UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

The Self in Western

and Eastern Thoughts
 Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, we should be able to:

1. Differentiate the concept of self according

to western thought against Eastern/Oriental
perspectives;
2. Explain the concept of self as found is Asian
thoughts; and
3. Create a representation of the Filipino self.
 Introduction

Different cultures and varying

environment tend to create different
perceptions of the “self” and one of
the most common distinctions between
cultures and people is the Eastern-
vs-Western dichotomy.
• Eastern represents Asia

• Western represents Europe and

America
 Further, more it must be reiterated
(repeated) that while countries who are
geographically closer to each other may share
commonalities, there are also lot of factors
that create differences. In the Philippines
alone, each region may have a similar or
varying perception regarding the “self”
Activity:
Two Sides of the Same Planet

Write top Five differences between

Western and Eastern society,
culture, and individuals.
Eastern Perspective:
Confucianism
Can be seen as a code of ethical conduct, of
how one should properly act according to their
relationship with other people; thus it is also
focused on harmonious social life (Ho 1995).
Therefore, the identity and self-concept of the
individual are interwoven (linked) with the
identity and status of his/her community or
culture, sharing its pride as well as its
failures (Ho 1995).
 Self-cultivation is seen as the ultimate purpose
of life but the characteristics of a chun-tzu, a
man of virtue or noble character, is still embedded
in his social relationships (Ho 1995). The
cultivated self in Confucianism is what some
scholars call a “subdued self” wherein personal
needs are repressed (subdued or inhibited) for the
good of many, making Confucian society also
hierarchal for the purpose of maintaining order and
balance in society (Ho 1995).
Taoism
Taoism is living in the way of the Tao or the
universe. However, Taoism rejects having of one
definition of what the Tao is, and one can only state
clues of what it is as they adopt a free-flowing,
relative, unitary, as well as paradoxical
(impossible) view of almost everything. Taoist
rejects the hierarchy and strictness brought by
Confucianism and would prefer a simple lifestyle and
its teachings thus aim to describe how to attain that
life (Ho 1995).
 The self is not just an extension of the family or
the community; it is part of the universe, one of the
forms and manifestation of the Tao.
The ideal self is selflessness but this is not
forgetting about the self, it is living a balanced-
life with the society and nature.
-being open and accepting to change
-forgetting about prejudices and egocentric ideas
-thinking about equality
• Harmony with everything
Buddhism
Adopted by various teachings caused to variation of
teachings, but the core concept remains the same.
The self is seen as an illusion, born out of
ignorance, of trying to hold and control things, or
human-centered needs; thus, the self is also the
source of all these sufferings. It is, therefore, our
quest to forget about the self, forget the cravings of
the self, break the attachments you have with the
world, and to renounce the self which is the cause of
all sufferings and in doing so, attain the state of
Nirvana.
 The self is not the focus of the above-mentioned
Eastern philosophies or beliefs.
Confucianism and Taoism situate the self within a
bigger context. To become a better person one
creates self that is beneficial to his community
as well as in order and harmony with everything
else. As for Buddhism, the self, with all its
connections and selfish ideas, is taken not just
out of the center of the picture, from the whole
picture entirely.
Western’s Perspective

Does not discount the role of environment and

society in the formation of the self but the focus is
always looking toward the self. You compare yourself
to become better; you create associations and bask
(stretch out) in the glory of that group for your
self-esteem; you put primacy in developing yourself.
• Americans (for example in the West)-talk more about
their personal attributes when describing
themselves, their personal achievements while;
• Asians(in general in the East)- talk about their
social roles or the social situations that
invoked certain traits that they deem positive
for their selves, keeping a low profile as
promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness
that disrupts social relationship. (Gleitman,
Gross, and Reisberg 2011).
• Western Culture is called an
individualistic culture since the focus is
on the person, while;

• Asian Culture is called a collectivistic

culture as the group and social relations
that is given more importance than
individual needs and wants.
• By valuing the individual, Westerners may seem to loose
association of even loyalty to their groups.
• C O M P E T I T I O N is the name of the game.

• Eastern person look after the welfare of their groups and

value C O O P E R A T I O N.
• Westerners emphasize more on the value of equality
even if they see that the individual can rise above
everything else.

• Eastern emphasis on hierarchy as the culture wants

to keep things in harmony and order.
 It must be emphasized, however, that these are
general commonalities among Western culture as
compared to Eastern cultures. In the case of the
Philippines, we can also consider the colonization
experience for the differences and similarities
with our Asian neighbors. We might also find
variation among provinces and regions due to
geographical conditions.
 With the social media, migration and
intermarriages, variety between the Western and
Eastern Perceptions may either be blurred or
highlighted. Whereas conflict is inevitable in
diversity, peace is also possible through the
understanding of where each of us is coming from.
 T H A N K Y O U !
The Self in Western and Eastern Thoughts
UNDERSTANDING THE SELF