THE SELF in

WESTERN and
EASTERN
THOUGHTS
Dian N. Olango, LPT
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

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

INTRODUCTION

● Different cultures and varying environment tend

to create different perceptions of the “self”
● Eastern represents Asia
● Western represents Europe and Northern America
● Artworks, dances, even clothing may how you
clues about the “self”
CONFUCIANISM
● As a code of ethical conduct
● How one should properly act according to their relationship
with other people
● It is also focused on having a harmonious social life

● Therefore, the identity and self-concept of the individual

are interwoven with the identity and status of his/her
community of culture, sharing its pride as well as its failures
CONFUCIANISM

● Self-cultivation is seen as the ultimate purpose of

life but the characteristics of a chun-tzu
- A man of virtue or noble character, is still
emedded in his social relationships

• “subdued self” wherein personal needs are

repressed for the good of many
CONFUCIANISM

● The purpose is to maintain order and

balance in the society
TAOISM

● Is living in a way of the TAO or the universe

● They adopt a free-flowing, relative, unitary as well
as a paradoxical view of almost everything
● They prefer a simple lifestyle and its teachings
thus aim to describe how to attain that life.
TAOISM
● The self is not just an extension of the family or the
community; it is a 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 balanced-life with society and nature
● Being open and accepting to change, forgetting about
prejudices and egocentric ideas and thinking about equality
TAOISM

● In this way, you will be able to act

spontaneously because you will not be
restricted by some legalistic standards but
because you are in harmony with
everything
BUDDHISM

● 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 the source of all these
sufferings
BUDDHISM

● Therefore, our quest is 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
WESTERN VS. EASTERN

● WESTERN THOUGHT 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 self is
distinguished and acknowledge
WESTERN VS. EASTERN

● EASTERN PERSPECTIVE sees the other

person as part of yourself as well as the
things you create, a drama in which
everyone is interconnected with their
specific roles.
WESTERN VS. EASTERN

● WESTERN CULTURE is what we call an

individualistic culture since their focus is the
person
● EASTERN/ASIAN CULTURE is called as collectivistic
culture as the group and social relations are given
more importance than the individual needs and
wants
If you want to further
understand the three (3)
Teachings, please use this
link.

● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfOMhx3cj8
ACTIVITY NO. 3
● WRITE TOP FIVE (5) DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WESTERN
AND EASTERN SOCIETY, CULTURE AND INDIVIDUALS
● EXPLAIN THE FACTORS THAT MAKE THE PHILLIPINES
SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT FROM ITS ASIAN NEIGHBORS.
● EXPLAIN IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGIONS
AND ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUPS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Deadline: September 10, 2020 until 11:59PM

 ASSIGNMENT NO.4
● WRITE THE ANSWERS ON THE MICROSOFT WORD
● COMPLETE THE SENTENCES
1. For me, beauty means?
2. A beautiful/handsome person is?
3. I am beautiful/handsome because?
4. List down names of people (5) you know are
beautiful

Deadline: September 9, 2020 (Wednesday)

 THANK YOU!
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