting with other philosophers who explored the universe.
• Belief in dualism: body and soul composition.
• Famous quotes:
  • "An unexamined life is not worth living."
  • "I only know that I know nothing."
• Proposed that the soul exists before the body and possesses wisdom in the realm of ideas.
• Socratic questioning encourages reflection and examination of life.

Plato

• Student of Socrates, founded the Academy (prototype of modern universities).
• Believed in a dichotomy: ideal world vs. material world.
• Conceptualized the soul as the most divine aspect of the self, broken into three parts:
  • Rational soul (uses reason)
  • Spirited soul (neutral)
  • Appetitive soul (pursues desires).

Saint Augustine

• Influenced by Plato; proposed man is bipartite: earthly self vs. immortal self.
• Advocated for striving towards communion with the divine (God).

Saint Thomas Aquinas

• Also believed in the dichotomy of body (matter) and soul (form/essence).
• Differentiated between matter (common aspect) and form (unique essence of living beings).

René Descartes

• Father of modern philosophy; introduced hyperbolic doubt.
• Famous quote: "I think, therefore I am" – doubting existence of body but affirming existence through doubt.

John Locke

• Proposed that identity is shaped by memory, not just soul or body.
• Introduced the concept of tabula rasa: individuals are born as blank slates.
• Importance of memory in shaping identity.

David Hume

• Bundle theory: self as a collection of impressions derived from experiences.
• Emphasized empiricism; knowledge is based on sensory experience.

Sigmund Freud

• Father of psychoanalysis; theories on the unconscious mind.
• Introduced concepts of the id (pleasure principle), ego (rational), and superego (moral).
• Two drives:
  • Eros (pleasure/sex)
  • Thanatos (pain/aggression).
• Discussed the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.

Perspectives Against Dichotomy

Gilbert Ryle

• Denied existence of an internal non-physical self; self is a convenient name for behaviors.
• Illustrated with the metaphor of the university: self is found in activities rather than a location.

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

• Critiqued dualism; argued mind and body are interconnected.
• Experience of the body enters the mind, emphasizing their inseparability.

Conclusion

• The discussion on philosophical perspectives of the self sets the foundation for exploring other disciplines (sociology, psychology, etc.) in future lectures.
• Encouragement to continue pondering the nature of the self.