Topics
Representations and conceptualizations of the self
Disciplines (both East and West): philosophy, sociology, anthropology and
psychology
Comparison and contrast of these conceptualizations
Influences, factors and forces that shape the self
Develop a theory of the self?
Assessment
1. Essay on self: How to I understand my self? What led up to this self?
Influences, factors and forces that shape the self
2. Short paper on real/ideal self and a discussion/assessment of any differences
METADATA
I. Thumbnail
Video 2
a. Take care of your soul!
II. Title
Video 1 (for GE 1: Understanding the Self)
a. The Self according to Socrates
b. Socrates on the Self
c. Socrates’ Concept of the Self
d. Philosophical Perspective of the Self | Socrates
Video 2 (for the general public)
a. Socrates on Self and Self-Care.
b. Socrates: Understand and Improve Yourself
II. Description
SCRIPT
Story Arc
1. Hook: “Know thyself”
2. Reengagement: Socrates’ tragic death (change background music) and question
(“So what is Socrates’ concept of self?”)
3. Setup: Socrates’ concept of the soul
4. Climax: Socrates’ concept of the self
5. Goosh: How to apply Socrates’ concept of the self
6. Wrap up: Recap
I. Intro (For Video 2 only?)
There’s a famous saying written above the entrance to the temple of Apollo in ancient
Greece that has been quoted and analyzed by countless authors throughout history…
gnothi sauton—know thyself.
In philosophy, the first philosopher who comes to mind after hearing these words is…
Socrates.
II. Who was Socrates?
Considered as the father of Western philosophy, the ancient Greek philosopher
Socrates is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in history.
Socrates didn’t write his ideas; everything we know about him come from other classical
writers, especially from one of his greatest students, Plato, who wrote some 36
dialogues featuring the philosopher.
Socrates was born in Athens around 469 BC. After a successful career as a sculptor
and serving with in the military, he decided to dedicate his life to philosophy. As a
philosopher, he spent most of his time wandering around Greece, asking philosophical
questions and challenging men who the public believed to be wise. However, his efforts
were often poorly received by the public, eventually causing him to be put on trial for
religious impiety and corrupting the youth. He was found guilty and sentenced to death
by drinking hemlock in 399 BC.
Now Socrates could’ve opted for exile, but he chose death instead. He wanted his death
to be a final lesson to his students on moral integrity, the common good, and the calm
acceptance of life’s misfortunes.
Socrates’ life was a continuous pursuit of moral excellence and wisdom. As a teacher,
he believed that everyone can embody these values through a process which,
according to him, begins with knowing one’s self.
III. Socrates’ Concept of the Self
But what or who is the self, according to Socrates?
To answer this, we must first understand how Socrates views the human soul, as a
person’s self and his soul are, in Socrates’ philosophy, closely related to each other.
Take note, however, that Socrates’s concept of the soul does not have any religious
connotations, like how Christians or Hindus, for example, view it.
For Socrates, the soul is the essence of a person; it is the seat of reason, moral
character, and identity, the one responsible in knowing and in acting—it is a person’s
“inner being” or true self.
This is one of the reasons why Socrates teaches his students to take care of their souls,
as it constitutes their very essence as human persons.
There is, however, another—more practical—reason why Socrates wants everyone to
take care of their soul.
IV. Socrates on Taking Care of the Soul
According to Socrates, we need to take care of our soul if we want to achieve what he
thought was life’s ultimate goal—the “good life”. The good life, for Socrates, is simply a
life of wisdom and virtue. This is why Socrates continuously emphasized the acquisition
of wisdom and virtue through self-knowledge in his teachings; he wanted his students to
care for their souls that it be wise, morally good, and beautiful as possible. Thus one of
his famous sayings, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Socrates was convinced that in order for us to achieve the good life, we need to
examine ourselves. For it is only in examining ourselves—our lives, identities, beliefs
and habits—that we can discover the truth and the good; and that having discovered
them, we can know what the right thing to believe and to do is in order to take care of
our soul… and ultimately live the good life.
Conversely, those who never examine their lives are, according to Socrates, ignorant of
the truth and the good, of what belief they must hold or action they must do. Thus they
end up doing what is evil, damaging their souls, and living a wicked life.
In the end, for Socrates, a person’s self and life are not determined by what one owns
or what others think about oneself. Rather, it is the state of one’s soul, one’s inner
being, that ultimately determines one’s character and life. It is not money, possessions,
or fame that makes one’s identify and life meaningful, but wisdom and virtue of the soul.
V. Recap (For Video 1)
To recap, Socrates’ concept of the self