SELF REFLECTION by shan varghese (9018)

SELF REFLECTION

Self Reflection or Introspection is so important today to developing a better behavior. Self reflection helps to know the condition of life and also it helps to improve our action, if it is needed. One statement of Socrates from the studies of ancient philosophy 'know thyself' help me to think about this topic and this thought paved the way to take this simple and most complicated  Epistemological concept.  It helps to playing back memories and impressions locked within the subconscious, endeavoring to deal with them. It is anticipating one's future and how the past will react upon it, enhance or detract from it. We can called this is self-reflection. There is one reason for it, that is Observation of or meditation upon oneself or one's mind, emotions or thinking. It can be defined as using our higher consciousness to observe, review, examine and judge our thoughts and behavior and contemplate the larger order of nature, listening to the voice of our large self, not accusing others but realizing that I am always the cause of my own destiny and I have to change myself.

 In humans what is called the personal self is a compound, in which the true selfhood or atomic ray shines dimly through many screens. This causes our various mental states to be regarded as pertaining to our own individuality, though they are actually influences which flow into and out of the mind, and to which we attribute a false sense of ownership, as when we say, "I am angry," instead of "I am experiencing anger." It is the search of   the true self within us as being identical with that self in all beings. When I think about it I can defined self reflection as the inner power to going to the past memories or experiences of our life and make evaluation of my action by myself. Bhagavad Gita 2, 23-25 says, "the Self cannot be pierced by weapons or burned by fire; water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it. The Self cannot be pierced or burned, made wet or dry. It is everlasting and infinite, standing on the motionless foundations of eternity. The Self is not manifested, beyond all thought, beyond all change. Knowing this, you should not grieve." in my view it is clear in the case of self reflection because if I want to know me, I want to ask myself about the experience of mine.

Behaviorists claimed that introspection was unreliable and that the subject matter of scientific psychology should be strictly operational zed in an objective and measurable way. This then led psychology to focus on measurable behavior rather than consciousness or sensation. Cognitive psychology accepts the use of the scientific method, but often rejects introspection as a valid method of investigation for this reason, especially concerning the causes of behavior and choice. On the other hand, introspection can be considered a valid tool for the development of scientific hypotheses and theoretical models, in particular in cognitive sciences and engineering. In practice, functional goal-oriented computational modeling and computer simulation design of meta-reasoning and meta-cognition are closely connected with the introspective experiences of researchers and engineers. So self Reflection or in the words of Socrates knowing thyself is the best method and it help us to self existence and also co existence. In other words individual to community, So let's practice this method and lead a worthy life.

Source: philosophical dictionary