The Self in Western and Orientaleastern Thought (1) - 1

THE SELF IN WESTERN AND
ORIENTAL/EASTERN THOUGHT
Ms. Angelica Balatong
Western and
Western
Eastern Concepts
of Self varied and Western Self as Analytic,
Western Self as Monotheistic
agree on a Western Self as Individualistic
certain viewpoint and Western Self as
Materialistic and Rationalistic.
THE SELF IN WESTERN
Western Self as Analytic Western Self as Western individualism
is an analytic Monotheistic
is a person that promotes
the monotheistic self one's desire and
deductive with emphasis believes in one Supreme independence over a
on the causal links (part- Being coexisting with the group. An individualistic
to-whole relationships). universe, condenses the person believed that his
supernatural and human achievement results from
into bipolarity of both his effort and skills and
qualities of existence. not because of anyone
else.
Hinduism
Eastern concepts of the
self are presented
based on the four great Buddhism
systems of Eastern
thought:
Confucianism
Taoism
Brahman is an absolute
reality, and Atman (soul or
spirit) is the true knowledge
Hinduism; of self. Vedanta
characterizes human
Brahman & suffering as the result of
failure to realize the
distinction between the
Atman true self (permanent and
unchanging) and the non-
true self (impermanent and
changes continually)
There is no ātman, no eternal
Self, that could accompany or
exist behind the rebirth
process of individual
consciousness. They deny all
kinds of eternal beings or non- Buddhists
beings. Thus, the impression of
a sharp conflict emerges, be-
tween Brahmanism or
Hinduism on the one hand and
Buddhism on the other
s are
The Confucian doctrine
rule
anchored in the golden
of “Do not do to others
nt
The Confucian what you would not wa
od
others do to you”. A go
doctrines relationship with other
rly,
people is a virtue. Simila
we
we treat them the way
want them to treat us.
Taoist believe that simplicity,
spontaneity, and harmony
with nature should govern
one's life. An individual
should live in his heart,
Taoist accept himself, fully
understand himself, accept
himself, live at peace, and
follow his instincts
INDIVIDUALISTIC VS. COLLECTIVE SELF
INDIVIDUALISTIC COLLECTIVE
In individualistic cultures believe In a collectivistic culture are more

that they are the center of likely to attend interdependent
thought, action, and they come to aspects such as close
feel distinct from others. For relationships and group
example, someone who supports memberships. They tend to value
himself and does not depend on social relationships and harmony.
others or does not need other For instance, someone can
people's support can achieve his change his plan in an emergency
goal by himself. for his family and friends.
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE
SELF IN WESTERN THOUGHT
The social construction of self can roughly be divided
into three categories. The first is The Self in
Historical and Cultural Context, which is primarily
concerned with establishing the self as a social
construction; the second is the Self as Social
Accomplishment, which focused on specific social
processes in which the conception of self is
embedded; and the third is Critical Reflection on the
Psychological Self involves critical assessments of
the cultural and political outcomes of traditional
beliefs in the self
THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF
THE SELF IN WESTERN THOUGHT
Self in Historical and Self as Social Critical Reflection on
Cultural Context Accomplishment the Psychological Self
History and culture play Inquiry into the social An alienated
a role in understanding achievement of the self individual, to be
and construction of the has taken two major dependent is a sign of
self. Numerous accounts forms: the structure of weakness. To
emerge within historical language and the construct a world of
periods. The evaluation demands by linguistic separation in this way
of an individual and convention; and is also to court
independent view of the conversational practices. distrust, and given
self is shared within In the case of language distrust, it becomes
Western culture, and has centered on reasonable to "take
more likely, the narrative structure, care of number one."
embedded vision of the whereas conversational Selfgain becomes an
self may be found in unquestionable
practices have been
many other cultures of motive, both within the
concerned with ongoing
the world. sciences and the
interaction.
culture
Self or No-Self
THE SELF AS The Confucianism
thought of
idea of "no
EMBEDDED IN the self is that the
had no
self", is this: "If one
RELATIONSHIPS t only the
selfish motives, bu
ere would
AND THROUGH supreme virtues, th
rves
be no self… If he se
SPIRITUAL s s ly , h e d o e s n ot know
selfle
a t se rv ice is . If h e knows
wh
DEVELOPMENT wha t s e rv ic e is, h e h a s a self…
th in k ] on ly o f p are nts but
IN CONFUCIAN [to
lf… is w hat I call
no t o f y o u rs e
THOUGHT o s e lf." (Z o k u K y uo Dowa
n
urses
[Kyuo's Moral disco
continued], 1835)
th e qu es t fo r th e hu m an se lf. The
In Confucianism ,
th at qu es tio n ta ke s in Confucius'
form which as such, is
pe rs on al ity . P er so na lity,
writings is one of something
in he re nt ly ex istin g, bu t as
not seen as gi ng and
rm ed th ro ug h up br in
that is being fo with four
Ev er y pe rs on is bo rn
environment.
, w hi ch do no t en ca ps ul at e a concept of
beginnings e western
w hi ch to ge th er , if pu t in th
self as yet, but
of th in king , m ay be ca lle d 'pre-self,' or
framework
'potential-self':
'PRE-SELF,' OR 'POTENTIAL-SELF'
Heart of righteousness – Heart of compassion – leads

leads to Yi to Jen
Jen is goodwill, a willingness to do
Yi symbolizes the best way of doing what is best for all concerned. In
things. In Confucius' time, one should Confucianism, having good social
have an interpersonal relationship with relations, one must act in relation to
other people, and to do so, one must others as others act. It is almost the
always do right and fair things. For same with the golden rule of “Do unto
instance, treating people equally others as you would have them do unto
regardless they belong in the low- to you”. Jen involves mutual interest or
income class or high-income class. having social cooperation, for instance,
love yourself, and also, you should love
others as you love yourself.
'PRE-SELF,' OR 'POTENTIAL-SELF'
Heart of propriety – leads to Heart of wisdom – leads to

Li Chih
Li is the principle of order. This is Chih is moral wisdom. People are born
another rule for good human good, and they know the difference
relationships. It included good manners between right and good. People with
approved by the family. It consists of the understanding tend to follow these
elderly's norms such as respect for elder concepts of Confucianism. A righteous,
brother and sister in the community and fair and has a sense of order, and the
even to our lawmakers. Li upheld faith, meaning has a heart of wisdom.
righteousness, and loyalty. Things
should be done orderly and positively to
have successful social relationships.
THANK YOU!

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THE SELF IN WESTERN AND

In individualistic cultures believe In a collectivistic culture are more

Heart of righteousness – Heart of compassion – leads

Heart of propriety – leads to Heart of wisdom – leads to

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