Ask AI: For Socrates, what is his philosophical perspective of "self".

Socrates, the classical Greek philosopher, made significant contributions to philosophy, particularly in the area of ethics. However, he never pen down his ideas and teachings, they were primarily recorded by his students, especially Plato. According to Socrates, self-knowledge is the foundation of all knowledge. He famously aphorized, "Know thyself". For him, the "self" is an individual’s soul or psyche. He believed that the soul is immortal and that what we call 'learning' is actually just remembering what our soul knew before it was embodied. His concept of self emphasizes on moral virtue and introspection. He upheld that the ultimate objective of human life is the welfare of the soul, which means to be virtuous. Virtue is the highest form of excellence and to attain it, one must examine their life and actions critically. In conclusion, Socrates viewed the "self" not just as a physical or earthly entity, but as a moral soul that seeks wisdom and virtue. Thus, the Socratic perspective encourages self-discovery, critical reflection, and constant self-improvement.