Reviewer 4

The Self In Western

And Oriental/Eastern Thought
INDIVIDUALISTIC SELF
• Through the process of introspection and reflection, a man decides to search for his purpose
in life and the role he plays in this world.
• A person who makes most of his life, enters the world with the life he chooses, makes decisions,
acts on those choices and assumes full responsibility for the consequences is called an
individualistic self

An individualistic self:
• Is aware that he is not alone and exists with others.
• Sees himself as free to live his own life, to do
things that he loves, to make mistakes and to learn from it.
• Is aware of his rights and limitations of his freedom.
• Sets goals and works hard to achieve them
• Independence and self-reliance form development of the self in
Western cultures.

COLLECTIVE SELF
• The cultures of the East are focuses with the collective self of individuals.
• Family and society regulate how members of the community in society can think , act, and behave
• Group members depend on each other.

Collective selves:
• Establish strong bonds with their families.
• Are bound by the customs, beliefs and tradition of the group.
• In society, collectivism fosters nationalistic attitude as what the group believes.
• In contemporary society, individualistic as well as collective self may occur in an individual as a
result influences and intermarriages between East and West people.

The self in Western thought:

• Plays a central role in almost all perspectives of intellectual inquiry.
• Has been an area of interest by the French and English philosophers.
• Ecological self sees the self as a process that is undergoing development.
• Factors that influence self-development:
• Human and biological and environmental characteristics such as
• Race
• Gender
• Social status
• Education
• Culture
• Self is viewed as complex, distinctive and special and exposed to an
ever- changing environment.
DESCARTES “I think, therefore I
• Self exists regardless of his environment. am”
• The cognitive foundation of the thoughts of the individual is evidence of the self-existence.

KANT
• Self is capable of actions that entities it to have rights as an autonomous agent
• This then encouraged human rights to be accepted as critical in the expression of individual freedom.

THE SELF IN CONFUCIAN THOUGHT

CONFUCIUS – the name for which Kong Zhongi of China was known in
the West.

• Confucius was born in Zhou dynasty period in 551 BCE in small state of
Lu.
• Grew up poor even though he descended from a scholarly family
• Zhou dynasty was characterized by political, social and moral
disintegration in China.

• Confucius’ philosophy came to be known as humanistic

social philosophy which focuses on human beings and the society he
finds himself in.

“
“That although the way of humans is grounded in the way of heaven and operates in harmony with the
way of nature, it is to the ideals of the human way that people must turn for guidance in reforming and
renewing society.”

CONFUCIUS

REN
The philosophical concept of Confucianism is centered on ren which manifested through:

• Li (propriety)
• Xiao (filiality)
• Yi (rightness)

Ren can be understood as human goodness which makes human beings different from beasts.

• Confucius believed that ren is a reflection of the person’s own understanding of humanity.
• It is found within each person, guides human actions, and makes life worth living.
 LI (PROPRIETY)
Rules of propriety should be followed in order to guide human actions.
Such rules involve adherence to the rituals of the community:
• Customs
• Ceremonies
• Traditions
REN (LI) • The rule forms the basis for the li that human practice has persisted and strengthened over
generations.

XIAO (FILIALITY)
• Xiao is the virtue of reverence and respect for family.
• Appreciation for parents and families is shown by giving glory to the family,
making something of itself worthy of respect for others.
• Relationships that exist in the family reflect how the person relates to others.
REN • Family is the reflection of a person.
• How the person interacts socially and how values act can be traced back to
(Xiao) the family environment that forms the basis of the moral and social virtue of
the individual.

REN (Yi)
Rightness
• It is the right way of behaving.
• Unconditional and absolute.
• Right is right and what is not right is wrong.
• There are no gray areas.
• Actions must be done because they are the right actions.

REN THROUGH LI, XIAO AND YI

• Li, Xiao and Yi are virtues observed in a person whose humanity is developed, morally cultivated and
aware.
• According to Confucianism, virtuous people result in a well-rounded, civilized, humane society.