The Western &

Eastern Thoughts
About The Self
EMMANUEL R. SANTOS, LPT, MBA
TEACHER
 Nota bene: This Instructional material (IM) is not
entirely written by the course specialist but is just a
compilation of reading materials only for purposes of
research and study of the course UNDERSTANDING
THE SELF. The attached materials are credited to the
author of said articles as properly acknowledged in
the parenthetical citation, relevant links in the slides
and reference page. This material is not for sale.
Students are not allowed to reproduce or duplicate
the same. For strict confidentiality and compliance.
At the end of the lesson, you will be
able to:

 Differentiate the concept of self according to Western thought

against Eastern perspective

 Explain the concept of self based on Asian thoughts

 Examine the Filipino self and construct one’s own representation of

the Filipino self
Introduction
 Different culture 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 represent Asia and
Western represent Europe and North
America.
 It must be noted that some countries
who are geographically close to
each other may share
commonalities, there are also a lot
of factors that create differences. In
the Philippines alone, each region
may have a similar or varying
concepts about the “self”. https://www.globalfromasia.com/east-west-differences/
(Alata, et Al 2019)
Introduction

 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 discussed in
the previous lessons, also came
from Western scientific research,
we will highlight the Eastern
thoughts in this lesson.
(Alata et. Al, 2019)

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-
vector/religious-symbols-114874192
Western Thought

 The “self” based on Western

thought is focused on
individualism. People view the
“self” as autonomous relative to
others and the environment,
stressing separateness from the
social world.
 In Western beliefs, people tend to
think that we are separate and
unique from each other. What one
person does or experiences is
completely independent of other
people and the world at large. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-individualistic-
cultures-2795273
(Walter 2013, Page & Berkow, 1991)
Eastern Thought

https://family.lovetoknow.com/chinese-family-values

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78haKZhEqcg

 The self in Eastern cultures is

dominated by the “we” idea, that
the self is part of a larger network
of people who all help shape
each other.
https://focusedcollection.com/212427560/stock-photo-young-happy-asian-family-praying.html
Eastern Religious
View of the “Self”
Hinduism
 It is a major religion common in the
south Asian countries like India
and Sri Lanka.
 Just like Christianity, Hinduism has
many different branches with
varying principles.
 To help understand the Hindu view
of the self, two important
concepts must be recognized:
1. the BRAHMAN (considered as the
sacred, the god spirit or the
universe) and
2. the ATMAN (which is the human
soul or the self). https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism
Hinduism
 The Hindu belief states that each time a
person dies and is reborn, it comes
closer to Brahman.
 Eventually, when the person completes
the cycle of reincarnation, they stop
being reborn and are fully reunited with
Brahman.
 While we have the tendency to think
about our “self” today or tomorrow, the
Hindus think in terms of centuries and
lifetimes.
 The “self” in Hinduism is just a part of a
larger whole (the Brahman), which
embodies everything. The Atman of the
self is tied to everything.
http://emilywheelershistorywebpage.weebly.com/brahman.html
Buddhism

 Buddhism is a common Eastern religion and

philosophy where the self is often thought of
as an illusion.
 There are two concepts that are agreed on
in most Buddhist branches: the ideas of
INTERCONNECTEDNESS and a LACK OF SELF.
 INTERCONNECTEDNESS simply means that
everything is connected.
 To Buddhists, humans are just a stream of
consciousness and not a separate entity.
 Our interconnection with each other
eliminates the idea that there is us and
there is others.
https://www.noted.co.nz/culture/culture-books/why-buddhism-is-true-robert-wright-secularist-perspective
Buddhism

 Humans are just a single part of a larger

whole.
 Alone, we are nothing but a thought,
interconnected with everything else.
 Since the self is an illusion, we should
therefore forget about the self, the cravings
of the self, and its attachment to human-
centered desires, which ultimately cause
suffering.
 In doing so, one can attain the highest state
called NIRVANA, a place of perfect peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMM-pfkNl6I
and happiness akin to HEAVEN. (Walter,2013, No
author,2001)
Confucianism

 Does not teach the worship of any

particular deity (Yao,1996)
 Instead, it is focused more on
human behavior, causing many
scholars to consider it more of an
ethical system or a code of
conduct rather than a religion.
 A human being is seen as a social
being, whose personality is not
inherently existing, but is being
formed through upbringing and
environment (Fung, 2014)
https://www.ancient.eu/Confucius/
Confucianism

 In essence, the self will develop

through the practice of the virtues
of compassion, righteousness,
propriety and wisdom to bring
harmony to family, community
and empire.
 Self-cultivation is our supreme
goal-any person is a “gentleman”
if his or her conduct is noble and
unselfish. This is the characteristic
of CHUN-TZU, a man of virtue or
noble character. (Ho, 1995)

http://cavemengo.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-class.html
Taoism

 It is an ancient Chinese philosophy

that stresses the importance of
living simply and honestly and in
harmony with nature. (Ho, 1995)
 Due to its focus on harmony and
proper way to live, it is often
referred to as the Way.

https://gohighbrow.com/philosophy-of-taoism/
Taoism

 Three of most important tenets of https://thriveglobal.com/stories/wu-wei-lao-tzu-s-

wisdom/
Taoism are:
1. The First Principle
2. The Yin-Yang classification
3. The Wu Wei concept

http://ginkgoacupuncture.blogspot.com/2018/05/wu-
wei-action-less-action.html

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/montville/events/taoism-
yin-and-yan-wu-wei-and-the-founding-philo-6
In a nutshell…
WESTERN EASTERN

Individualistic culture Collectivistic culture

since their focus is on since the group and
the person and social relations are given
individual needs and importance.
wants.
https://www.ulatus.com/translation-blog/conducting-business-between-eastern-and-western-cultures/

Values competition and Values cooperation and

is straightforward when tends to go around the
communicating with bush when exploring
others. things to others.

Emphasizes equality Emphasizes on hierarchy

even if the individual is as the culture wants to
seen to rise above keep things in harmony
everything else. and in order
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/411164640953111201/
Source: Cruz, B, 2018. Understanding the Self. JTCA Publishing: Paranaque City
More concepts of East vs West

https://pediaa.com/difference-between-eastern-and-western-culture/
https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2015/12/25/what-
world-most-wants-west-love-east-health (Will Dahlgreen, 2015)
 High Context vs Low Context Culture

High and low context cultures refer to the

value cultures place on direct and indirect
communication.

An individual with a low context orientation

values direct communication and believes
people should “say what they mean and
mean what they say”. The United States and
Australia are often highlighted as low context
cultures.

A person with high context orientation pays

attention to what isn’t said as much as what
is said and a great deal of attention is put on
where people are seated, how people are
dressed, and reading between the lines.
Asian, African, central European and Latin
American cultures are generally considered
to be high-context cultures.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-we-move-beyond-high-low-context-cultural-tanya-finnie/ https://historyplex.com/difference-between-high-context-low-context-cultures
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-we-move-beyond-high-low-context-cultural-tanya-finnie/
PETA 4

What characteristics/practices do you wish to adapt from

“western thoughts” and “eastern thoughts”?

Create your own list with a simple explanation. Feel free to

research further. Cite your sources in APA format.
Reference List:

1. Alata EJP, Caslib BN, Serafica JPJ & Pawilen, RA. Understanding the Self. Manila: Rex Publishing.

2. Cruz, B.L. (2018). Understanding the Self, First Edition. Paranaque: JTCA Publishing.

3. Dahlgreen, W. (2015). What the world most wants: in the West, love; in the East, health. Retrieved on 05 August 2020
from:

https://today.yougov.com/topics/international/articles-reports/2015/12/25/what-world-most-wants-west-love-east-
health

4. Fung, A. (2014). The Influence of Confucianism on Identity Formation of a Multi-skill Migrant: An Autoetnography. The
Qualitative Report, 19(50),1-19. Retrieved from:

http://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol19/iss50/l

5. Hasa (2016). Difference Between Eastern and Western Culture. Retrieved on 05 August 2020 from:

https://pediaa.com/difference-between-eastern-and-western-culture/

6. Ho, D. (1995) Selfhood and Identity in Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism: Contrasts With the West,
Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 25 (2). Retrieved from on 05 December 2017:

https://doi.org/10.111/j.1468-5914.1995.tb00269.x

7. Walter, D. (2013). In search of the Self-Esteem versus Western Perspectives. Oglethorpe Journal of Undergraduate
Research, I (I). Retrieved on 08 December 2017 from:

https://digitalcommons.Kennesaw.edu/ojur/voll/issl/l
Reference List:

8. Yao, X. (1996) Self-construction and identity: The Confucian self in relation to some Western Perceptions. Asian
Philosopy, 6 (3): 179-195: Retrieved on 16 July 2018 from DOI:10.1080/09552369608575442 :

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233128303_Self-
construction_and_identity_The_Confucian_self_in_relation_to_some_western_perceptions

9. Finnie, T. (25 Sep 2019), "The Culture Map": Moving Beyond High Context/Low Context. Retrieved on 05 September
2022 from:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/should-we-move-beyond-high-low-context-cultural-tanya-finnie/