THE SELF IN

WESTERN AND
EASTERN
THOUGHTS
U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H E S E L F
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INTRODUCTION:
Eastern and Western dichotomy wherein
eastern as called Orientals represents ASIA
and western represents the EUROPE and
NOTHERN AMERICA

This report explores the Eastern and Western

concepts of the self. While both traditions
offer unique perspectives, they differ in
fundamental ways. Western thought
emphasizes individualism and scientific
inquiry, while Eastern philosophy focuses on
interconnectedness and inner exploration. By
comparing these contrasting viewpoints, we
gain valuable insights into the diverse
understandings of human identity.
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WESTERN THOUGHTS:
• Conducts scientific investigations to understand the self, developing various theories with
differences among them.

• Emphasizes individualistic culture, focusing on the person and personal identity.

• Places importance on scientific investigation to provide satisfactory answers about the

self.

• The concept of the self in Western philosophy has already been discussed in the previous
"Philosophy" report; therefore, we will not delve into it further within this report.
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EASTERN THOUGHTS:
• Raises questions about the ultimate meaning of life.

• Emphasizes a relational perspective, considering the self in relation to others, society, and
the universe.

• Offers practical techniques for cultivating a deeper understanding of the self,

emphasizing experiential learning.

• Does not rely on scientific techniques of investigation but rather on introspection,

meditation, and philosophical inquiry.

• Within Eastern thought, the philosophy of the self is closely intertwined with religion.
Among these religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism.
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BUDDHISM
• Buddhism comes from the root word “budh” meaning
awake
• Siddhartha Gautama also known as “Buddha” is the
founder of Buddhism
In Buddhism, the notion of self is central to understanding the nature of
suffering and the path to liberation. The fundamental concept related to
the self in Buddhism is "Anatta" or "Anatman," which translates to "non-
self" or "no soul." According to Buddhist teachings, there is no permanent,
unchanging, or independent self or soul. Instead, individuals are seen as a
collection of ever-changing elements and experiences, constantly in flux.
The absence of a permanent self is one of the Three Marks of Existence in
Buddhism, along with impermanence (Anicca) and suffering (Dukkha). The
rejection of a fixed self is crucial to overcoming attachment, craving, and
the cycle of suffering known as samsara. Through this understanding, one
seeks to attain Nirvana, a state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of
rebirth. By realizing the impermanence of all things and embracing the
fluid nature of existence, practitioners aim to break free from attachment
and attain ultimate enlightenment.
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HINDUISM
• Oldest religion in the world
• The religion of the ancient people known as the
Aryans

• Law of Karma
⚬ is the most important doctrine of Hinduism
⚬ Good karma and Bad Karma

• A Hindu views the entire universe as God's and

everything in the universe as God.
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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 a state of nirvana or non-birth

Karma does not end with a body’s death, its

influence may extend through incarnation of the
soul
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HINDUISM
• Hindus believe that each person is intrinsically
divine and the purpose of life is to seek and
realise the divinity within all of us. The Hindu
belief is totally non-exclusive and accepts all
other faiths and religious paths.
• the complex of beliefs, values, and customs
comprising the dominant religion of India,
characterized by the worship of many gods,
including Brahma as supreme being, a caste
system, belief in reincarnation, etc.
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CONFUCIANISM
a philosophy and belief system from ancient China, founded by Confucius

“ D O N O T D O O T H E R S W H AT Y O U W O U L D N O T
WA N T O T H E R S T O D O T O Y O U ”
THE GOLDEN RULE

This philosophy originated from the Chinese philosopher,

teacher, and political figure named Kung Fu Zi (Kong Qiu), or
more popularly known as Confucius. The concept of “self”
under this philosophical thought focuses on having a
harmonious social life through acting properly and accordingly
with other people.
The cultivated self is a subdued self. It is conditioned to respond
to perceptions, not of its own needs and aspirations, but of
SOCIAL REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS wherein the
personal needs are repressed for the good of many, making
Confucian society also hierarchal for the purpose of maintaining
order and balance in society.
based on confucian thought, moral character is perfected through continuously taking
every opportunity to improve oneself in thought and action
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TAOISM (DAOISM)
an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief attributed to Lao Tzu

• It is the living in the way of the Tao or the universe.

However, Taoism rejects having one definition of what
the Tao is.
• The Tao is commonly regarded as a nature that is the
foundation of all that exists.
• The self is not just an extension of the family or the
community; it is part of the universe, one of the forms
and manifestations of Tao.
• The ideal self is SELFLESSNESS but this is not forgetting
about self, it is living a balanced-life with society and
nature, being open and accepting the change.
• The perfect man has no self and the selfless person leads
to a balanced life, in harmony with nature.
• There should be unity and harmony among opposing
elements: the Yin (black), and Yang (White).

EASTERN VS WESTERN THOUGHTS
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.
Americans (Westerner), for example, talk more
about their personal attributes when
describing themselves while Asians in general
would talk about social roles or the social
situation that they deem positive for their self.
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Evaluation of the self also differs as some
Westerners would highlight their personal
achievements while Asians would rather keep a
low profile as promoting the self can be seen as
boastfulness that disrupts social relationships.
The Western culture is what we would call an
individualistic culture since their focus is on the
person. Asian culture on the other hand is called
collectivistic culture as the group and social
relations is given more importance than
individual needs and wants.

EASTERN VS WESTERN THOUGHTS
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 forceful in
their communication as well as decision-
making.
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Eastern or oriental persons look after the
welfare of their groups and values cooperation.
They would also be more compromising and
they tend to go around the bush in explaining
things, hoping that the other person would “feel”
what they really want to say. (Qinaxe 2003)
Westerners promote ideals “fair” competition and
protect the individual meanwhile Asians with
their collective regard, puts more emphasis on
hierarchy, as the culture wants to keep things in
harmony and in order.
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DIMENSION WESTERN EASTERN

Frame of Reference Religion and Philosophy are separated Religion and Philosophy are intertwined

• Scholasticism • Buddhism
• Rationalism • Hinduism
Examples of Belief System
• Empiricism • Confucianism
• Phenomology • Taoism

• Socrates
• Plato • Confucius
Notable Philosophers • Rene Descartes • Lao Tzu
• John Locke • Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
• David

They made use of reason rather than faith to pursue They trusted intuition and is often associated with
Source of Knowledge
wisdom religious belief

Mode of Cognition Analytic and Deductive Synthetic and Inductive

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DIMENSION WESTERN EASTERN

Emphasis Distinctions and Opposition Commonalities and Harmonies

View of the Universe Linear Circular

View of the Self Egocentric Sociocentric

Theological View Monotheistic Polytheistic

To achieve a balance life and to find one’s role in

Ideal Self-actualization through personal growth
society

Cultural Framework Individualism Collectivism

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CONCLUSION
Western and Eastern thought exhibit distinct characteristics. Western
thought emphasizes individualism, rationalism, empiricism, and
secularism. In contrast, Eastern thought values holism, spirituality,
intuition, and harmony with nature. While these generalizations offer
insights, it's essential to recognize the diversity within each tradition and
the ongoing interplay of ideas between them. The world benefits from a
rich exchange that contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the
human experience.
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REFERENCES:
• The self in Western and Eastern thoughts. (2020, September 2). [Slide show]. SlideShare.
https://www.slideshare.net/KimberlyLina1/the-self-in-western-and-eastern-thoughts
• Marvin Cabañero. (2021, October 22). LESSON 4: WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPT OF THE
SELF || Understanding the Self - Marvin Cabañero [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qb_yBPHZWE
• Adobe Acrobat. (n.d.). https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:8337ae93-d741-429d-
b0d8-c251cfe35384?
fbclid=IwAR2JHj5bkFCyOGIzxipOojCQFZvlzxjoqUeUAnXSrHap3_sZRKGP47c8hzw&viewer
%21megaVerb=group-discover
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