DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE, INC.

Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City

Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

Week 4

Unit 1: Defining the Self: Personal and Developmental

Perspective on Self and Identity

Topic: The Self in Western and Eastern Thoughts

Learning Outcomes:
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”.

Concept Digest

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 lot of factors
that create differences. In the Philippines alone, each region
may have a similar or varying perception regarding the “self”.

Abstraction

There are actually a lot of sources in which you can analyze the
perspective of each culture and country about the concept of
self. You can see it in their literature like how one culture
depicts a hero or villain in their stories. You can see it in
their social organization like how they see their boss or their
subordinate. Artworks, dances, even clothing may show you clues
about the “self”.

In this lesson, we will look at religious belief and political

philosophies that greatly influenced the mindset of each nation
or culture. Since almost all the theories about the self, which
were
 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE, INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

Discussed in the previous lessons, also came from the Western

scientific research, we will highlight the Eastern thoughts in
this lesson.

First is Confucianism.

Confucianism can be seen as code of ethical conduct, of how

one should properly act according to their relationship with
other people; thus it is also focused on having a harmonious
social life (Ho 1995). Therefore, 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 (Ho 1995).
Self-cultivation is seen as the ultimate purpose of life but the
characteristics of chun-tzu, a man of virtue or noble character,
is still embedded in his social relationship (Ho 1995). 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 (Ho
1995).

The second philosophy is Taoism.

Taoism is living in the way of Tao or the universe. However,

Taoism rejects having one definition of what the Tao is, and only
one can only state clues of what it is as they adopt a free-
flowing, relatively unitary, as well as paradoxical view of
almost everything. Taoism rejects the hierarchy and strictness
brought by Confucianism and would prefer a simple lifestyle and
its teaching thus aim to describe how to attain that life (Ho
1995). 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 and thinking about the equality
as well as complementarity among humans as well other beings.

The third belief is Buddhism.

The self is seen as an illusion, born out of ignorance, of

trying to hold and control things, or human-centred needs; thus,
the self is also the source of all these suffering (Ho 1995). It
is, therefore our quest to forget 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
doing so, attain the state of Nirvana (Ho 1995).
 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE, INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

The self or the individual is not focus of the abovementioned

Asian or Eastern philosophies or beliefs. Even with the extended
discussions about how the self should work, Confucianism and
Taoism still situate the self within a bigger context. In
striving to become a better person, one does not create a self
above other people or nature but a self that us 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 the center of the picture, but from
the whole picture entirely.

Western 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 in order to be
better; you create associations and bask in the glory of the
group for your self-esteem; you pit primacy in developing
yourself. One can also describe that the Western thought looks at
the world dualities wherein you are distinct form other person,
the creator is separate from the object he created, in which the
self is distinguished an acknowledged (Wolter 2012). On the other
hand, the Eastern perspective 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 (Wolter
2012).
Several studies showed that Americans, for example, talk more
about their personal attributes when describing themselves while
Asians in general talk about their social roles or the social
situations that invoked certain traits that they deem positive
for their selves (Gleitman, Gross, and Reisberg 2011). Evaluation
of the self also differs as Americans would highlight their
personal achievement while Asians would rather keep low profile
as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that distrupt
social relationships (Gleitman, Gross, and Reisberg 2011).
The Western culture is what we call an individualistic culture
since their focus is on the person. Asian culture, on the other
hand, 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 have
loose associations or even loyalty to their groups. Competition
is the name of the game and they are more likely
straightforward and
 DAVAO CENTRAL COLLEGE, INC.
Juan dela Cruz Street, Toril, Davao City
Landline No. (082) 291 1882
Accredited by ACSCU-ACI

forceful in their communication as well as decisions making.

Eastern or oriental person look after the welfare of their groups
and values cooperation.
Westerners also emphasize more on the value of equality even if
they see that the 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. Asians, with their collectivistic
culture, put more emphasis in hierarchy as the culture wants to
keep things in harmony and order. For example, Westerners would
like to call their bosses, parents, or other seniors by their
first name. For Asians, we have respectful terms for our seniors
and lot of workers would not dare go against the high ranking
officials.