THE WESTERN AND EASTERN

CONCEPTS OF SELF
OBJECTIVES:
After completing the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Understand the Western concept of self.
2. Enumerate and discuss the different Eastern conceptions of self.
3. Compare Eastern and Western views of the self.
4. Examine your own conceptualization of self.
 WESTERN THOUGHTS
• conducted scientific investigations in the effort to
understand the self and have developed theories and
concepts to account for the similarities and differences
among them.

• in the Western thought, the emphasis is individualistic

rather than relational.
 EASTERN THOUGHTS
• Many movements of Eastern thoughts raise questions about the ultimate
meaning of human life and have developed theories of self insofar as they
have investigated what it means to be a human being.

• Eastern thoughts aim at transformations in consciousness, feelings,

emotions, and one's relation to other people and the world.

• In the Eastern thought, the emphasis is relational rather than individual.

The self is considered not in isolation but in relation to others, society, and
the universe.

• They offer a variety of techniques for cultivating a deeper understanding

of the self, they do not utilize the scientific techniques of investigation.
 MODELS AND APPROACHES OF
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF
Dimension Western Thought Eastern Thought
Frame of Reference There is a separation between Religion and philosophy are
philosophy and intertwined.
religion/spirituality.
Examples of School of Scholasticism, Rationalism, Hinduism Buddhism
Thought/Belief System Empiricism, Phenomenology Confucianism Taoism

Notable Philosophers Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Rene Confucius Lao Tzu Siddharta
Descartes, John Locke Gautama (Buddha)

Source of Knowledge Has made use of reason rather Has trusted intuition and is often
than faith to pursue wisdom. associated with religious beliefs.

View of Self Egocentric Sociocentric

Theological View Monotheistic Polytheistic (Pluralistic)
Ideal Self-actualization through To achieve a balanced life and find
personal growth one’s role in society.
 Individualism
1. The self is a distinct and
autonomous entity; it is an
independent part of the
universe and the society.
2. Independence and
selfreliance are core values.
3. Prioritize personal goals
Cultural Framework over group goals
4. Characterized by exchange
relationship
5. Uniqueness, sense of
direction, purpose and volition
are the acknowledged features
of self.
6. Personal success is
important.
Collectivism
1. The self is an integrated
part of the universe and the
society.
2. Interdependence and
connectedness are core
values.
3. No distinctions between
personal and group goals, or
if there is a distinction, the
personal goals are
subordinate to the group
goals.
4. Characterized by
communal relationship
5. Conformity and obedience
are essential social behaviors.
6. Duty towards all others is
FOUR ANCIENT EASTERN PHILOSOPHY

Buddhism Hinduism

Confucianism Taoism
• Siddharta Gautama known as Buddha is
the founder of Buddhism.
• The root word of Buddhism is budh
meaning awake.
• To be awake may imply that when the
eyes are open, it would lead to
understanding more about the self and the
world.

• According to the teachings of Buddhism, every person has the seed of enlightenment,
hence, potential to be a Buddha. But the seed should be nurtured.

• In Buddhist philosophy, man is just a title for the summation of the five parts
(matter, sensation, perception, mental constructs, and consciousness) that compose
the individual, however each of the parts distinctly is not man.
• There is no self (or no-soul).
• There is only nothing and all else is an
illusion.
• There is nothing permanent, but change.

• In Buddhism, anicca (impermanence) means that everything in life is always

changing, that nothing lasts forever.
• The ignorance of the impermanence of everything may lead to an illusion of
selfhood.
• The ideal is to experience Nirvana, a state of transcendence devoid of self-
reference.
• This state of transcendence can be achieved through meditation
• The goal of man is to have a knowledge of the true reality – Brahman
• Law of karma is the most important doctrine of Hinduism.
• All actions are subject to karma.
Also known as the law of cause and effect, the great law is what comes to
mind for many people when consider what karma means. It states that
whatever thoughts or energy we put out, we get back—good or bad

• Hindus believe that Atman being an immortal

soul continues to be reincarnated from lifetime to
lifetime until it is freed from the cycle of rebirth
and reach a state of nirvana or non-birth.
• Karma does not end with a body’s death, so its
influence may extend through incarnation of the
soul.
CONFUCIANISM
•The core of Confucian thought is the Golden Rule or the principle of reciprocity:
“Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you”.
• Another important feature in Confucian
thought is the individual’s greatest mission
of attaining self-realization wherein self-
cultivation is instrumental.
• Self-cultivation could be accomplished by
knowing one’s role in the society and act
accordingly.

• Moral character is perfected through continuously taking every opportunity to

improve oneself in thought and action.
• To them, the self is an
extension of the cosmos,
not of social relationships.
• The self is described as
one of the limitless forms
of the Tao.
• The Tao is commonly
regarded as Nature that is
the foundation of all that
exists.
• It is not bounded by
time and space.
• The ideal is to identify
with the Tao.
• The perfect man has no
self.
• The selfless person
Taoism leads to a balanced life,
in harmony with both
nature and society.
• Taoists believe that
simplicity, spontaneity,
and harmony with nature
should govern one’s life.
• There should be unity
and harmony among
opposing elements: the
Yin and Yang.