AÑONUEVO, KRISTINE MAE MUSA

BSN-1B
Understanding the Self

Knowing oneself is critical to being an effective person as well as being successful in life, work,
and relationships. Your personal identity influences everything you do, and it changes and
evolves over time. Can one truly know the self? State and explain your answer. Choose a
philosopher's philosophy mentioned in this module as a basis and be able to share a personal
story or interesting experience. You can talk about your family, career, or your goals and dreams.

- Socrates famously said that “The true task of a philosopher is to know oneself”. Looking
back at the day I was born, I wasn't crying. My umbilical cord was wrapped around my
neck. My body is violet, and there's no heartbeat or any sign of life that can be seen.
Thanks to my aunt, who was the midwife at the time, she brought back my life. I did get
my name, Kristine Mae, from her name (Ma. Cristina), to honor her for doing her best to
revive me. If you think about it, it's like this is my second life. I always ask myself, Why
am I alive? Why am I here when, in the first place, I'm already dead? But as I get older,
slowly, I've come to realize that maybe because I was given this chance to live this life
again, it is because I should find out who I really am and what I will become. As time
passes, I get to know who I truly am, which is really important for my growth and
development.

End of Module Assessment

1. Socrates
Do you agree that there is a difference between the body and the soul? Explain your
answer.
- I agree that there is a difference between the body and soul. According to
Socrates, the soul is unchanging, eternal, and immortal. It has no origin outside
itself and cannot be destroyed. To put it breifly, the soul is perfect and permanent.
While the body, on the other hand, is changeable, transient, and imperfect. In
other terms, the body is imperfect and impermanent.
2. Plato
What happens to a person whose 3 components of the soul are imbalanced?
- It is believed by Plato that when the three components of the soul are imbalanced,
it is the responsibility of our rational to sort things out and exert control, restoring
balance among the three components of ourselves.
 3. St. Augustine, St. Thomas and Descartes
Do you agree with the statements about the self (body and soul) so far?
- I concur with their statements. The views of the self and the relationship between
the body and the soul were different among these philosophers. Augustine and
Aquinas leaned towards integration, seeing the soul and body as interconnected in
different ways, while Descartes advocated for clear distinction, emphasizing the
primacy of the thinking mind over the body. Their philosophical, religious, and
cultural backgrounds are reflected in their differing views.
4. Hume and Kant
Do you agree that everything starts with perceptions and the mind regulates these
impressions?
- I do agree that perceptions are the foundation of all thought, and that the mind
controls these perceptions through idealism and empiricism. It makes sense to me
to say that sensory experience is the basis of all of our knowledge because it can
be seen, heard, and felt, which makes it more persuasive. These feelings cannot be
controlled without the mind.
5. Ryle
What does it mean to you in Ryle's statement "what truly matters is the behavior that a
person manifests in his day-to-day life"?
- Ryle's statement to me indicates that our actions are more reliable indicators of
who we really are, and personality than trying to infer from the inner mental state
alone.

Activity Who Am I

Do you truly know yourself?

Answer the following questions about yourself as fully and precisely as you can.

1. How would you characterize yourself? (Give 5 adjective that best describe you)
- Shy
- Cautious
- Respectful
- Compassionate
- Dependable
2. What makes you stand out from the rest?
- What makes me stand out from the rest are my unique qualities, such as having
strong determination, dedication, and empathy for others, as well as the
experiences in life and perspectives that define me.
3. What makes yourself special?
- I believe that each one of us is special in our own little ways. I am special because
I am unique. My experiences, qualities, and perspectives in life differ from others
making me unlike anyone else.
4. What are you most interested in?
- I am mostly interested in how our bodies work, which is why I took up nursing.
Aside from that, taking care of others, providing my practical skills, and
providing support to them makes my heart full.
5. What is important or really matters to you? Explain your answer.
- At my core, I'm driven by a dual passion – the search for my life's purpose and
understanding my true self. These endeavors guide my choices and bring meaning
to my life. Equally profound is my love for my family, who have made countless
sacrifices and offered unwavering support to shape the person I've become. I'm
determined to give back to them as a testament to my deep gratitude for their
efforts in placing me where I am today. These twin pursuits, self-discovery and
family appreciation, define my journey and aspirations in life.