Summary
Highlights
Introduction to William James's 'Me' and 'I' Self00:00:23
This lesson transitions from philosophical and sociological perspectives of the self to psychological theories, specifically focusing on William James's 'Me' and 'I' concept. The objectives are to explain empirical self components, create a self-conceptualization, and share it with others.
Brief Biography of William James00:02:06
William James (1842-1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist, recognized as the father of American psychology. He established the first psychology course in the U.S. at Harvard and was a key proponent of functionalism and pragmatism.
William James's Theory of the Self: The Me and I00:03:06
James proposed the self as an empirical reality, comprising the 'Me' and the 'I'. The 'I' is the subjective self, the knower, while the 'Me' is the objective self, the known, which can be thought of as a separate object of thought. The theory emphasizes duality and the trichotomy of the 'Me' self's history and constituents.
The Duality of the 'I' as Knower and the 'Me' as Known00:04:35
James viewed the self as both a 'knower' (transcendental 'I' or pure ego) and 'known' (empirical 'Me' or objective). The 'I' is the processor of information and the thinker, representing the conscious sequence in the mind. The 'Me' is what an individual makes themselves an object of their own thinking.
The Three Empirical Selves: Material, Social, and Spiritual00:06:48
The empirical 'Me' is composed of three selves: the material, social, and spiritual. The material self includes one's body, clothes, family, home, wealth, and creations. These elicit strong emotional feelings, as losing them can feel like losing a part of oneself.
The Social Self00:09:07
The social self consists of others' images of an individual, forming one's reputation in society. It refers to how one is regarded and recognized by others, involving non-material factors like love, fame, and honor. An individual possesses multiple social selves, reflecting how different people recognize them, making it flexible and situation-dependent.
The Spiritual Self00:11:04
The spiritual self is the most intimate and subjective part, encompassing psychological abilities, dispositions, thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. It includes personality, core values, and conscience, which remain stable throughout life, making it the most enduring part of the self. These three empirical selves form a hierarchy, with the spiritual self at the top.
History of the Empirical Self: Constituents, Self-Feelings, and Self-Seeking00:12:19
The empirical self has a history, reflecting past, present, and possible future selves. This history includes the constituents of the 'Me' (empirical existence), self-feelings (emotions from appraising one's existence), and self-seeking (efforts to improve oneself based on self-knowledge and feelings). This interactive process forms a continuous cycle of self-improvement.
Conclusion and Assignment00:14:33
The discussion concludes with James's quote: 'A man's self is the sum total of all that he can call his,' encompassing physical, psychological, social, and material aspects. An assignment is given to create a collage representing one's self-concept, explaining it in five sentences.