THE SELF IN

WESTERN
AND
EASTERN
THOUGHTS
ng the Self
Understandi

Understanding the Self

LEARNING OBJECTIVES;

1.Differentiate the concept of self according to Western

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

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
 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 wherein
Eastern represents Asia and Western represents
Europe and Northern America. It must be understood
that this distinction and the countries included was
politically colored at the time that aforementioned
concepts were accepted and used in the social
sciences. Furthermore, it must be reiterated that while
countries who are geographically closer to each other
may share commonalities, there are also a lot of
factors that create differences. In the Philippines
alone, each refion may have a similar or varying
perception the self.
Understanding the Self
Jens Martensson
4 ACTIVITY
TWO SIDES OF THE
SAME PLANET WESTERN
EASTERN

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
ABSTRACTION
EASTERN THOUGHTS OF
SELF

• CONFUCIANISM
-Code of conduct, of how one should properly act
according to their relationship with other people
harmonious social life (Ho 1995).
• Self- cultivation is a 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/her social relationship.

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson 5
 ABSTRACTION
6 EASTERN THOUGHTS OF
SELF

• CONFUCIANISM
-The cultivated self is a “subdued self”. It is
conditioned to respond to perceptions, not of its
own needs and aspirations, but of Social
Requirements and Obligations wherein the
personal needs are repressed for the good of
many, making Confucian society also hierarchical
for the purpose of maintaining order and balance
in society.

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
 ABSTRACTION
7 EASTERN THOUGHTS OF
SELF

• TAOISM
-It is living in the way of the Tao or the universe.
However, Taoism rejects having one definition of
what the Tao is.
• The self is not just an extension of the family or
the community; it is part of the universe, one of
the forms and manifestations of the Tao.
• The ideal self is SELFLESSNESS but this is not
forgetting about the self, it is living a balanced-
life with society and nature, being open and
accepting the change.

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
 ABSTRACTION
8 EASTERN THOUGHTS OF
SELF
• BUDDHISM
- The self is seen as an illusion, born out of
ignorance, of trying to hold and control things,
or human-centeredness, thus the self is also the
source of all these suffering;
- It is therefore our quest 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
suffering and in doing so attain the state of
Nirvana.

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
 ABSTRACTION
9 EASTERN THOUGHTS OF
SELF
• Confucianism and Taoism
-The person, in striving to a better person, does
not create a self above the other people or nature
but a self that is beneficial to his/her community
as well as in order and in harmony with
everything else.
• As for Buddhism, the self, with all its
connections and selfish ideas, is totally taken ,
not just out of the center of the picture, but out
of the whole picture as a whole.

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson
VIDEO SLIDE
The western culture is what we would call an individualistic culture since their focus is on the
person.

Asian culture is called collectivistic culture as a group and social relations that is given more
importance than individual needs and wants.

Eastern or oriental persons look after the welfare of their groups and values cooperation.
They would also be more compromising and they tend to group around the bush in explaining
things, hoping that the other person would "feel" what they really want to say.
• Western also emphasize more on the value of equality even if they see that the individual
can rise above everything else.
• Asians with their collectivistic culture, put more emphasis on hierarchy as the culture
wants to keep things in harmony and order. (Qingxue 2003)
• Western could most likely to call their boss, parents, or other seniors by their first name.
Understanding the Self
Jens Martensson
AS FOR THE PHILIPPINES

Filipino can also consider the colonization experience for differences and similarities with out
asian neighbors.
• We might also find variation among provinces and regions due to geographical conditions.
• With the social media, migration, intermarriages, variety between the western and asian
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.

Jens Martensson
 THE SELF IN WESTERN
AND
EASTERN THOUGHTS

ng the Self
Understandi

Understanding the Self

Jens Martensson