This document compares Western and Eastern concepts of self through examining Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. In Confucianism, the self is relational and defined by significant relationships, with self-cultivation being the purpose of life. The Taoist self is an extension of nature and society, emphasizing balance and selflessness. Buddhism teaches that there is no permanent self, only ephemeral experiences and five aggregates that make up a person. The ultimate goal is enlightenment and escaping rebirth through nirvana. Overall, Eastern views see the self as interconnected and defined by social roles, while Western views are more individualistic and focused on personal attributes.

1. Lesson 4: The Self
in Western and
Eastern Thoughts

2. • Eastern- also called Oriental; represents
Asia
• Western- represents Europe and
Northern America

3. Confucianism
• Confucianism is a system of ethics
devised by the Chinese scholar K’ung Fu-
tzu (Latinised to Confucius) in sixth
century BC China.
• Self is characterized by relational
identity which means that a person is
defined by his/her significant relationships

4. Confucianism
• 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.

5. 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.

6. To be a chun-tzu, man has to
live by these principles:
• 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.

7. Confucius specifies the five
important relationships
• King to subject
• Father to son
• Husband to wife
• Older brother to younger brother
• Friend to friend

8. Confucianism
• The self in Confucianism is a subdued
self. It is conditioned to respond to
perceptions, not of its own needs and
aspirations, but of social requirements and
obligations.

9. 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.

10. Taoism
• Taoism disavows a hierarchical view of
the self, society, or cosmos.
• The self is but one of the countless
manifestations of the Tao. It is an
extension of the cosmos.

11. Taoism
• 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.

12. Buddhism
• The Buddha taught that an individual is a
combination of five aggregates of
existence, also called the Five Skandhas
or the five heaps.

13. Five Skandhas
• Form- our physical form
• Sensation- made up of our feelings --
both emotional and physical -- and our
senses -- seeing, hearing, tasting,
touching, smelling.
• Perception- means thinking --
conceptualization, cognition, reasoning.

14. Five Skandhas
• Mental Formations- includes habits,
prejudices, and predispositions, and
volition or willfulness
• Consciousness- awareness of or
sensitivity to an object, but without
conceptualization

15. Buddhism
• The doctrine
of anatman (Sanskrit; anatta in Pali) is
the core teaching of Buddhism. According
to this doctrine, there is no "self" in the
sense of a permanent, integral,
autonomous being within an individual
existence. What we think of as our self,
the "me" that inhabits our body, is just an
ephemeral experience.

16. Buddhism
• The ultimate goal is Nirvana
(enlightenment). The English
word enlightenment sometimes refers to
heightened intellect and reason.
• The original Buddhists used the
word bodhi, which means "awakened."
The word Buddha is derived
from bodhi and means "the awakened
one."

17. Comparison of Western and
Eastern Concepts of Self
Western Eastern
Duality- you are distinct from other
persons
Other persons are part of your self
Talk about their personal attributes Talk about their social roles
Highlights personal achievements Keeps a low profile and avoid
boastfulness
Individualistic- focus on the person Collectivistic- group and social
relations are more important
Values competition Values cooperation
Values equality Values hierarchy