OPENING PRAYER:

...Faith does not destroy reason...

Faith elevates reason
..A substance to be hoped for...The evidence of things
That appears not...
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

Learning outcome:

Discuss the different representations and

conceptualizations of the self from the different philosophical
perspectives.

Examine the different influences, factors that shape the self.

Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across the
different perspectives.

Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analysing the

development of one’s self and identity by developing a theory of the
self.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF (FIRST PART)
OUTLINE
A. The Essentialist View – Avocado View
1. The Judaic & Christian Traditions
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
- Plato and Aristotle
3. The Theocentric Tradition
- St. Augustine
4. Self in the Modern Period
- Rene Descartes
- John Locke
- Karl Marx
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF (SECOND PART)
OUTLINE
B. The Protean View – The Artichoke
1 Oriental Philosophy
- Hinduism and atman
- Buddhism and anatman
- Taoism
2. The Self-Created Self
- Jean Paul Sartre
3. Postmodernism
- The Protean Self
- Neuro-science and the Self
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
ACTIVITY 1: Write a reflection on the message of the Song or Lyrics, Tuldok with emphasis on:
TULDOK

Ang tuldok ay may salaysay at may kahulugan

• Who am I? Na dapat mapansin at maintindihan
Kahit sino ka man ay dapat malaman
Na dito sa mundo ikaw ay tuldok lang
Kahit na ang araw sa kalangitan
Siya ay tuldok lamang sa kalawakan
• What am I? Lahat ng bagay ay tuldok ang pinanggalingan
At kung masdang mabuti, tuldok ang uuwian

Tingnan mong mabuti ang sangkatauhan

• Why am I Maraming nag-aaway, tuldok lang ang dahilan
Sa aking nakita, ako'y natawa lang
'Pagkat ang nangyayari'y malaking kahibangan
existing?
Kaya wala kang dapat na ipagmayabang
Na ikaw ay mautak at maraming alam
Dahil kung susuriin at ating iisipin
• Where will I be Katulad ng lahat, ikaw ay tuldok rin

from here?
 :
ACTIVITY 2

Among the choices in each slide, you are to

identify which picture is an Avocado?
(your self...?)

You may have more than 1 answer.

One point deduction for every incorrect answer.
1. Which one is the Avocado?
(explain why? and why not?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 2. Which one is the Avocado?
(give some principles behind why it is? And why not so?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
3. Which one is not the Avocado?
(what makes it different from the other?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 4. Which one is the Avocado?
(describe the principle behind the reality of avocado)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
5. Which one is the real Avocado?
(explain your answer why?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 6. Which one is the Avocado?
(is there a difference in their essence and substance? Based in the
idea of essentialism, justify your answer why?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
Now, identify which among the choices is the
Cabbage? (not your self...?)
You may have more than 1 answer.
7. Which one is a Cabbage? (is it possible
be an avocado as well..? )
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
8. Which one is a Cabbage?
(identify the other group as well)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 9. Which one is a Cabbage?
(distinguish the similar points of identity of avocado with
these groups)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 10. Which one is a Cabbage?
( ANALYZE THE INNER CONTEXT OF THESE FIGURES WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT ?)

You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 11. Which one is a Cabbage?
(according to Rene Descartes, these objects are just mere illusions
and doubtful, what can you say about your own self?)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
 12. Which one is a Cabbage?
(what can you say about the essential difference between the pictures A
and B)
You may have more than 1 answer.

A B C
Evaluation:
The chosen picture represents your self as it is
identified with the other self. The Self which is
the reality of matter and form, i.e. subtantial
reality and formal reality is a differentiated
form of other reality but not essentially
separated from it. By distinguishing one self
from the other, is thereby finding oneself in the
realm of other self. Without the other self,
ones identity can never be distinguished by
itself. Therefore, you are identified and
distinguished because of others, hence, not
absolutely separated from them.
Point of Departure:

Q: Do inanimate beings like stones, woods; plants, and animals have selves?
Some points of argument
Self could either be:
- non-living being (inanimate beings like stones, woods, etc.)
- non-conscious living irrational beings (like plants)
- conscious living irrational being (brutes/lower animals)
- conscious living rational being (human)
Owed to the principle of quiddity or isness/whatness, and hylomorphic
principle, both inanimate and animate beings are relegated with the idea
of self.
Who or What Are We?
To aid in our inquiry, we can use the structures of the Avocado and the Artichoke as
metaphors for human nature.

• AVOCADO VIEW
A pear-shaped tropical fruit with yellowish flesh and a single seed at the center. If the
avocado seed is planted, an entire new avocado plant may grow, when, if it reaches full
maturity, is capable of producing another generation of avocado fruit. The seed at the
center contains all the essential information about what makes an avocado an avocado.
For contrast,
• CABBAGE VIEW
Sometimes cooked as a vegetable. It consists of layers that can be peeled off one after
the other. When the last layer has been removed, there is nothing left. The “heart” of the
cabbage is actually the base of the flower. Although it is tasty to eat, the heart does not
contain the essence of the cabbage. The cabbage is nothing but its layers. No part of the
cabbage –not even the heart- can be induced to produce another generation.

Q: Are we more like avocados or like cabbages? If we could peel away our
layers, would we find a central core or merely emptiness as the last layer
is removed? Do we consist entirely of our layers – genetic instructions
and environmental effects – or is there something central that contains
and represents the essence of who and what we are?
Points of reflection:

IDENTIFY YOUR SELF FROM THE REST OF THE

GROUPS BY CHOOSING THE RIGHT SELF
YOU DETERMINE TO BE YOU ARE
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF

If we are indeed unique, the task of

proving it seems to be getting difficult.

The questions now lie before us:

Who and what are we?
Are we a little lower than angels,
Or are we a little higher than apes?