PRELIM REVIEWER
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 10:06 PM
PRELIM SCHED
SAT, MARCH 15 08:30 - 10:30 AM POB 408
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Concept of "Self"
Sociology:
- The self as a product of social interactions, developed over time through activities and experiences.
Anthropology:
- The self as a culturally shaped construct, balancing individual autonomy with community integration.
Psychology:
- The self has unique characteristics, shaped by its physical and social environments, and is essential to experience
Eastern vs. Western Perspectives:
Western: The self is distinct from the external world, emphasizing individuality.
Eastern: The self is interconnected with existence, seen as a collective entity.
Philosophers' Views on the Self
1. Socrates (Classical Greek Philosopher)
Beliefs:
- The soul is immortal.
- Self-knowledge is essential for living a virtuous, happy life.
- Virtue leads to true happiness.
Famous quote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Two kinds of existence:
Visible (Body): Changes and decays.
Invisible (Soul): Constant and understood through the mind.
2. Plato (Student of Socrates, Founder of the Theory of Forms)
Beliefs:
- The soul is the most divine aspect of the self.
- The physical world is not the ultimate reality.
Three parts of the soul:
Appetitive: Desires for sensual experiences.
Rational: Uses reason and logic.
Spirited: Emotions that drive actions.
3. Rene Descartes (Father of Modern Western Philosophy)
Beliefs:
- Famous for “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
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, - Famous for “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
- The self consists of an unchanging, immaterial soul, distinct from the physical body.
Cartesian Dualism: The soul (thinking substance) and the body (material substance) form a union, but remain distinct.
4. John Locke (Enlightenment Philosopher)
Concept:
- The self is based on consciousness and memories, creating continuity over time.
- Believed personal accountability arises from remembering past actions.
5. David Hume (Empiricist and Skeptic)
Critique:
- Rejected the notion of a fixed self.
- Argued the self is a collection of perceptions and experiences, existing only while conscious.
6. Immanuel Kant (Influential Enlightenment Philosopher)
Self:
- Transcendental self: Involves both the inner self (psychological awareness) and outer self (interaction with the
physical world).
- Introduced apperception (understanding new ideas by relating them to existing knowledge).
7. Sigmund Freud (Founder of Psychoanalysis)
Psychoanalytic Theory:
- The self consists of three parts:
a. Id: Pleasure-seeking instincts.
b. Ego: Reality-oriented decision-making.
c. Superego: Moral conscience.
8. Gilbert Ryle (Critique of Cartesian Dualism)
Concept:
- The self is not a separate entity; it is seen through actions and behaviors.
- Referred to the concept of "distinct self" as a category mistake.
9. Paul Churchland (Advocate of Eliminative Materialism)
Beliefs:
- The self is a product of brain activity (electrochemical signals).
- Denied the existence of an immaterial soul.
10. Maurice Merleau-Ponty (Phenomenological Philosopher)
Embodied Self:
- Emphasized the physical body in understanding the self and the world.
- The self is an embodied subjectivity, interacting with its surroundings through lived experiences.
Sociological Perspective
Sociological Perspective
Definition and Key Focus
Sociology: Study of human behavior, social interactions, relationships, and culture.
Influence on the Self:
- Norms, beliefs, and values from society integrate into an individual, becoming natural and normal.
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Tuesday, March 11, 2025 10:06 PM
PRELIM SCHED
SAT, MARCH 15 08:30 - 10:30 AM POB 408
PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
The Concept of "Self"
Sociology:
- The self as a product of social interactions, developed over time through activities and experiences.
Anthropology:
- The self as a culturally shaped construct, balancing individual autonomy with community integration.
Psychology:
- The self has unique characteristics, shaped by its physical and social environments, and is essential to experience
Eastern vs. Western Perspectives:
Western: The self is distinct from the external world, emphasizing individuality.
Eastern: The self is interconnected with existence, seen as a collective entity.
Philosophers' Views on the Self
1. Socrates (Classical Greek Philosopher)
Beliefs:
- The soul is immortal.
- Self-knowledge is essential for living a virtuous, happy life.
- Virtue leads to true happiness.
Famous quote: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Two kinds of existence:
Visible (Body): Changes and decays.
Invisible (Soul): Constant and understood through the mind.
2. Plato (Student of Socrates, Founder of the Theory of Forms)
Beliefs:
- The soul is the most divine aspect of the self.
- The physical world is not the ultimate reality.
Three parts of the soul:
Appetitive: Desires for sensual experiences.
Rational: Uses reason and logic.
Spirited: Emotions that drive actions.
3. Rene Descartes (Father of Modern Western Philosophy)
Beliefs:
- Famous for “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
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, - Famous for “Cogito, ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am).
- The self consists of an unchanging, immaterial soul, distinct from the physical body.
Cartesian Dualism: The soul (thinking substance) and the body (material substance) form a union, but remain distinct.
4. John Locke (Enlightenment Philosopher)
Concept:
- The self is based on consciousness and memories, creating continuity over time.
- Believed personal accountability arises from remembering past actions.
5. David Hume (Empiricist and Skeptic)
Critique:
- Rejected the notion of a fixed self.
- Argued the self is a collection of perceptions and experiences, existing only while conscious.
6. Immanuel Kant (Influential Enlightenment Philosopher)
Self:
- Transcendental self: Involves both the inner self (psychological awareness) and outer self (interaction with the
physical world).
- Introduced apperception (understanding new ideas by relating them to existing knowledge).
7. Sigmund Freud (Founder of Psychoanalysis)
Psychoanalytic Theory:
- The self consists of three parts:
a. Id: Pleasure-seeking instincts.
b. Ego: Reality-oriented decision-making.
c. Superego: Moral conscience.
8. Gilbert Ryle (Critique of Cartesian Dualism)
Concept:
- The self is not a separate entity; it is seen through actions and behaviors.
- Referred to the concept of "distinct self" as a category mistake.
9. Paul Churchland (Advocate of Eliminative Materialism)
Beliefs:
- The self is a product of brain activity (electrochemical signals).
- Denied the existence of an immaterial soul.
10. Maurice Merleau-Ponty (Phenomenological Philosopher)
Embodied Self:
- Emphasized the physical body in understanding the self and the world.
- The self is an embodied subjectivity, interacting with its surroundings through lived experiences.
Sociological Perspective
Sociological Perspective
Definition and Key Focus
Sociology: Study of human behavior, social interactions, relationships, and culture.
Influence on the Self:
- Norms, beliefs, and values from society integrate into an individual, becoming natural and normal.
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