Philosophy Essay on Self
Exploring the essence of self in the western context
Udit Agarwal
N1
300278
Principles of Philosophy & Critical Thinking
2013-5
Statement of authorship
I certify that this literature review is my own work and contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in any institute, college or university. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the dissertation.
Name
Signed _________________________________________________
Date ___________________________________________________
The most fundamental of the questions man asks himself in his lifetime are, "what/who am I ?"and "what is my purpose?" The curiosity over this issue of 'the self' has spanned human thought for millennia rooting from societal notion that "life cannot be just bricks and cement". Due to the inherent nature of these fundamental curiosities mankind has struggled from ancient times to uncover these mysteries. In the western-context, this brief essay will try to explore the dimensions of the "essence of self" ranging from medieval to the modern conception of self. It will review the theories of self starting with Aristotelian science and Christian doctrines and their eventual marriage by St. Thomas Acquinas' moral theory. In effect, it then explores critical viewpoints and traces the development of Scientific Rationalization. Progressively, it debates Rene Descartes' rationalist views shaping his dualistic conception of the self. Furthermore, it poses the contrasting empiricist views of John Locke where he places self-consciousness and memory as the variables to comprehend self. In addition, it contests David Hume's proclamation of the self as fiction (Robinson, H., 2012).
The theories of self and identity gradually developed over a historical timeline resulting in modern thought on the subject. In this
Udit Agarwal
N1
300278
Principles of Philosophy & Critical Thinking
2013-5
Statement of authorship
I certify that this literature review is my own work and contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any degree or diploma in any institute, college or university. Moreover, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference is made in the text of the dissertation.
Name
Signed _________________________________________________
Date ___________________________________________________
The most fundamental of the questions man asks himself in his lifetime are, "what/who am I ?"and "what is my purpose?" The curiosity over this issue of 'the self' has spanned human thought for millennia rooting from societal notion that "life cannot be just bricks and cement". Due to the inherent nature of these fundamental curiosities mankind has struggled from ancient times to uncover these mysteries. In the western-context, this brief essay will try to explore the dimensions of the "essence of self" ranging from medieval to the modern conception of self. It will review the theories of self starting with Aristotelian science and Christian doctrines and their eventual marriage by St. Thomas Acquinas' moral theory. In effect, it then explores critical viewpoints and traces the development of Scientific Rationalization. Progressively, it debates Rene Descartes' rationalist views shaping his dualistic conception of the self. Furthermore, it poses the contrasting empiricist views of John Locke where he places self-consciousness and memory as the variables to comprehend self. In addition, it contests David Hume's proclamation of the self as fiction (Robinson, H., 2012).
The theories of self and identity gradually developed over a historical timeline resulting in modern thought on the subject. In this
References: Cahoone, L. (2003). From Modernism to Postmodernism: An Anthology. Carlton: Blackwell. Cavalier, G. &. (1989). Ethics in the History of Western Philosophy. New York: St. Martin 's Press. Collinson, P. &. (2000). Fifty Eastern Tihnkers. London: Routledge. Greetham, B. (2006). Philosophy. Norwich: Palgrave Macmillan. Jamal, T. a. (2009). The Sage Handbook of Tourism Studies. London: Sage. O 'Callaghan, R. et al. (2010, December 21). Saint Thomas Aquinas. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://plato.stanford.edu/: <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2010/entries/aquinas/> Olsen, D.H. and Timothy, D.J. (2006). Tourism, Religion and Spiritual Journeys. Oxford: Routledge. Robinson, H. (2012, Demember 21). Dualism. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://plato.stanford.edu/: <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2012/entries/dualism/> Warburton, N. (1992). Philosophy. Abingdon: Routledge. Zalta, E. (2011, September 21). Aquinas ' Moral, Political, and Legal Philosophy. Retrieved May 1, 2011, from www.http://plato.stanford.edu/: <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2011/entries/aquinas-moral-political/>