THE SELF IN EASTERN AND WESTERN
THOUGHTS
COMMON DISTINCTIONS
Eastern represents ASIA while Western
represent EUROPE and NORTH AMERICA.
CONFUCIANISM
- A code of ethical conduct, of how one should properly act according to
his/her relationship with other people
- The identity and self-concept of the individual are interwoven with the
identity and status of his/her community or culture, sharing its pride as
well as its failures.
- Self-cultivation is seen as the ultimate purpose of life but the characteristics of a
chuntzu, a man of virtue or noble character.
- The cultivated self in Confucianism is what some scholars call a “subdued self”
wherein personal needs are repressed (subdued) for the good of many, making
Confucian society also hierarchal for the purpose of maintaining order and
balance in society.
TAOISM
- Living in the way of the Tao or the universe
- Rejects having one definition of what the Tao is
- 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
- The self is not just an extension of the family or the community; it is part of the
universe.
- 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 to change,
forgetting about prejudices and egocentric ideas and thinking about equality as
well as complementarity among humans as well as other beings.
BUDDHISM
- 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.
- 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 suffering and in doing so, attain the state of Nirvana.
EASTERN THOUGHTS
- Sees the other person as part of yourself as well as the things you may
create, a drama in which everyone is interconnected with their specific roles
- Asian culture is called a collectivistic culture as the group and social
relations that is given more importance than individual needs and wants.
- Asians in general talk about their social roles or the social situations that
invoked certain traits that they deem positive for their selves.
- Asians would rather keep a low profile as promoting the self can be seen as
boastfulness that disrupts social relationships.
- Asians look after the welfare of their groups and values cooperation. They
tend to go around the bush in explaining things, hoping that the person
would “feel” what they really want to say.
Asians put more emphasis on hierarchy as the culture wants to keep things in harmony
and order.
They have respectful terms for our seniors and a lot of workers would not dare go
against the high-ranking officials.
WESTERN THOUGHTS
- Looks at the world in dualities wherein you are distinct from the other person, the creator is
separate from the object he created, in which the self is distinguished and acknowledged
- The Western culture is what we would call an individualistic culture since their focus is on
the person.
- Americans talk more about their personal attributes when describing themselves.
- They would highlight their personal achievements
- Westerners may seem loose associations or even loyalty to their groups. Competition is the
name of the game and they are more likely straightforward and forceful in their
communication as well as decision making.
- Westerners emphasize more on the value of equality even if they see that individual can
rise above everything else. Because everyone is on their own in the competition, one can
say that they also promote ideals that create “fair” competition and protect the individual.
LESSON SUMMARY
Eastern thoughts:
- Asian culture is called a collectivistic culture as the group and social relations that is
given more importance than individual needs and wants.
Western thoughts:
- The Western culture is what we would call an individualistic culture since their focus is
on the person.
