The Philosophical Self
The traditional philosophical answer, found in the writings of Plato, Kant, and many
religious thinkers, is that the self is an immortal soul that transcends the physical being.
However, some philosophers who don't subscribe to this metaphysical view have swung
in the other direction and rejected the idea of the self altogether. David Hume, for
instance, said that the self is nothing more than a bundle of perceptions, and Daniel
Dennett dismissed the self as merely a “center of negative gravity."
The Self has been defined as “as a unified being, essentially connected to
consciousness, awareness, and agency (or, at least, with the faculty of rational
choice) “. Different philosophers have come up with more specific characteristics of the
Self, and over time, these meanings have transformed from pure abstractions to
explanations that hold scientific evidences.
https://www.greeka.com/greece-history/famous-people/socrates/ (Links to an external
site.)
, Socrates
The ancient philosophy of self can be traced back from the ancient Greek aphorism
(one of 147 aphorisms prominently inscribed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi), “know
thyself” (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν, transliterated: gnōthi seauton).
The aphorism (or principle) was used by Socrates as his guiding principle that he
passed on to his students. Since Socrates as a guru preferred to engage his
students in endless discussion, it is said that he had never written down any of his
ideas but instead untiringly discussed concepts and principles with his students.
Socrates believed that the real self is not the physical body, but rather the psyche
(or soul). He further posited that the appearance of the body is inferior to its
functions.
Plato
It was Plato, Socrates’ prized student who thoroughly expound on Socrates ideas of
self. Plato’s conceptualization of the Self was profoundly introduced in his
dialogue Phaedrus, which has been a popular text for many decades in the subject of
Philosophy. The main idea in this dialogue is about truth-seeking, and that the truth can
be can be distinguished in two forms: the metaphysical realm (mind) and the physical
world (body). Plato suggested that the existence or the truth about the human self is
fundamentally an intellectual entity whose nature exists independent from the physical
world. Plato bifurcated the truth or reality into two: the “ontos” (ideal), the ultimate reality
which tend to be permanent and spiritual, and the “phenomena” which refers to the
manifestation of the ideal. In contrast with ontos, phenomena is imperfect, impermanent
and inferior to the latter.
Aristotle
Plato’s idea of truth about the human self was even more expounded and formalized by
his prized student, Aristotle. While Plato emphasized the separation of ideal and
phenomenal existence (or being), Aristotle suggested that the ideal is subsumed in the
phenomena. Aristotle called ideal as “essence” and the phenomena as “matter”. He also
emphasized that the two co-exist and are co-dependent, the essence provides meaning
and purpose to the matter, and the matter provides substance and solidity to essence.
The Philosophical Self
Philosophy of the self has been defined through two distinct philosophical lens:
Empiricism - derives explanations of the self from sensory and bodily responses.
We know things because we have experienced it through our bodily senses.
Rationalism - there is innate knowledge; they differ in that they choose different
objects of innate knowledge. Rationalism explains self from the standpoint of what is
“ideal” and the “truth”, not rooted in what is felt by the senses nor our body
The traditional philosophical answer, found in the writings of Plato, Kant, and many
religious thinkers, is that the self is an immortal soul that transcends the physical being.
However, some philosophers who don't subscribe to this metaphysical view have swung
in the other direction and rejected the idea of the self altogether. David Hume, for
instance, said that the self is nothing more than a bundle of perceptions, and Daniel
Dennett dismissed the self as merely a “center of negative gravity."
The Self has been defined as “as a unified being, essentially connected to
consciousness, awareness, and agency (or, at least, with the faculty of rational
choice) “. Different philosophers have come up with more specific characteristics of the
Self, and over time, these meanings have transformed from pure abstractions to
explanations that hold scientific evidences.
https://www.greeka.com/greece-history/famous-people/socrates/ (Links to an external
site.)
, Socrates
The ancient philosophy of self can be traced back from the ancient Greek aphorism
(one of 147 aphorisms prominently inscribed in the temple of Apollo at Delphi), “know
thyself” (Greek: γνῶθι σεαυτόν, transliterated: gnōthi seauton).
The aphorism (or principle) was used by Socrates as his guiding principle that he
passed on to his students. Since Socrates as a guru preferred to engage his
students in endless discussion, it is said that he had never written down any of his
ideas but instead untiringly discussed concepts and principles with his students.
Socrates believed that the real self is not the physical body, but rather the psyche
(or soul). He further posited that the appearance of the body is inferior to its
functions.
Plato
It was Plato, Socrates’ prized student who thoroughly expound on Socrates ideas of
self. Plato’s conceptualization of the Self was profoundly introduced in his
dialogue Phaedrus, which has been a popular text for many decades in the subject of
Philosophy. The main idea in this dialogue is about truth-seeking, and that the truth can
be can be distinguished in two forms: the metaphysical realm (mind) and the physical
world (body). Plato suggested that the existence or the truth about the human self is
fundamentally an intellectual entity whose nature exists independent from the physical
world. Plato bifurcated the truth or reality into two: the “ontos” (ideal), the ultimate reality
which tend to be permanent and spiritual, and the “phenomena” which refers to the
manifestation of the ideal. In contrast with ontos, phenomena is imperfect, impermanent
and inferior to the latter.
Aristotle
Plato’s idea of truth about the human self was even more expounded and formalized by
his prized student, Aristotle. While Plato emphasized the separation of ideal and
phenomenal existence (or being), Aristotle suggested that the ideal is subsumed in the
phenomena. Aristotle called ideal as “essence” and the phenomena as “matter”. He also
emphasized that the two co-exist and are co-dependent, the essence provides meaning
and purpose to the matter, and the matter provides substance and solidity to essence.
The Philosophical Self
Philosophy of the self has been defined through two distinct philosophical lens:
Empiricism - derives explanations of the self from sensory and bodily responses.
We know things because we have experienced it through our bodily senses.
Rationalism - there is innate knowledge; they differ in that they choose different
objects of innate knowledge. Rationalism explains self from the standpoint of what is
“ideal” and the “truth”, not rooted in what is felt by the senses nor our body
