TOPIC 5: THE SELF IN WESTERN & EASTERN THOUGHTS

Dr. Jona Addatu, RGC

“One ship sails east and another sails west with the same self–wind that blow, it’s
the set of the sail and not the gale that determines the way we go. As the winds of
the sea are the ways of fate. As we voyage along through life, it’s the act of the
soul that determines the goal and not the calmness of the strife.”- Ella Wilcox

As you personally introspect on the question

“Who am I?” you might have considered
acquiescing on how various disciplines view this
question or you might find yourself groping for
more plausible thoughts about it. As you become
more fascinated, you may even possibly think of
viewing it through the eyes of others; to look at
how the great civilizations of the world – the East
and the West - have attempted to answer the same
question.

https.medium.com/@evans.fishman

The Eastern world comprises of nations in Asian while the Western world consists
of countries which are geographically located in Europe and North America. The
perceived dichotomy between the East and the West is not only geographical but
more of cultural as it encompasses differences in terms of beliefs and modes of
thinking, values and ways of life. Divergences between the two are apparent even
in terms of understanding concepts like truth, justice, and the self. You will
discharge all of these for 4 hours.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. distinguish how the self is construed according to Western and Eastern

perspectives;
2. describe the construction of the self-based on Asian thoughts; and
3. create a representation of the Filipino self.

LET’S LEARN

Do This! Individualist or Collectivist?

a. Read of the statement below and with the scale ranging from 1-9, choose
how applicable these statements are to you. Respond to each of the
statement honestly by encircling your responses.
 Statement 1-Never/ Definitely No...........9-Always/Definitely Yes
1. I'd rather depend on 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
myself than others.
2. I rely on myself most of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
the time; I rarely rely on
others.
3. I often do "my own 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
thing."
4. My personal identity, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
independent of others, is
very important to me.
5. It is important that I do 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
my job better than others.
6. Winning is everything. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
7. Competition is the law 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
of nature.
8. When another person 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
does better than I do, I get
tense and aroused.
9. If a co-student gets a 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
prize, I would feel proud.
10. My co-students’well- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
being is important to me.
11. To me, pleasure is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
spending time with others.
12. I feel good when I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
cooperate with others.
13. Parents and children 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
must stay together as much
as possible.
14. It is my duty to take 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
care of my family, even
when 1 have to sacrifice
what I want.
15. Family members 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
should stick together, no
matter what sacrifices are
required.
16. It is important to me 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
that I respect the decisions
made by my groups.
Adapted from: Triandis, H. C. & Gelfland, M. J. (1998). Converging measurement of
horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, 74, 118-128.

b. After answering all the 16 statements, sum up your responses in items 1-8
(Individualist items) and items 9-16 (Collectivist items). Higher score in
the individualist items mean you see yourself as fully autonomous; higher
score in the collectivist items imply that you see yourself as part of the
collective. You will understand more about the characteristics of the
individualists and collectivists in the succeeding discussions.

INDIVIDUALISTIC VERSUS COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS

It’s the first day of the class and everyone is excited to know everybody. John
Doe was asked by the teacher to start introducing himself in the group and he
responded by saying, “I am John Doe, a clever basketball player and trainor. I
used to live in Toronto but I moved in here for new experiences. Aside from I
enjoy dancing, I also find fulfilment in basketball coaching. In fact, I am one of
the most amateur coaches in basketball in our village”. Juan Dela Cruz on the
other hand, who was asked to do the same started his self-introduction by
exclaiming, “I am Juan Dela Cruz, a full-blooded Ilocano. I am the youngest in a
brood of five; I also love playing basketball and an avid fan of Toronto Raptors”.

If you’re on the same class as the characters above, how would you present
yourself in the group? Would you be like John Doe whose sense of individualism
is unquestionable? Or would you introduce yourself akin to that of Juan Dela
Cruz, who obviously sees himself in interdependence with others.

The aforementioned scenario captures individualistic and collectivistic

orientations toward the self which are espoused by the Western and Eastern
worldviews respectively. The individualistic perspective views the self as one that
is independent from others; it is a separate, autonomous, and distinct entity. Like
John Doe, individualists when asked to talk about themselves would prefer to
express their unique inner attributes, abilities, personal preferences and
achievements. The individualistic thought recognizes individual differences; it
tends to prize autonomy over collective wisdom and effort where the individual is
a regarded a self-made whose success and happiness do not necessarily depend on
others, not even to the society in general. On the other hand, in the collectivistic
thought, all things are seen as interdependent and inseparable parts and parcels of
the larger social world. One of the most distinguishing hallmarks of the Eastern
worldview is the awareness on unity and mutual interrelation of all things and
events in life.

The fundamental relatedness of the self to others is accentuated and people

construe themselves and ascribe meaning to their personhood by emphasizing
their social roles, group memberships or personal relations to their significant
others. Collectivists recognize that their identity and self-esteem are wrapped up
in their group and so they would more likely value promoting group harmony and
cohesion, belonging and fitting-in.

The collectivistic thought underscores that relationships with others in specific

contexts is the primordial consideration in defining the self. Reflecting back unto
the result of your activity on Individualist or Collectivist? And considering the
above discourse, what realizations do you have? Were you able to distinguish the
two orientations particularly in terms of how they view the self? Now take a look
on the table below and learn more about their notable differences particularly in
terms of their philosophies.

EASTERN AND WESTERN THOUGHTS

Western Eastern
(Greek and Judeo-Christian (Classical Indian and Chinese
Traditions) Philosophies)
Individualism/Fragmentary/Dualistic: Collectivism/Wholistic:
A human being has an individualistic A human being is an integral part of the
nature and is an independent part of the universe and the society. People are
universe and the society. More focused fundamentally connected. all events in
on the individual events and the role of the universe are interconnected
the person. Emphasis is on the “I”. (Systematic Approach). Emphasis is on
the “WE”.
Outer-world dependent: Searching Inner-world dependent: Searching
outside yourself – through research and inside yourself – through meditation
analysis and right living
Science/evidence-based culture: What Evidence is meaningless; truth is given
can be proven/measured is deemed the and does not have to be proven
truth
Man is an element of the Divine Man is a part of the cosmic unity
Life is a service (to God, money, Life is a journey towards eternal
business, etc.) realities outside the world
The journey of mankind is linear; The journey of mankind is cyclical:
everything has its beginning and end. perception of eternal recurrence (life
after death, reincarnation)
Action is not necessarily a translation The action is the extension of the mind.
of the mind.
The concept of “Me”: the true “me” is a Me- to be discovered by liberating from
part of the Divine that need not become the false “me” – attachment to the
apparent: it is given, does not have to material things
be cognizable

Construction of the Self in the Western Perspective

The Western worldview underscores the importance of the parts rather than the
whole. It suggests a fragmentary approach in understanding phenomena as it does
not subscribe to a holistic view of reality. As such, all aspects of life are explored
and analyzed not as whole but as separate parts.

Even the self is purported to be investigated and viewed as a highly

compartmentalized entity. The Western Thought maintains the individual as a
separate, self-contained individual, whose sense of self-worth is focused on
internal attributes (ability, intelligence, personality, goals, preferences, rights).
Since the West values individuality and freedom, the self as an independent
individual is given preference over the others. It does not however discredit the
role of environment and society in the development of the self but its focus is
always looking toward the self. The personal achievements of the self over the
others for instance is highlighted, thus Westerners tend to compare themselves to
the rest of the group in order to be better. Their self-esteem can in fact be verified
and confirmed through social comparison. But they can set out their own goals
regardless of whether or not these goals conform to the society’s shared goals.
Moreover, individual needs and wants are given more importance as they put
primacy in developing themselves.

From this standpoint, equality is accorded to every individual self who is regarded
as an independent being that has inalienable right to life and personal
development. Individual rights are recognized and given prominence over duties
as it is only through this where the society at large attains progress and
civilization.

The self according to Western theories was comprehensively discussed in the

preceding topics. For us to fully appreciate the self and make an objective
synthesis about it, we shall, in particular, take a brief look unto how it is explained
based on the Eastern theories. We will be examining how the self was explained
by the major philosophies of the East – Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism,
Taoism. We shall likewise explore the indigenous conceptualization of the self
based on the Filipino culture.

The Self as Embedded in the Oriental Thoughts

Understanding the propositions of the East regarding the self entails a paradigm
shift of the Western views. While its western counterpart highlights the
importance of individualism, the eastern thought values unity and harmony and
being part of the greater whole, where everything is believed to be connected and
the interdependent with others and nature. The Eastern perspective does not see
any distinction in all the things in the world; everyone is interconnected thus, the
other person is deemed part of yourself.

The self, through this holistic view, is considered a relational being whose very
existence is defined by his being blended harmoniously with the other selves, all
things and events. The self is fundamentally connected with the other selves and
is an integral part of the universe and society. In this web of interdependency,
harmony is the key. One’s conformity with shared norms and values is very
important.

Consequently, the self must place duties over rights. Individual goals are
manifested and find fulfilment in society’s shared goals. It is crucial for the self to
participate in creating harmony, and to avoid criticism, ridicule, and rejection to
gain approval and acceptance.

The Self in Hinduism

Who is the self? The self is Atman, and Atman is the innermost essence of the self
whose destiny is to be Brahma in Nirvana. Attachment of the self to the material
world (maya/illusion) leads to suffering (samsara). Reincarnation of the self is a
form of suffering because the self keeps coming back to the material-world
thinking that it is its real destiny. The self has to liberate itself from this ignorance
by cultivating an authentic knowledge (self-realization) that the self has is NOT
MAYA but ATMAN. When the self has been thoroughly cleansed from its
illusions, the self is filled with the sense of well-being, and at death, its soul is
liberated from endless rebirths (reincarnation) and join the universal spirit Brahma
and becomes one with Brahma.

The Self in Buddhism

The doctrine of non-self or annata dictates that the self is subject to the law of
changes. Everything, including the self, is always in constant change: born,
grows, and dies. The self is composed of five aggregates: natter, sensation,
perception, mental construct, and consciousness. Each aggregate is transitory in
nature. That is why there is no such thing as permanent self. Buddhism discards
the existence of the self. The idea of the self is illusory. This false belief yields
harmful thoughts of selfish desire, “me-and-mine” mentality, craving, attachment,
ill-will, hatred, conceit, pride, egoism, and any other defilements and social
problems. It is the source of all troubles in societies.

The goal of the self is to attain enlightenment by freeing oneself from ignorance
that causes suffering. To eliminate ignorance and attain enlightenment, the self
should:
1. Know the four noble truths that there is suffering in this world; the cause
of suffering is craving for self-identity as if it is permanence; there is way
out of this bondage of suffering.
2. The way to get out of suffering is by practicing the eightfold path.

The Self in Confucianism

The self is a moral and social being. Confucius was essentially concerned with
what made a good life. Good life depends on order, and order depends on good
and just government. If a ruler lives and governs virtuously, virtuous people
would obey him. Virtue consists of correct behavior, such as benevolence,
righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and loyalty.

These virtues must guide human relations, namely, (a) between ruler and people;
(b) between parents and children; (c) between husband and wife; (d) between
elder brother and younger brother; and (e) between friends and friend. A true self
is a noble man possesses all the virtues, and this noble man is called the man of
JEN.

The self is a dot in the universe and being a part of nature, the self must live in
accordance with the law of nature that rules and directs the movements of all
things. The highest achievement of every human being is being a wise person. As
a wise person, his highest achievement is affinity with the universe. The
happiness of the self is found in the self’s conformity with nature.

Confucius advocated the active role of man in relation to creating oneness with
nature. Since the self is the master of nature, his duty is to actively harmonize
himself with nature by translating the innate law of nature into action.

The Self in Taoism

As a philosophy, Taoism advocates what is natural and spontaneous, simple, and

necessary. Taoism derived its name from its central idea, Tao or the Way of
nature. Taoism, just like Confucianism aimed at humanity’s oneness with nature.
But Taoism contradicted Confucianism as regards to how oneness shall be
achieved. Taoism considers the self as merely one of the many elements of the
natural world. Tao is an indescribable force that govern natures. The self must
bring himself in harmony with Tao by practicing the three great virtues: humility,
frugality and contentment. The self should not strive for learning, riches, and
power; the self should find last thing happiness by being, quiet, thoughtful, and
humble. In other word to be able to harmonize, the self must practice the WU-WIE
or the non-interference with the natural courses of events. Most of the problems in
the world is caused by the self’s active participation in creating harmony with
nature. Too much involvement of the self in nature can lead to destruction.

Filipino Concept of the Self

Do Filipinos have their own concept of the self? Who is a Filipino? Most of our
worldviews are in common with the other oriental thoughts. But some
neighboring countries often consider the Filipino as the most westernized person
because of the captive or colonial consciousness that has long been imbued in us.
A Filipino is also multilayered because of foreign influences, such as those of
India, Indonesia, Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American which are embedded in
our culture. So how do we define a Filipino as a self?
Our understanding of the Filipino as a self must be based on the concepts of
PAGKATAO and LOOB. Pagkatao or humanities indicates the fact that a Filipino
is a human being just like anyone else. The concept of loob is exemplified by
Filipino holistic worldview and interiority (human heartedness) (Mercado, 1974).

With this nondualistic worldview, the self is seen as a body-soul embodiment.

Life is not seen as compartmentalized, the present is the continuation of the past,
and this continuity moves in a cyclic manner that has no beginning and no end
(Gulong ng Palad). A Filipino does not distinguish the subject from the object,
the person from feelings. Harmonious relationship is of prime importance; this is
maintained by the value of sensitivity. Interiority pertains to love, mercy, charity,
elemency, and leniency.

This human heartedness is mirrored in the Filipino concepts of kagandahang-

loob, kabutihang loob, kalooban, which somehow depict our interdependency
with others. They slow the social dimension of the self, sharing of the self with
others in values of pakikisama, camaraderie, hospitality, utang-na-loob,
bayanihan spirit, family-centeredness, meal-centeredness, etc.

The self, therefore, is a relational being, who thinks, acts, behaves, and decides
always in accordance with his being with others.

LET’S PRACTICE

Try This! Watch and Reflect

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Culture

 a. Watch the videoclip, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About
Culture by Saba Safdar at TEDxGuelphU which you can access at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaOJ71czAGQ.
b. The video-clip talks about cultural diversity and cultural orientation. It
discusses about individualism and collectivism and its application to self
and our relation with others, particularly in terms of giving and responding
to insult and humor.
c. Make an individual reflection by considering the speaker’s
statement:“What we find offensive, what we find funny, what we find
important in our life, what to say and what not to say reflects what culture
we come from”.

LET’S ASSESS

Check This! Draw and Explain

The Filipino in Me

Draw a unique representation of yourself which you think manifests your being a
Filipino. Briefly explain your output.

Rubrics

Exceeds Meets Approaches COMMENTS

Criterion Expectations Expectations Expectations
3 2 1
Most graphics
All graphics Some
were related to
were related to graphics were
Relevance the task and
the task and easy related to the
easy to
to understand. task.
understand.
All Graphics Graphics
used on the Most of the were made by
drawing reflect graphics used the student,
Originality exceptional on the drawing but most
degree of reflect student were based
student creativity on the ideas
creativity of others.
The drawing is The drawing is The drawing
Attractiveness exceptionally attractive in is acceptably
attractive in terms of design, attractive
terms of design, layout and though it may
layout, and neatness. be a bit
neatness. messy.