Self-knowledge 1941913 224593031 2008-07-09T15:50:55Z Eduardopinheiro 7429305 '''Self-knowledge''' describes ideas pertaining to [[psychology]], [[philosophy]] and [[mysticism]]. In the [[psycology|psychological]] sense it is the idea of a [[self-aware]] [[person]] understanding himself (in all ways, but mostly in a wider biographical or [[emotional]] sense). In [[philosophy]] it is the concept of a [[mind]] knowing itself (realizing its nature) or simply, in what is called "basic self-knowledge", the thinker's capacity of directly knowing his own thoughts. [[Mysticism]] sometimes uses this word to describe the pursuing, or the experience of, direct contact with the [[Self (spirituality)|self]]. == Self-Knowledge and Social Psychology == [[William James]] (1842-1910) described a duality of our [[self-perception]]. The self is composed of our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and is referred to as the “known”, the “me”, the “knower”, or the “I”. We also refer to our [[self-perception]] as the [[self-concept]] and [[self-awareness]], which contributes to two factors that help create our sense of identity. == Knowing the Self through Introspection == [[Introspection]] is the process by which someone forms beliefs about their own mental states. We might form the belief that someone else is happy on the basis of perception, for example, by perceiving their behavior. But a person typically does not have to observe their own behavior in order to determine whether they are happy. Rather, one makes this determination by introspecting. Though the term “introspection” literally means “looking within” (from the Latin “spicere” meaning “to look” and “intra” meaning “within”), whether introspecting should be treated analogously to looking – that is, whether introspection is a form of inner perception – is debatable. Philosophers have offered both observational and non-observational accounts of [[introspection]]. == Using Other People to Know Ourselves == The [[self-concept]] is not solely created by our own knowledge, but also how the self is molded by social contact. When interacting with others around us, we compare our own abilities and attitudes—illustrating the [[social comparison theory]]. == Self-knowledge and Epistemology == Self-knowledge distinguishes itself from knowledge of other things (exterior to the individual) because it is ''imediate'', in the sense that it does not depend on [[evidence]]s. We can say self-knowledge is the result of [[introspection]]. The individual has [[priviledged access]] to his own [[thoughts]], that is, knows his own thoughts in a way others usually don't. Priviledged access is the distinctive feature of [[first person authority]], since what someone sincerely claims to be thinking should often be taken as what he is in fact thinking. On the other hand, claims about the thoughts of others do not hold such kind of authority. ==See also== * [[Introspection]] * [[Know thyself]] * [[Cogito ergo sum]] * [[Jnana|Self-realization]] * [[Self-perception]] * [[Self-awareness]] * [[Self-concept]] * [[Social Psychology (psychology)]] == References == *Aronson, E., Wilson, T. & Akert, R., Social Psychology (6th edition). 2005. *Jopling, David A. 2000. Self-knowledge and the self. London & New York: Routledge. == External links == * [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/self-knowledge/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Self-Knowledge] * [http://www.selfknowledge.org/home/index.htm Self Knowledge Symposium] * [http://eselfgrowth.com eSelfGrowth.com] * [http://www.seek2know.net Self-knowledge and Nature of Reality by Susmita Barua] * [http://selfknowledge.com/index.shtml Self-Knowledge Vocabulary in Classic Literature] [[Category:Self]] [[Category:Spiritual faculties]] [[Category:Epistemology]] [[ca:Autoconeixement]] [[hu:Önismeret]] [[nl:Zelfkennis]] [[pt:Autoconhecimento]] [[sv:Självkännedom]]