The document discusses Eastern and Western thoughts on the self. In Eastern thoughts, Buddhism views the self as an illusion born of ignorance, while Confucianism sees the self as interwoven with community and social status. Taoism envisions an ideal selfless self balanced with society and nature. Western thoughts see a separate, individual self and focus on personal achievement, while Eastern thoughts emphasize collective culture and social relations. The document also notes variations that may exist among Filipino regions and perceptions due to colonization experiences.

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5. Lesson 4
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The Self in Western
and
Eastern Thoughts
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Lesson 4
Key points:
• Eastern Thoughts
• Western Thoughts
• Eastern vs.
Western
• Filipinos Thoughts

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Refresher…
Lesson 4
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Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
1. Differentiate the concept f self according to Western thought against
Eastern/Oriental perspectives
2. Explain the concept of the self as found in Asian thoughts; and
3. Create a representation of the Filipino self.
LESSON 4
SELF IN EASTERN
AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
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9. Introduction
Different cultures 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 represents Asia and Western represents Europe and
Northern-America. It must be understood that this distinction and the
countries included politically colored at the time that aforementioned
concepts were accepted and used in the social sciences. Furthermore,
it must be reiterated that while countries who are geographically closer
to each other may share commonalities, there are also a lot of factors
that create differences. In the Philippines alone, each region may have
similar or varying perception regarding the “self”.

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EASTERN
THOUGHTS
OF SELF
LESSON 4
SELF IN EASTERN
AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
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11. Three Eastern thoughts
1. Confucianism
- It is a code of ethical conduct on how
should one harmoniously act according to
his relationship with other people
- The identity and self concept are
interwoven with the identity and self
concept of the individuals and the status of
their community or culture(Ho, 1995)

12. 1. Confucianism
- Self cultivation is seen as the ultimate
purpose of life but the characteristics of a
chun-tzu (a man of virtue or noble
character is embedded in his social
relationship) Ho, 1995.
- Cultivated self or “subdued self” according
from the scholars wherein personal needs
are repressed making Confucian society
also hierarchal to maintain order and
balance in society.

13. 2. Taoism
- Living the way of “tao” or the universe.
- It rejects having one definition of what tao
is and one can only state clues of what it is
as they adopt the free-flowing, relative,
unitary as well as the paradoxical view of
almost everything.
- It also rejects the hierarchy and strictness
brought by Confucianism.
- They prefer simple lifestyle and teachings
thus aim to describe how to attain that
life.(Ho, 1995)

14. 2. Taoism
- The self is not just an extension of family
and community
- The ideal self is selflessness but not
forgetting the self.
- It is living a balance life with the society
and nature.
- Being open and accepting to change.
- Forgetting about prejudices and egocentric
ideas
- Thinking about equality

15. 3. Buddhism
- Their self concept most likely are illusion,
born out ignorance, trying to hold and
control things and human centered needs.
- They said that self is also the source of
sufferings therefore the quest is to forget
the self, the cravings of the self and the
attachment to the world which is the cause
of all sufferings and in so doing to attain
Nivana(Ho, 1995)
- Nirvana means perfect happines.

16. To summarize:
- Confucianism and Taoism still situate the self
within a bigger context thus Confucianism is
just more strict and complicated than Taoism
while Buddhism, the self talks about selfish
ideas and is taken not just out of the center of
the picture but from the whole picture entirely.

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WESTERN
THOUGHTS
OF SELF
LESSON 4
SELF IN EASTERN
AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
Play

18. Western Thoughts
- Western perspective does not discount the role of
environment and society in the formation of the self but the
focus is always looking towards the self.
- They looks at the world in dualities wherein you are distinct
from the other person, the creator is separate from the object
she/he created.

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EASTERN VS. WESTERN
THOUGHTS
OF SELF
LESSON 4
SELF IN EASTERN
AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
Play

20. EASTERN WESTERN
• Selflessness by living in
harmonious life with nature and
society.
• Looks at the world in dualities but
focus most on self.
• Non prejudice and egocentric. • Conscious of social roles that
invoked traits positive for the self.
• Keeps low profile, considers
boasting oneself disrupts social
relations.
• Highlights personal
achievements.
• Collective culture, social relations
given more importance.
• Individualistic culture, individual
needs a focus.

21. EASTERN WESTERN
• Loyal to the community. Looks after
the welfare of the group, values
cooperation and group oriented.
• Loose association or loyalty to the
group. The group is instrumental to
the individualistic pursuits.
• Puts hierarchy of culture to keep
things in harmony and order.
• Competition is the real name of the
game. Promote fair competition
protecting the self or individual
• Have respectful terms for seniors
and workers and would not dare to
go against the high ranking officials.
• Call their bosses and parents or
other seniors by their name. They
can be approached head on when
conflicts arise.

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AS FOR FILIPINOS
THOUGHTS
OF SELF
LESSON 4
SELF IN EASTERN
AND WESTERN
THOUGHT
Play

23. As for the Philippines
- Filipinos can also consider the colonization experience for
differences and similarities with our Asian neighbors.
- We might also find variation among provinces and regions
due to geographical conditions.
- With social media, mitigation and intermarriages, variety
between Westerners and Easterners perceptions may either
be blurred or highlighted, whereas conflict is inevitable in
diversity, peace is also possible through the understanding of
where each of us is coming from.

24. QUESTIONS:
I. Identification
1. Most like more in illusion born out
ignorance trying to hold and control
things and human centered needs.
2. Self concept are interwoven with the
identity and self concept of individuals
and the status of their community or
culture.
THE SELF IN EASTERN and
WESTERN THOUGHTS

25. QUESTIONS:
I. Identification
3. The ideal self is selflessness but not
forgetting self.
4. It highlights personal
achievement.
5. Collective, culture, social relation
given more importance.
THE SELF IN EASTERN and
WESTERN THOUGHTS

26. QUESTIONS:
II. True or False
6. Western thoughts ; Looks at the world
in dualities but not focus most on self.
7. Eastern thoughts ; Keeps low profile,
considers boasting oneself disrupts
social relations.
THE SELF IN EASTERN and
WESTERN THOUGHTS

27. QUESTIONS:
II. True or False
8. Eastern thoughts ; Put hierarchy of
culture to keep things in harmony and
order.
9. We might not find variation among
provinces and regions due to
geographical condition.
THE SELF IN EASTERN and
WESTERN THOUGHTS

28. QUESTIONS:
II. True or False
10. With social media, mitigation and
intermarriages variety between
westerners and easterners perception
may either be blurred or highlighted.
THE SELF IN EASTERN and
WESTERN THOUGHTS