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Class notes Understanding the Self (UTSN01A)
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Class notes Understanding the Self (UTSN01A)
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Lesson 2: The “Self” According to PhilosophyHow did ancient thinkers view a human being? Why were those curious enough
to study how human beings perceive themselves? One aspect that makes us
humans different from all other creatures on earth is our capacity to build on
knowledge. We learn, we apply it in our lives, and we use acquired ideas to create.
Philosophy is derived from Greek words philo/philia – love and sophia -
knowledge, wisdom. It is defined as the study of general and fundamental
questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. The
term as originally used by the Greek meant “the pursuit of knowledge for its own
sake”. Pythagoras is the ancient Greek philosopher who coined the term.
Thales of Miletus – a merchant, statesman and one of the legendary seven wise
men of ancient Greece. He is regarded as the first philosopher on record.
Naturally, the need to understand the “self” did not escape the philosopher’s
curious mind.
Ancient Philosophers
1. Socrates (470-399 BC)
- A Greek philosopher and one of the very few individuals who shape
Western thought
- Socrates was known for his method of inquiry in testing an idea,
called The Socratic Method
- Socrates never wrote anything. Knowledge about Socrates is through
second-hand information from the writings of his student Plato.
- He was accused of impiety or lack of reverence for the gods and
corrupting the minds of the youth. At 70 years old, Socrates was
sentenced to death by drinking a cup of poison hemlock.
Some of Socrates’ ideas were:
(1) The soul is immortal.
(2) The care of the soul is the task of philosophy.
(3) Virtue is necessary to attain happiness.
- Socrates believed that Philosophy had a very important role to play in
the lives of the people. He took the injunction “Know thyself,” inscribed
on the portals of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, to indicate the
importance of knowing the contents of one’s own mind or soul. “Know
yourself,” tells each man to bring his inner self to light in order to know
his direction and improve his life. A bad man is not virtuous through
ignorance; the man who does not follow the good fails to do so because
, he does not recognize it. He went so far as to say, “The life which is
unexamined is not worth living”
- According to Socrates, self-knowledge or the examination of one's self
as well as the question about how one ought to live one's life, are very
important concerns because only by knowing yourself you hope to
improve your life.
- He added self-knowledge would open your eyes to your true nature;
which contrary to pop culture, is not about what you own, how many
"likes" you get in social media posts, or how successful you are in your
career. In fact, your real self is not even your body. According to
Socrates, the state of your inner being (soul/self) determines the quality
of your life.
- Socrates said existence is of two kinds:
(1) The visible – our body, which is prone to change
(2) The invisible – the soul which remains constant
- In Socratic Dialogue, Plato wrote about what Socrates said about the
body and the soul: "When the soul and the body are together nature
assigns our body to be a slave and to be ruled and the soul to be ruler
and master. “
- Socrates also believed that the goal of life is knowledge. How does one
become happy? The virtuous man is happy man, and that virtue alone
is the one and only supreme good that will secure his/her happiness.
Virtue is defined as moral excellence, and an individual is considered
virtuous if his/her character is made up of the moral qualities that are
accepted as virtues. Virtue is the deepest and most basic propensity of
man, which is necessary to know and learned. Since virtue is innate in
the mind and self-knowledge is the source of all wisdom, an individual
may gain possession of oneself and be one’s own master through
knowledge
2. Plato (427 – 347 BC)
- His real name was Aristocles, but was called “Plato” because of his
broad shoulders. At the age of 20, he became a student of Socrates.
During his entire life, he remained attached to his master because of
his profound admiration on his teachings and their personal
friendship. “I thank the Gods that I was born Greek and not barbarian,
freeman and not slave, man and not woman; but above all, that I was
born in the age of Socrates”
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