Is there an Essential Human

Nature?

Let us find out, as we proceed with

the lesson…
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
1. The Judaic and Christian Traditions
• Humans are made in the image and
likeness of God
• Animals may have instincts and intelligence
but they are not made in God’s likeness
• We are self-conscious
• We have the capacity to love
• We have fleshy outward appearance but
inside we share the divine nature
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
1. The Judaic and Christian Traditions
• The essence of the avocado is not in the flesh but
in its seed. The proof of this can be found by
planting the seed, which so contains the essence
of “avocadoness” that it can produce another
whole avocado plant. Whatever it is that makes
an avocado an avocado, is condensed into that
seed. In a similar way, the Judaic and Christian
traditions affirm that what makes you a person,
rather than a chimp or a computer, is your special
creation in the image of God.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
Greek – Western Tradition
• A life dominated by reason is the ideal
• Reason is like a charioteer (Plato)
• It’s been this way since Plato in the Western
world
• It may seem like a good idea, but when
culture identifies rationality with men and
emotionality with women problems arise
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
• Reason is at the core our being
• Our reasoning ability sets us apart from
other terrestrial beings
• Reason controls emotions & appetites
• We may act like animals at times, but only
because we are not using reason to control
the other parts of our being
• Humans alone are capable of living
according to reason
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin and Home
-Socrates
• “. . . the soul is in the very likeness of the
divine, and immortal, and intellectual, and
uniform, and indissoluble, and
unchangeable” (Phaedo)
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin
-Socrates
• The unexamined life is not worth living.
• Men 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.
• The worst that can happen to anyone, to live but die inside.
• Man is composed of two important aspects of his personhood.
All individuals have an imperfect, impermanent aspect, the body,
while maintaining that there is also a soul that is perfect and
permanent.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin and Home
-Plato
The other world of Forms
The soul is drawn to the good, the ideal, and so is drawn to God. We
gradually move closer and closer to God through reincarnation as well as
in our individual lives. Our ethical goal in life is resemblance to God, to
come closer to the pure world of ideas and ideal, to liberate ourselves
from matter, time, and space, and to become more real in this deeper
sense. Our goal is, in other words, self-realization.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin and Home
-Plato
There are parts or three components to the soul which are working
harmoniously with one another:

1. Rational – forged by reason and intellect, govern the affairs of the human
person.
2. Spirited – in charge of emotions, should be kept at bay
3. Appetitive soul – in charge of base desires, like eating, drinking, sleeping,
and having sexual intercourse (is controlled as well)

When this ideal state is attained, the human person’s soul becomes just and virtuous.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin and Home
-Plato’s quotations:
• The measure of a man is what he does with power.
• Plato includes women as men’s equals in this system.
• "Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in
wonder."
• "...(I)f you ask what is the good of education in general, the answer
is easy; that education makes good men, and that good men act
nobly.“
• "Our object in the construction of the State is the greatest happiness
of the whole, and not that of any one class."
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
2. The Greek Rationalist Tradition
The Soul’s Origin and Home
- Aristotle
• Denied the world of Forms
• Said the form exists within the object
• The soul exists only in the body
• When the body dies, the soul dies with it

.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
3. Theocentric Period
St. Augustine of Hippo
There is an aspect of man, which dwells in the world,
that is imperfect and continuously yearns to be with the
divine while the other is capable of reaching
immortality.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
3. Theocentric Period
St. Augustine of Hippo
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.
This is the physical reality that is the world, whereas the soul can
also stay after death in an eternal realm with the all transcendent
God.
The goal of every human person is to attain this communion and
bliss with the Divine by living his life on earth in virtue.
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
4. The Self in the Modern Period
• Our culture is still basically a male dominated
society.
• Mitchell indicated that in the 70’s women tried to
be more manlike in business – didn’t work too well
(some still try – because of expectations, . . .)
• Women (or anyone) who accept the value of
emotions run the risk of being viewed as second
class citizens
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE SELF
The Avocado View
4. The Self in the Modern Period
(Video: Sophia)
• We are learning, however, that suppressing
emotions can be unhealthy
• Rationalism may be important, but emotions
are an important aspect of life as well
• Feminism – “the theory that women should
have political, economic, and social rights equal
to those of men and should define their own
roles”