Philosophical Perspective

• Philosophy is often called the mother of all disciplines, simply because of all fields of study began as a philosophical discourses.
• Etymological definition: Love of Wisdom
• Desire for truth by formulating never ending questions to provide answers to every inquiry about the nature of human existence : Love of wisdom
• The great greek philosophers : Socrates, Plato, Aristotle
• Socrates: An Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living
• A person can only have a meaning and happy life only if he becomes virtuous and knows the value of himself - AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING
• SELF is synonymous with the soul (essence of self)
• Socratic Method: INTROSPECTION - a method carefully examining one's thoughts and emotions to gain self knowledge
• "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." - Socrates
• Socrates suggested that SELF can be viewed into 2 Distinct being - Physical Dimension and Ideal Dimension
• Plato - THE SELF IS AN IMMORTAL SOUL
• Socrates' prized student - PLATO
• Plato - Introduces the idea of a 3 part of soul / self: Reason, Physical Appetite, Spirit/Passion
• Reason - the divine essence that enables us to think deeply, make wise choices, achieve true understanding of eternal truths.
• Physical Appetite - Biological needs
• Spirit / Passion - Basic emotions
• Plato - Myth of the cave
• MYTH OF THE CAVE - We see the world not as it really is, but exactly who we really are.
• In Plato's theory, the cave represents people who believe that knowledge comes from what we see and hear in the world - empirical evidence. The cave shows that believers of empirical knowledge are trapped in a 'cave' of misunderstanding.
• Aristotle - Man as "Rational Animal"
• Aristotle - First systematic philosophical psychologist
• Aristotle - body and soul is not seperate etities
• Aristotle - Live a life of moderation
• Aristotle - "TO LEAD A GOOD, FLOURISHING AND FULFILLING LIFE."
• Aristotle - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS IS SEARCH FOR GOOD LIFE THAT INCLUDES VIRTUOUS ACTIONS.
• St. Augustine - I am doubting, therefore I am
• Fundamental concept of human person is his mission to discover the truth on the existence of God - St. Augustine
• The SELF HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL -The physical body is different from and inferior to its immortal soul - He believes that the soul is what governs and defines man.
• Rene Descartes - I think, Therefore I am (COGITO ERGO SUM)
• Rene Descartes - Father of Modern Philosophy
• Rene Descartes - No rational person will doubt his or her own existence
• 2 Dimension of Human Self

  • Thinking self (Soul)
  • Physical Body
• "CONCEPT OF DUALISM" - Rene Descartes
• John Locke - Empiricism
• Empiricism - The self is constructed primarily from sense experience
• Conscious awareness and memory of previous experiences are the key to understanding the self. - John Locke
• The human mind at birth is "TABULA RASA" (Blank Slate) - John Locke
• Principle of INDIVIDUATION - John Locke
• David Hume - There is no self
• David Hume - Known to his lack of self theory