Lesson 4 Eastern and Western Concept of Self

Republic of the Philippines
CAMIGUIN POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

Balbagon 9100, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel(088)8890183
www.cpsc.edu.ph|camiguinpolytechnic@yahoo.com
LESSON 4: EASTERN AND WESTERN CONCEPT OF

SELF
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After reading and browsing this module, the students are expected to:
1. Differentiate the concept of self-according to western though against eastern/oriental
perspectives
2. Explain the concept of self as found in Asian thoughts;
3. Create a representation of the Filipino self.
LET’S BROWSE!
An individual think, feels and behaves similarly as that of the members of his or her
community. However, each community has its own standards, expectations and rules that
shapes its members. These differences are the reason people are markedly divergent. This
divergence is evident in the eastern and western concepts of the “self”.
Western Concept of Self

• They emphasized the importance of scientific methods of investigation to provide
satisfactory answers to understanding the self.
• The emphasis is individualistic rather than relational.
Eastern Concept of the Self

Eastern- also called Oriental; represents Asia
• Raise questions about the meaning of human life
• Developed theories of self as they have investigated what is means to be human
being.
• The emphasis is relational rather than the individual.
Eastern thoughts aim at the transformations in:

• Consciousness
• Emotions
• Feelings
• One’s relationship to other people and the world
Different Eastern Thoughts

1. Confucianism
• Confucianism is a system of ethics devised by the Chinese scholar K’ung-Fu-tze)
• Self is characterized by relational identity which means that a person is defined by
his/her significant relationships
• Self-cultivation/ self-realization is seen as the ultimate purpose of life.
The chun-tzu (man of virtue or noble character; commonly translated as “gentleman” or

“superior man”) is, above all, a man of self-cultivation.
To be a chun-tzu, man has to live by these principles:
• Li is the principle of self-restraint and sense of propriety. It includes following social
etiquette and mannerisms.
• Cheng means sincerity and unwavering devotion to the good.
• Hsiao is love for the immediate family and then society.
• Yi is the principle of righteousness.
• Xin is the principle of honesty in life.
• Jen is the most important of all principles. It means being kind and humane to your
fellow beings. It is about helping out others.
• Chung is loyalty to one's family and to one's country.
2. Taoism
• Taoism is a religious or philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes
living in harmony with the Tao or the Way.
• Tao denotes the principle that is the source, pattern and substance of everything that
exists.
• The self is but one of the countless manifestations of the Tao. It is an extension of the
cosmos.
• The perfect man has no self; the spiritual man has no achievement; the true sage has
no name. The ideal is thus selflessness.
• The selfless person leads a balanced life, in harmony with both nature and society.
When selflessness is attained, the distinction between "I" and "other" disappears. One
may then act with complete spontaneity.
3. Buddhism
• Comes from the root word “budh” meaning awake.
• Founded by Siddharta Gautama known as Buddha
• They believed in “Annica” which means impermanence or everything in life is
always changing, that nothing last forever.
Five Parts that Compose the Individual

1. Form- our physical form
2. Sensation- made up of our feelings -- both emotional and physical -- and our senses
-- seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, smelling.
3. Perception- means thinking -- conceptualization, cognition, reasoning.
4. Mental Formations- includes habits, prejudices, and predispositions, and volition or
willfulness
5. Consciousness- awareness of or sensitivity to an object, but without conceptualization
4. Hinduism
• The religion of ancient people known as the Aryans
• It is the oldest religion in the world.
• Law of Karma is the most important Doctrine of Hinduism
• Hindus believe that Atman being an immortal continues to be reincarnated from
lifetime to lifetime until it is freed from the cycle of rebirth and reach the state of
non- birth.
Comparative Matrix of Western and Eastern Approaches to

Understanding the Self
DIMENSION WESTERN THOUGHT EASTERN THOUGHT

FRAME OF REFERENCE There is a separation between Religion and philosophy are
philosophy and religion/spirituality intertwined
EXAMPLES OF SCHOOLS OF Scholasticism Hinduism
THOUGHT/BELIEF SYSTEMS Rationalism Buddhism
Empiricism Confucianism
phenomenology Taoism
NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Rene Confucius
Descartes, John Locke Lao Tzu
Sidharta Gautama (Buddha)
SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE Has made use of reason rather than Has trusted intuition and is
faith to purse wisdom often associated with
religious beliefs.
MODES OF COGNITION Analytic and deductive Synthetic and inductive
EMPHASIS Distinctions and oppositions Commonalities and
harmonies
VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE Linear Circular
AND LIFE
VIEW OF SELF Egocentric Sociocentric
SUBJECT-OBJECT- Duality of self-as-subject (knower) Simultaneously subject and
DISTINCTION (BIPOLAR and self-as-object (known) object (The experience of self
QUALITIES OF THE SELF) as both the knower and
known)
THEOLOGICAL VIEW Monotheistic Polytheistic (plural)
IDEAL Self-actualization through personal To achieve a balanced life
growth and find one’s role in society.
Individualism Collectivism
a. The self is a distinct an a. The self is an
autonomous entity; it is an integrated part of the
independent part of the universe and society
universe and the society.
b. Independence and self- b. Interdependence and

CULTURAL FRAMEWORK reliance over group goals. connectedness are
c. Prioritize personal goals core values.
over group goals. c. No distinctions between
d. Characterized by exchange personal group goals,
relationship. or if there is a
e. Uniqueness, sense of distinction, the
direction, purpose and personal goals are
volition are the subordinate to the
acknowledge features of group goals.
self. d. Characterized by
f. Personal success is communal
important relationship
e. Conformity and
obedience are
essential social
behaviors
f. Duty towards others
is important.
References
Eden Joy Pastor, et al. Understanding the Self. 2018

Lesson 4 Eastern and Western Concept of Self

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Lesson 4 Eastern and Western Concept of Self

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Republic of the Philippines

CAMIGUIN POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

LESSON 4: EASTERN AND WESTERN CONCEPT OF

Western Concept of Self

Eastern Concept of the Self

Eastern thoughts aim at the transformations in:

Different Eastern Thoughts

The chun-tzu (man of virtue or noble character; commonly translated as “gentleman” or

Five Parts that Compose the Individual

Comparative Matrix of Western and Eastern Approaches to

DIMENSION WESTERN THOUGHT EASTERN THOUGHT

b. Independence and self- b. Interdependence and

You might also like