Lesson 4:
The Self in Western and
Eastern thoughts
Eastern- Asia
Western- Europe and Northern America
In the Philippines alone each region may have a
similar varying perception regarding the self
Confucianism- code of
ethical conduct,
on how one should properly
act
according to their
relationship with
other people;
It is also focused on having a
harmonious social life (Ho
1995)
Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and
ethical philosophy rather than a religion. In fact, Confucianism
built on an ancient religious foundation to establish the social
values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese
society.
The worldly concern of Confucianism rests upon the belief that
human beings are fundamentally good, and teachable,
improvable, and perfectible through personal and communal
endeavor, especially self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucian
thought focuses on the cultivation of virtue in a morally
organized world.
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 (Ho 1995).
They prefer simple lifestyle and able to act
spontaneously.
Chun-tzu- a
man of virtue
or noble
character
Still embedded in his social relationships (Ho
1995)
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- second
philosophy. Taoism
is living in the way
of the Tao or the
universe
Rejects having 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
view of almost everything.
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
Taoism (also known as Daoism) is a Chinese
philosophy attributed to Lao Tzu (c. 500 BCE)
which contributed to the folk religion of the
people primarily in the rural areas of China and
became the official religion of the country under
the Tang Dynasty. Taoism is therefore both a
philosophy and a religion.
The self –is not just an extension of the family or 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, bring
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-third
philosopher
The self is seen as an
illusion, born out of
ignorance, of trying to
hold and control things,
or human-centered needs;
The self is also the source
of all these sufferings
It is self-cultivated.
It is therefore, our
quest to forget about the self,
forget the carvings 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
Confucianism and Taoism still situate the self within bigger
context. In striving to become a better person, one does not
create a self above other people or nature but self that is
beneficial to his community as well as in order and harmony
with everything else.
As Buddhism, the self with all its connections and selfish ideas,
is taken not just out of the center of the picture, but from the
whole picture entirely
Western Eastern
Democracy, rational thinking -More collectivist
Individualist -sees the other person
Looking toward the self as part of yourself as
Compare self in order to be well as the things
better you may create, a drama
Put privacy in developing self in which everyone is
Dualities where in you are distinct interconnected with their
From other person specific roles
Western thought looks Eastern perspective sees the
at the world in dualities
other person as part yourself as
wherein you are distinct
from the other person,
well as things you may create,
The creator is separate
a drama in which everyone is
from the object he interconnected with specific
created, in which self is roles
distinguished and
acknowledge.
Americans talk more Asians in general talk about their
about their personal social roles or the social situations
attributes when that invoked certain traits that they
deem positive for their selves
describing themselves
Asians rather keep a low profile as
American highlight their promoting the self can be seen as
personal achievements boastfulness that disrupts social
relationship
Western culture is what we would
call an individualistic culture since
their focus is on the person.
By valuing the individual,
Westerners may seem to have Asian culture called a
loose associations or even loyalty collectivistic culture as the
to their group group and social relations that
Competition is the name of the is given more importance than
game and they are more likely individual needs and wants
straightforward and forceful in
their communication as well as
decision making.
Westerners also
emphasizes more on
Eastern or oriental persons look
value of equality even if
after the welfare of their groups
they see that the
and values cooperation.
individual can rise above
They would also be more
everything else. Because
compromising and they tend to go
everyone is on their own
around the bush in explaining
competition
things, hoping that the other person
One can say that they
would feel what they really want to
also promote ideals that say
create “fair” competition
and protect the
individual.
Westerners would most
likely call their bosses, Asians, with their collectivistic
parents or other senior culture, put more emphasis on
by their first name. hierarchy as the culture wants to
The boss can also be keep things in harmony and order
For Asians, we have respectful
approached head-on
terms for our seniors and lot of
when conflicts or
workers would not dare go
problems about arises.
against the high-ranking officials
It must be emphasized, however, that these are general
commonalities among Western cultures as compared to
Asian or Oriental cultures. In case of the Philippines, we
can also consider the colonization experience for
differences and similarities with our Asian neighbours. We
might also find variation among provinces and regions due
to geographical conditions
With the social media, migration, and intermarriages,
variety between he 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
