Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES
University Town, Catarman, Northern Samar
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Secondary Teacher Education Department
2nd Semester, SY: 2024-2025
Module in GE 3
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
This module is prepared by:
CHRISTINE M. ADLAWAN, JD, DPA (CAR)
Subject Professor
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
OVERVIEW
Understanding the Self is a foundational course designed to help
students explore and appreciate the complexities of human identity and
individuality. It encourages self-awareness, personal growth, and critical
reflection by examining the self through various lenses — physical, cognitive,
emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual.
The subject covers philosophical perspectives on human
existence, psychological foundations related to self-concept and self-esteem, as
well as biological aspects that influence personal development. It also explores
how relationships, culture, and digital environments shape one’s identity while
promoting an understanding of the self in relation to societal responsibilities.
By emphasizing mental health, emotional management, and resilience, the
course fosters holistic personal development and lifelong learning. Ultimately,
Understanding the Self equips students with essential insights and skills to
navigate life’s challenges and grow as well-rounded, self-aware individuals who
contribute meaningfully to society.
2
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
A. The Self from Various Perspectives
1. Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from
various disciplinary perspectives;
2. Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across different
disciplines and perspectives;
3. Examine the different influences, factors, and forces that shape the self;
4. Demonstrate critical and reflective thought in analyzing the development of one’s
self and identity by developing a theory of the self;
B. Unpacking the Self
5. Explore the different aspects of self and identity;
6. Demonstrate critical, reflective thought in integrating the various aspects of self
and identity;
7. Identify the different forces and institutions that impact the development of
various aspects of self and identity;
8. Examine one’s self against the different aspects of self discussed in class;
c. Managing and Caring for the Self
9. Understand the theoretical underpinnings for how to manage and care for different
aspects of the self;
10. Acquire and hone new skills and learning for better managing of one’s self and
behavior; and
[Link] these new skills to one’s self and functioning for a better quality of
life.
3
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
MODULE 1:
THE SELF FROM VARIOUS
PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES
OVERVIEW
This topic explores the self and identity from personal and developmental
viewpoints, highlighting how individuals understand themselves across different
stages of life. It delves into psychological and social theories that explain identity
formation, self-concept, and personal growth. Emphasis is placed on the dynamic
nature of the self, shaped by experiences, relationships, and cultural influences.
Understanding these perspectives helps learners reflect on their development and
recognize the factors contributing to their evolving sense of identity.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After studying this module, you should be able to
• Discuss the different representations and conceptualizations of the self from
various perspectives.
• Compare and contrast how the self has been represented across the different
disciplines and perspectives.
• Examine one’s self against the different views of self that were discussed in class
4
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
ACTIVITY
“MIRROR OF ME”
Objective:
To encourage students to reflect on their thoughts, emotions, values, strengths, and
areas for growth, promoting deeper self-awareness.
Instructions:
1. Materials Needed: Pen, paper, and a printed worksheet with guiding questions (optional).
2. Students should close their eyes and think about a recent situation where they felt proud,
challenged, or inspired.
3. Reflection Writing (15 Minutes): Answer the following questions:
• Three words that describe me
• My greatest strength
• My biggest fear and how it affects me
• A recent experience that shaped my self-perception
• One thing I want to improve about myself
4. In groups of 4-5, share one insight from your reflections.
5. Write down one action step that you will take to continue your journey of self-
improvement.
5
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
ANALYSIS
Answer the following briefly:
a. What did you learn about your strengths through this reflection?
b. How does your biggest fear affect your daily decisions or relationships?
c. How did the experience you shared shape your view of yourself?
d. What did you discover about your ability to adapt or overcome challenges?
e. Why did you choose the specific aspect of yourself to improve?
f. What steps can you realistically take to achieve this improvement?
6
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
ABSTRACTION
1. Meaning of Philosophy and concept of Self
Philosophy comes from the Greek words, Philos and Sophia meaning “love for
wisdom”.
It is the study of acquiring knowledge through rational thinking and inquiries
that involves in answering questions regarding the nature and existence of man and
the world we live in.
Self-concept is how you perceive your behavior,
abilities, and unique characteristics.
There 3 concept of Self by Carl Rogers.
Ideal self: The person you want to be.
Self-image: How you see yourself, including attributes
like your physical characteristics, personality traits, and
social roles.
Self-esteem: How much you like, accept, or value yourself, which can be impacted
by a number of factors including how others see you, how you think you compare to
others, and your role in society.
7
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
THE SELF FROM VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES
The philosophy of self refers to the conditions of identity that make the
individual distinct from all others. Identity means the qualities, characteristics,
beliefs, etc. that make a person or group unique from one another.
The concept of self may be examined in five ways:
➔Self-knowledge refers to one's knowledge and understanding of one's own learning,
characters, motivations, and capabilities. To have self-knowledge, one must know
his/ her particular experiences, sensation, attitudes, and beliefs.
➔ Self-activity is defined as an independent and self-determined action of one person.
It is the quality or state of being self-active or self-action. A person's decision to
carry out actions which you have thought about yourself and not been told to do by
others. It infers motion or the power of moving one's self without the help or aid of
the external. A person becomes active and directed from action. It is the basis of all
learnings.
➔ Self-independent of the senses refers to the inner self. It is maintaining a person
as a separate or self-contained individual. It focuses on internal attributes like our
abilities, natural intelligence not acquired ones. It is related to a person's sense of
worth and self-esteem and helps us to strive to achieve our goals in life.
8
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
➔ Self-identity is the particular characteristics of the self that determines an
individual's uniqueness among others. It is the recognition of one's potentials and
qualities as an individual. It is the awareness of one's individual identity. Example:
gender identity, I.D. card (personal, social identity).
➔ Self-Image is a mental picture of an individual and is quite resistant to change Se
through time regarding one's abilities, personality, and role. It is how you see
yourself and feels your personality, achievements, and values in life. Example: A
person who sees herself beautiful and smart, a mental_picture of a person about
himself in the past or present.
THE PHILOSOPHY
Socrates
Socrates was a Greek Philosopher and one of the very few
individuals who shaped Western thoughts. However, unlike the
other philosophers during his time, Socrates never wrote
anything. Knowledge about Socrates is through-second hand
information from the writings of his student Plato and historian
Xenophon.
Socrates was known for his method of inquiry in testing an idea. This is called
the Socratic Method whereby an idea was tested by asking a series of questions to
determine underlying beliefs and the extent of knowledge to guide the person
toward better understanding (Maxwell, 2015). Socrates was described to have gone
about in Athens questioning everyday views and popular Athenian beliefs. This
apparently offended the leaders in his time. He was then accused of impiety or lack
of reverence for the Gods and for corrupting the minds of the youth. At 70 years old,
Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking a cup of poison hemlock (Brickhouse &
Smith, 2002).
9
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
Some of Socrates’ idea were:
• The soul of immortal
• The care of the soul is the task of Philosophy
• Virtue is necessary to attain happiness
Socrates believed that philosophy had a very important role to play in the
lives of the people. One of his most-quoted phrases is, “The unexamined is not
worth living.”
According to him, self-knowledge or the examination of one’s self, as well as
the question about how one ought to live one’s life are very important concerns
because only by knowing yourself can you hope to improve your life (Rappe, 1995).
Socrates believed that you as a person should consciously contemplate, turn your
gazed inward and analyze the true nature and values that are guiding your life.
He added that self-knowledge would open your eyes to your true nature;
which contrary to pop culture, is not about what you own, how many likes you get in
your social media posts, or ho successful you are in your career. In fact, your real self
is not your own body. According to Socrates, the state of your inner being (soul/self)
determines the quality of your life. Socrates said existence is of two kinds:
1. The visible
2. The invisible
The visible existence changes while the invisible existence remains constant
(Connolly, 2017). According to Socrates, this is the sate o the human being. The body
which is visible, changes; the other part, the kind that is invisible to humans yet
sensed and understood by the mind remains constant.
In the Socratic dialogue, Plato wrote what Socrates have said about the body
and soul; “When the soul and the body are together nature assigns our body to be a
slave and to be ruled and the soul to be the ruler and master” (Hamilton et al., 1961;
Organ, 1986). However, Socrates said that the body was a reluctant slave, and the
10
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
soul get dragged towards what is always changing. This would leave the soul
confused (Organ, 1986)
Socrates also believed that the goal of life is to be happy. How does one
become happy? According to him, the virtuous man is a happy man, and that virtue
alone is the one an only supreme good that will secure his/her happiness. Virtue is
defined as moral excellence, and an individual is considered virtuous if his/her
character is made up of the moral qualities that are accepted as virtues, 1.e.,
courage, temperance, prudence and justice. According to Socrates, even death is a
trivial matter for the truly virtuous because he/she has realized that the most
important in life is that state of his/her soul and the acts taken from taking care of
the soul through self-knowledge.
Plato
Plato was the student of Socrates. He wrote the Socratic dialogue where Socrates
was the main character and speaker. Plato’s philosophical method was what he
identified as “collection and division.” In this method, the philosopher would collect
all the generic ideas that seemed to have a common
characteristic and then divided then into different kinds until
the subdivisions of ideas became specific. He is best known
for his ‘Theory of Forms’ that asserted the physical world is
not really the real world because the ultimate reality exists
beyond the physical world. Plato is perhaps the single most
important influence of the western concept of self.
According to Plato, the soul is indeed the most divine
aspect of the human being. However, his concept of the divine is not a spiritual being
but rather one that ha intellectual connotation. The self/soul/mind according to
Plato is the aspect of the human beings by which the Forms (ideas) are known.
The three parts of the soul according to Plato are:
11
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
◆ The Appetitive (sensual) The Element that enjoys sensual experiences,
such as food, drink, and sex.
◆ The Rational (reasoning) The element that forbids the person to enjoy
the sensual experiences; the part that loves truth hence, should rule over
the other parts of the soul through the use of reason.
◆ The Spirited (feeling) The element that is inclined toward reason but
understands the demands of passion; the part that loves honor and
victory.
St. Augustine
St. Augustine, also called St. Augustine of Hippo,
is one of the Latin fathers of the church, one of the
Doctors of the church, and one of the most
significant Christian thinkers. His philosophical
approach to Christian thinking is the most
influential theological system. His written works
are among the foundations of medieval and
modern Christian thought.
He was deeply influenced by Plato’s ideas. Not surprisingly, he adopted Plato’s
view that the self is an immaterial (but rational) soul. Giving the Theory of Forms a
Christian perspective, Augustine asserted that these Forms were concepts exiting
within the perfect and eternal God where the soul belonged. Saint Augustine said
that the soul held the truth and was capable of scientific thinking. Saint
Augustine’s concept of Self was an inner, immaterial ‘I’ that had self knowledge
and self-awareness. He believed that the human being was both a soul and a body,
and the body possessed senses, such as imagination, memory, reason and mind
through which the soul experience the world.
He also reasoned that human beings through the senses could sense the
material, temporal objects as we interacted with the material world; the immaterial
but intelligible (def. able to understood only by the intellect, not by the senses) God
12
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
would only be clear or obvious to the mind if one tune into his/her immaterial
self/soul.
The aspect of the self/soul according to St. Augustine are;
◆ It is able to be aware of itself
◆ It recognizes itself a holistic one.
◆ It is aware of its unity
Saint Augustine believed that the human being who is both soul and body is
meant to tend to higher, divine, and heavenly matters because of his/her capacity to
ascend and comprehend truths through the mind. He connected the ascension of the
soul with his assertion that everything related to the physical world belongs to the
physical body, and if a person concerns himself/herself with this physical world
then he/she will not be any different from animals. Saint Augustine pointed out that
a person is similar to God as regards to the mind and its ability; that by ignoring
to use his/her mind (or the incorrect use of the mind) he/she would lose his/her
possibility to reach real and lasting happiness.
Rene Descartes
Rene Descartes was a French
philosopher, mathematician, and scientist. He is
considered the Father of Modern Western Philosophy.
Descartes is often regarded as the first thinker to
emphasize the use of reason to describe, predict and
understand natural phenomena based on observational
and empirical evidence.
Descartes proposed that doubt as a principal tool of disciplined inquiry. His
method was called hyperbolical/metaphysical doubt, also sometimes referred a
methodological skepticism. It is a systematic process of being skeptical about the
13
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
truth of one’s beliefs in order to determine which beliefs could be ascertained as
true.
Rene Descartes’ famous line “Cogito Ergo Sum” translated as “I think,
therefore I am” became a fundamental element of western philosophy as it secured
the foundation for knowledge in the face of radical doubt. He asserted that
everything perceived by the senses could not be used as proof of existence because
human senses could be fooled. He added that there was only one thing we could be
sure of this world, and that was everything could be doubted. In turn, by doubting
his own existence, Descartes proved that there is thinking entity that is doing the act
of doubting.
Descartes’ claims about the self are:
◆ It is constant; it is not prone to change; and it is not affected by time
◆ Only the immaterial soul remains the same throughout time
◆ The immaterial soul is the source of our identity.
He further asserted that this thinking entity could exist without the body
because it is an immaterial substance. Nevertheless, this immaterial substance (self)
possesses a body and is so intimately bound/joined by it that the ‘self’ forms a union
with its body. Despite this body soul union, Descartes reasoned that the soul is still
distinct from the body. Some distinctions between the soul and the body as pointed
out by Descartes are:
John Locke
14
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
John Locke was a philosopher and physician
and was one of the most influential Enlightenment
thinkers. The Age of Enlightenment or the Age of
Reason was an intellectual and philosophical
movement that dominated the ideas in Europe
during the 18th century.
If Descartes describe the self as a thinking thing, Locke expanded this
definition of self to include the memories of that thinking thing. Locke believed that
the self is identified with consciousness and this self consists of sameness of
consciousness. This is usually interpreted to mean that the self consists of memory;
that the person existing now is the same person yesterday because he/she
remembers the thoughts, experiences, or actions of the earlier self.
For Locke, a person’s memories provide a continuity of experience that allows
him/her to identify him/herself as the same person over time. This theory of
personal identity allows Locke to justify a defense accountability. According to
Locke, since the person is the same self in the passing time, he/she can be held
accountable for past behaviors. However, Locke insisted that a person could only be
held accountable for behaviors he/she can remember. Locke believe that punishing
someone for behaviors he/she has no recollection of doing is equivalent to
punishing him/her for actions that was never performed. He asserted that the state
of the person who cannot remember his/her behavior is the same as the state of the
person who never committed the act, which meant the person was ignorant.
David Hume
David Hume (1711–1776) was a Scottish philosopher, economist, and
historian during the Enlightenment. He strongly opposed
Descartes’ Rationalism, which claimed that reason is the
foundation of knowledge, rather than experience. Hume,
15
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
along with John Locke and Bishop George Berkeley, was a key figure in British
Empiricism. This movement emphasized that knowledge comes from sensory
experiences and rejected the idea of inborn concepts.
Hume is known for the "bundle theory," which describes the self as a
collection of constantly changing perceptions. He rejected the idea of an
immaterial soul, arguing that human thoughts and experiences are limited and
cannot belong to a permanent, unchanging entity. For Hume, the self is simply a
series of fleeting impressions.
He divided perceptions into two types:
◆ Impressions: Strong and vivid perceptions directly experienced through the senses
or emotions.
◆ Ideas: Fainter, less vivid copies of impressions that the mind recalls or imagines.
Hume believed that the self could not be observed directly. We only perceive
sensory experiences, and there is no lasting or fixed "self." He compared the self to a
nation, which remains a nation despite its constantly changing people, systems, and
culture. Similarly, the self is a mix of personal experiences rather than a single,
enduring identity.
According to Hume, perceptions only exist when a person is conscious. When
someone sleeps and loses awareness, the self temporarily ceases to exist. He likened
the self to a light bulb that turns on and off.
Hume viewed the self as a passive observer, watching life unfold like a play or
a movie. He believed that the self completely disappears at death when
consciousness ends.
16
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant is a key figure in modern
philosophy, with major contributions to
metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and aesthetics.
His ideas have influenced many philosophical
movements that followed. One of his key ideas is
that the human mind shapes our experiences.
Kant believed that the self is transcendental,
meaning it exists in a spiritual, non-physical realm.
For him, the self is not part of the body; it is separate from the body and does not
have physical qualities. However, he also argued that the body is still connected to
the self, and knowledge is what links the two together.
Kant described two types of consciousness of the self:
◆ The awareness of oneself and one's inner psychological states.
◆ The awareness of oneself through the act of apperception, which is when a person
connects new ideas with their existing knowledge or experiences.
Kant’s main idea is that what really exists are your ideas and your knowledge
of them. You experience the outside world through the self, which already holds
ideas that help you make sense of what you perceive. He argued that the material
world is not just a series of objects but something you perceive through ideas that
reside within you. Kant also distinguished between the body, which is an object of
outer sense, and the soul (self), which is an object of inner sense.
Kant described two components of the self:
1. Inner self: This includes your awareness of changes in your mental and emotional
states, such as moods, feelings, and sensations.
2. Outer self: This involves your senses and how you interact with the physical world.
17
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
It connects the external world to your inner self by gathering sensory information
that the inner self interprets.
Kant argued that the self organizes information in three steps:
1. Raw perceptual input
2. Recognizing concepts
3. Reproducing the information in the imagination
For Kant, the self is unified, meaning you are aware of yourself both as the
subject of your experiences and as the one who has different experiences. He concluded
that the impressions you perceive all point to one fact: the self is the subject of these
experiences.
Gilbert Ryle
Gilbert Ryle, a British philosopher, is known for
his criticism of Cartesian dualism, which separates the
mind and body into two distinct substances. Ryle rejected
this idea and argued against what he called the "ghost in the
machine"—the notion that the mind is a non-physical
substance separate from the body.
For Ryle, the self is not a separate, inner "thinking
substance" but is instead something that is expressed through actions and behavior. He
viewed the mind as a set of dispositions and abilities that are demonstrated in how
individuals act in various situations. Ryle believed that our mental states should not be seen as
hidden or separate from our bodily actions, but as part of the way we function in the world.
Therefore, the self, in Ryle's view, is essentially a pattern of behaviors that reflects the
mental processes.
18
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
Key Ideas from Ryle:
• The "Self" is not a hidden inner substance but is manifested in behavior.
• Mental states are not separate from physical actions, but rather are dispositions to act in
certain ways.
• Ryle rejects Cartesian dualism and emphasizes the unity of mind and body.
Maurice Merleau-Ponty
Maurice Merleau-Ponty, a French
phenomenologist, took a more embodied
approach to the self. He rejected the Cartesian
view of the mind as separate from the body and
argued that the self is deeply interconnected with
the body and the world around it. Merleau-Ponty
proposed that the body is not simply a passive
vessel for the mind, but an active participant in
shaping our experience of the world.
According to Merleau-Ponty, the self is formed through lived experience
and is always in a state of flux, deeply connected to perception and action. He
emphasized that we come to know the world not just through detached thinking but
through the experience of our body interacting with the world. This embodied
perception is central to the self. The self, for Merleau-Ponty, is not a fixed identity but
is constantly being shaped through the body's engagement with the world.
Key Ideas from Merleau-Ponty:
• The self is embodied and emerges through interaction with the world.
• Perception and action are central to the formation of the self.
19
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
• The mind and body are not separate but are deeply interconnected in shaping
experience.
20
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
REFEREN
CES
➢ Alata, Eden Joy, et. al., (2020) Understanding the Self. Rex Bookstore, Inc.
➢ Ang, Jaime G. (2018). Understanding the Self. Manila Mindshapers Co. Inc.
➢ Ariola, Marioano (2018). Understanding the Self. Manila: Unlimited Books,
Library Services & Publishing Inc.
21
Module in GE 3 Prof. Christine M. Adlawan
➢ Otig, V. S., Gallinero, W. B., Bataga, N. U., Salado, F. B., & Visande, J. C. (2018). A
Holistic Approach in Understanding the Self. Malabon City, Philippines: Mutya
Publishing
22
