The document discusses perspectives on the nature of the self from philosophy, theology, psychology, and sociology. Philosophically, views of the self range from dualist perspectives that see the self as consisting of both a material body and an immaterial soul or mind (Plato, Descartes) to monist views that see the self as solely physical (Churchland). Psychologically, the self is defined in terms of conscious and unconscious processes (Freud) or as the product of social influences and language acquisition. Across perspectives, there is no consensus on the nature of selfhood.
The document discusses perspectives on the nature of the self from philosophy, theology, psychology, and sociology. Philosophically, views of the self range from dualist perspectives that see the self as consisting of both a material body and an immaterial soul or mind (Plato, Descartes) to monist views that see the self as solely physical (Churchland). Psychologically, the self is defined in terms of conscious and unconscious processes (Freud) or as the product of social influences and language acquisition. Across perspectives, there is no consensus on the nature of selfhood.
The document discusses perspectives on the nature of the self from philosophy, theology, psychology, and sociology. Philosophically, views of the self range from dualist perspectives that see the self as consisting of both a material body and an immaterial soul or mind (Plato, Descartes) to monist views that see the self as solely physical (Churchland). Psychologically, the self is defined in terms of conscious and unconscious processes (Freud) or as the product of social influences and language acquisition. Across perspectives, there is no consensus on the nature of selfhood.
The document discusses perspectives on the nature of the self from philosophy, theology, psychology, and sociology. Philosophically, views of the self range from dualist perspectives that see the self as consisting of both a material body and an immaterial soul or mind (Plato, Descartes) to monist views that see the self as solely physical (Churchland). Psychologically, the self is defined in terms of conscious and unconscious processes (Freud) or as the product of social influences and language acquisition. Across perspectives, there is no consensus on the nature of selfhood.
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The document discusses different philosophical, sociological and psychological perspectives on the concept of self.
Some of the major philosophical perspectives discussed are dualism, materialism, and views proposed by thinkers like Plato, Descartes, Hume etc.
Sociological perspectives discussed view self as socially constructed and influenced by factors like culture, social roles, language etc.
Understanding the Self Body – can only thrive in the imperfect,
physical reality that is the world
Self - is an active agent that promotes differential sampling, Soul (Immortal) - can also stay after death processing, and evaluation of information from the environment, in an eternal realm with the all transcendent and thus leads to differences in social behavior God Nature of Self (Philosophical Perspective) The goal of every human person is to attain this communion and bliss with the Divine by o Socrates – was more concerned with another living his life on earth in virtue. subject “The problem of the self”. o Aquinas First philosopher who engaged in a Matter – Hyles – common stuff that makes systematic questioning about the self up the universe – body His view on self (dualistic) – the self has Form – morphed – essence of a substance body and soul or thing – soul – what makes us human Body – imperfect and impermanent o Rene Descartes - “Father of modern philosophy” Soul – perfect and permanent Dualism- reality and existence is divided into o Plato – is a dualist; immaterial mind (soul) - the two parts driving force of the body, that is what gives us our Mind is separate from the Physical Body identity. Material body - only concerned with the Self is also a combination of two distinct material world we live in. It wants to experience entities self-gratification. Cogito - the thing that thinks, which is the mind The soul has 3 parts: Extenza - the extension of the mind, The appetites – desires which is the body. The spirited – in charge of emotions. o David Hume - An empiricist who believes that one The part that gets angry when it can know only what comes from the senses and perceives an injustice being done experiences The mind (Rational) – reason and Self is nothing else but a bundle of intellect. Conscious awareness of the impressions. self What one thinks is a unified self is simply a Diagnosis - persons differ as to which part of combination of all experiences with a their nature is predominant. particular person. o St. Augustine - agreed that man is of a bifurcated o Immanuel Kant - thinks that the things that men nature are perceive around them are not just randomly infused into the human person without an organizing principle that regulates the relationship The mind is never separate from the body of all these impression All manifestations in the physical activities The apparatuses of the mind - a mind that or behavior are the dispositions of the self organizes the impressions that men get from I act therefore I am or You are what you do the external world. o Paul Churchland The self is not just what gives one his Materialism - The belief that nothing but personality. It is also the seat of knowledge matter exists, if it is somehow cannot be and acquisition for all human persons recognized by the senses, then it’s akin to a Two components of the self: fairy tale. Empirical Ego - How others identify Eliminative Materialism - Developing a new, us- this is our body, what we look like, neuroscience-based vocabulary that will how we sound, etc. This is the self enable us to think and communicate clearly which makes us an individual about the mind, consciousness and human Transcendental Ego - How we identify experience our self. This is the ‘self’ that what o Merleau-Ponty - asserts that the Mindbody makes us human bifurcation that has been going on for a long time o Sigmund Freud - view of the self was multitiered, is a futile endeavor and an invalid problem divided among the conscious, subconscious and The mind and body are so intertwined that unconscious. they cannot be separated from one another. Two Levels of Human Functioning: One cannot find any experience that it is not Conscious - Governed by the reality an embodied experience principle The living body, his thoughts, emotions and Unconscious – Contains basic experiences are all one. instinctual drives Stevens (1996) Definition of Self o Gilbert Ryle - solves the mind-body dichotomy that o Self is separate – it is unique has been running for a long time in the history of o Self is contained/ self-contained – own thoughts thought by blatantly denying the concept of an and feelings internal, non-physical self o Self is independent – exist apart from the other What truly matters is the behavior that a selves person manifests in his day-to-day life. o Self is consistent Self is not an entity one can locate and o Self is unitary – center of all the experiences we had analyze but simply the convenient name that o Self is private – information/ thoughts / people use to refer to all the behaviors that feelings/emotions/ can sort it by ourselves people make. Sociological Perspective - who we are is a product of the Self in the Social World social world. We are socially constructed o Gender is a part of it, gender is subject to change o The self is not static o Alfred Kinsey – sexual orientation is a continues o Continues to change move o Multifaceted Psychological Perspectives Self and culture - self is a product of influence of the world A. Definition of self: sense of personal identity around us o James William – duality (I & he) o Marcel Mauss (French Sociologist) I – thinking/acting/feeling self 2 Types of Self Me – physical characteristics The idea of 'person' (personne), the o Carl Rogers – I & me idea of 'self' (moi) – person I – one who divides him/herself. Self, including body and Me – what you feel/think who you are own identity. o Sigmund Freud – we are a product of the The 'role' (personnage), and the place interaction of the Id, ego, superego of the 'person' (personne). The Id (me) – lowest form of self/appetitive Pueblos desires/ instinctual part of the mind o Erwing Goffman – “Life is like theatre, there’s a Superego – operates as a moral conscience back stage and a front stage” Ego – realistic part that mediates/balances between the desires of the id and the super- Self and the Social World – product of language and ego acquisition. Product of human social interaction o George Herbert Mean – product of human o GEORGE HERBERT MEAD interaction. Individual human interaction may also Language and role playing affect who we are. o LEV VYGOTSKY Real life dialogues 3 Reasons why We are Products of Human Interaction o We do not create ourselves out of nothing. We are Self and the External World – cannot do away with self always living in a social/historical context. and families. Indirectly thought with words and o We need other people to affirm who we are. punishment. o What we think that is important to us is affected by o Family – link between us and external world/major what is important to the historical & sociological socialization agent. context. B. Concepts of Self Self-esteem – positive/negative evaluation or concept of who we are Identity – composed of personal/social characteristics/ Social Comparison social roles and responsibilities / affiliation that define us o Upward Social Comparison – comparing yourself to Self-Concept – personal/things that comes to your mind someone ‘higher’ than you are as supposed to who you are o Downward Social Comparison – compare yourself o Both are constant/ not fixed/ over changing mental to someone lower than you are constructs Self-Evaluation Maintenance Theory – states that we feel Self-Schema – organized systems/ collection of knowledge threatened when somebody out performs us or is better Hobbies than us o 3 Reactions when someone is better that us We distance ourselves We reconsider our skills Family Self Nationality We strengthen our skills
Religion
Self-Awareness – being aware of yourself, conscious about
yourself o Actual – who we really are o Ideal – what we would like to be o Ought – what we think who we are
o 2 Types (Carver and Schier)
Private Self - cognitions that involve traits, states or behaviors of the person/ our real self Public Self - cognitions concerning the generalized other’s view of the self/public image/the ones we portray Collective Self - cognitions concerning a view of the self that is found in some collective