The Concept of Self and Consciousness – CUET PG Philosophy – Notes

The Concept of Self and No-self

The question “Who am I?” is one of the most fundamental inquiries in philosophy. It probes the nature of our own existence, seeking to understand the entity we refer to as “I” or “self.” This exploration branches into two major, and largely opposing, traditions: those that affirm the existence of a substantial, enduring self (Atman) and those that deny it, proposing instead a concept of no-self (Anātman/Anattā).

Theories Affirming the Self (Atman/Soul)

Many philosophical systems, both in the West and the East, posit that there is a core essence to a person that persists through time and change. This essence is often described as a soul, a mind, or pure consciousness.

Plato’s Immortal Soul:

For Plato, the self is an immaterial and immortal soul that is distinct from the physical body. He believed the soul existed before its incarnation in a body and will continue to exist after the body’s death. The body is seen as a temporary prison for the soul. Plato famously articulated a tripartite theory of the soul, dividing it into three parts:

• Reason (Logos): The rational part, which seeks truth and knowledge. It is the highest part of the soul and should rule the others.
• Spirit (Thymos): The emotional part, responsible for feelings like anger, courage, and pride. It acts as an ally to Reason.
• Appetite (Eros): The desiderative part, which encompasses our bodily urges for food, drink, and sex.

A just and virtuous person, according to Plato, is one where Reason, guided by the Forms (especially the Form of the Good), governs the Spirit and Appetites in harmony.

Descartes’ Thinking Self (Res Cogitans):

In the modern Western tradition, René Descartes provided a foundational argument for the self as a non-physical substance. Through his method of radical doubt, Descartes sought to find an indubitable truth. He found he could doubt the existence of his body and the external world, but he could not doubt that he was doubting. Since doubting is a form of thinking, he concluded, “Cogito, ergo sum” – “I think, therefore I am.”

For Descartes, the “I” that is proven to exist is a res cogitans, or a thinking thing. This self is a pure mind or consciousness, entirely distinct from the physical body, which he called res extensa (extended thing). This position is known as substance dualism, as it posits two fundamentally different kinds of substances in the universe: mental and physical. The self is identical with this non-physical, thinking substance.

Radical Doubt → I doubt, therefore I think → I think, therefore I am (Cogito, ergo sum) → The self is a thinking substance (Res Cogitans)