THE WESTERN AND EASTERN

CONCEPTS OF SELF
WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF
“A bounded, unique, more or less integrated
motivational and cognitive universe, a dynamic
center of awareness, emotion, judgment, and
action organized into a distinctive whole and
set contrastively both against other such
wholes and against its social and natural
background”
 FOUR CATEGORIES ON HOW THE
“SELF” IS USED IN CONTEMPORARY
WESTERN DISCUSSION (FRANK
JOHNSON, 1985)
1. WESTERN SELF AS ANALYTIC
“The self as an observer separate and
distinct from external objects” (Me vs.
other)
2. WESTERN SELF AS MONOTHEISTIC
 A closed – system view of self as modeled after a
unitary and omnipotent power.
3. WESTERN SELF AS INDIVIDUALISTIC
 Self – expression and self – actualization are
important ways of establishing who one is.
 Although, the right to individual freedom
provides opportunities for self – fulfillment, it
also increases the likelihood of experiencing
alienation and frustration.
4. WESTERN SELF AS MATERIALISTIC &
RATIONALISTIC
Focused on material “things” and
favors a rational – empirical
approach over magical and
superstitious explanations of
immaterial “things”.
 Western self as an
individualistic self that is deeply
aware of itself, its uniqueness, sense
of direction, purpose and volition.
The self is also seen as “an entity
distinct from other selves and all
other entities.” This implies that the
self belongs to the individual and to
no other.
 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF
 Pre - Christian times until 1850
- Philosophical and theological
perspectives
- Concepts of soul and mind
- Physical and mental nature of man
- Causality of human behavior
 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF
THE WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF

 1850 – 1940
- Establishment of Experimental
Psychology
- From abstract concepts of soul and
mind to observable and measurable
aspects of human faculties.
 THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE
WESTERN CONCEPT OF SELF

 1940– present
- Multidirectional and continuous
development of concept of self.
 EASTERN CONCEPT OF SELF
 Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism
and Taoism
 Eastern thought is described as
pluralistic.
 HINDUISM
 Vedanta
 Two central concepts: Brahman (cosmic
soul) – the Self or the true nature of
humans & Atman (immortal soul)
 Characterizes human suffering as the
result of failure to realize the
distinction between the true self and
the non – true self.
 HINDUISM
 The law of Karma – “If you do good things,
you will be rewarded; if you do bad things,
you will be punished.”
 This works through reincarnation in which a
person goes through a cycle of death and
rebirth (samsara) which depends on the
moral quality of a previous life. Thus, it is
important for them to know and follow one’s
dharma or moral responsibilities.
 BUDDHISM
 When Siddharta Gautama travelled and
meditated in search for the answers
troubling him concerning human
suffering.
 During his meditation under the bodhi
tree, he obtained Bodhi or
enlightenment. Thus, he became the
Buddha or the Enlightened One.
 BUDDHISM
 Byfollowing the Buddha’s teachings which
are the Four Noble Truths and the
observation of the Eightfold Path, one can
attain Nirvana or the state of spiritual
enlightenment and peace.
 FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

 Life is suffering
 Suffering is caused by attachment to
desires
 Suffering can be eliminated
 Elimination of suffering is through the
Eightfold Path (right view, right
aspiration, right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right, effort, right
mindfulness and right concentration)
 CONFUCIANISM
 Analects (Conversations of Confucius)
 Golden Rule: “Do not do to others what you would not
want others to do to you”
 The basic virtue – how to act in relation to others.

 The Five Cardinal Relationships:

- ruler to ruled
- father and son
- husband and wife
- brothers
- friends
 CONFUCIANISM
An important feature in Confucian
thought is the individual’s greatest mission of
attaining self – realization wherein self –
cultivation is instrumental.

*Self – cultivation is knowing one’s role in

society and acting accordingly.
 TAOISM

 The self is described as one of the limitless

forms of the Tao (the Nature that is the
foundation of all that exists).
 Taoists believe that simplicity, spontaneity,
and harmony with nature should govern one’s
life.
 Individuals must seek to understand and act
in accordance with the natural order.