The Self From

Various
Philosophical
Perspectives
 Socrates
The Problem of Self
The first philosopher engaged in a systematic questioning about Self
“the unexamined life is not worth living”
Examining one’s self is the most important task one can undertake,
for it alone will give us the knowledge necessary to answer the
question ‘how should I live my life’. As Socrates explained: “…once
we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves, but
otherwise we never shall.” (First Alcibiades)
When we turn our gaze inward in search of self knowledge, Socrates
thought we would soon discover our true nature. And contrary to the
opinion of the masses, one’s true self, according to Socrates, is not to
be identified with what we own, with our social status, our
reputation, or even with our body. Instead, Socrates famously
maintained that our true self is our soul.
He was allegedly corrupting the minds of the youth and for impiety
He serves as a “gadfly” that disturbed Athenians in order to reach
the truth and wisdom
Most men, in his reckoning, were really not fully aware of who they
were and the virtues that they were supposed to attain in order to
preserve their souls for the afterlife.
Worst that can happen to anyone: “TO LIVE BUT TO DIE INSIDE”
 Man is composed of BODY and SOUL
 body and soul are different entities, but he also believed that the soul
gives life to the body. In such a way, the body and the soul are closely
intertwined and, in spite of the existing difference, the body and the soul
interact with each other.
 Plato
Student of Socrates
 Supported the idea of Socrates
He added that the Soul has 3 components
1. Rational Soul= Forged by reason and intellect has to govern
the affairs of the human person
2. Spirited Soul= In charge of emotions should be kept a bay
3. Appetitive Soul= In charge of base desires like eating,
drinking, sleeping, and having sex are controlled as well

When this ideal state is attained, then the human person’s soul
becomes just and virtuous
 Augustine and Thomas
Aquinas
Augustine Agreed that Man is bifurcated nature. An aspect of man
dwells in the world and is imperfect and continuously yearns to be
with the Divine and the other is capable of reaching immortality.
The body is bound to die on earth and the soul is to anticipate
living eternally in a realm of spiritual bliss in communion with God.
Thomas Aquinas, Man is composed of two parts: MATTER and
FORM
MATTER or HYLE refers to the “common stuff that makes up
everything in the universe. Man’s body is part of this matter
FORM or MORPHE refers to the “essence of a substance or thing” .
It is what makes it what it is.
What makes a human person a human person and not a dog, or a
tiger is his soul, his essence.