Philosophical perspectives Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the definition of SELF?
The character that makes a person different from others, a part of one’s personality shown in different situations, emotions, thoughts, feelings.
What does philosophy mean?
Love of wisdom, the desire for truth, inquiry about the nature of human existence, cause, reason, principles.
According to Socrates, what comprises the self?
The body and soul.
What is the nature of the physical body according to Socrates?
Changing and imperfect.
What is the essence of the human person according to Socrates?
The immortal soul; unchanging and eternal.
What is the significance of self-knowledge according to Socrates?
It is significant to a meaningful life and guides one’s actions and decisions.
What is the Socratic method?
A method of examining one’s thoughts and emotions to gain knowledge about the self; encourages critical thinking.
According to Plato, what are the three parts of the self?
- Rational soul
- Spirited soul
- Appetitive soul
What must the rational soul do according to Plato?
Control the spirited and appetitive souls to attain a well-balanced personality.
How does St. Augustine view the relationship between the body and soul?
The physical body is united with the immortal soul.
What governs and defines man according to St. Augustine?
The soul.
What is the primary essence of human nature according to St. Augustine?
Love.
What does Rene Descartes claim about the self?
The self is distinct from the physical body and made up of the mind containing consciousness, thoughts, and feelings.
What does ‘Cogito ergo sum’ mean?
I think, therefore I am.
What are the two dimensions of self according to Descartes?
- Thinking entity
- Physical body
According to John Locke, what is the basis of the self?
Consciousness and memory.
What is the concept of ‘tabula rasa’ as per John Locke?
The mind at birth is an empty space (blank slate).
How does David Hume define the self?
A bundle of perceptions that constantly changes.
What are impressions and ideas according to David Hume?
- Impressions: immediate sensations of people’s experiences
- Ideas: recollections of impressions
What is Immanuel Kant’s view on the self?
The self is an organizing principle that synthesizes the contents of consciousness into a whole.
What are the two aspects of the self according to Kant?
- Freedom of choice
- Will
How does Gilbert Ryle define the self?
The way people behave, defined by observable behavior.
What does Paul Churchland argue about the self?
The self is the brain; the mind is an imaginary concept.
What is the concept of embodied subjectivity according to Maurice Merleau-Ponty?
The physical body is an important part of what makes up the self.
