Lesson 5: The Self in the Western and Eastern Thought

• Cultural differences and environment creates different perceptions of the self. The most common distinction between people and cultures is the

  Eastern-Western distinction.
• Eastern are known as the Asian countries,
• Western represents the Europe and Northern America. countries who are

  geographically closer to each other may share commonalities, but factors that may create differences must be considered.
• Individualism is the idea that the individual is the fundamental unit of the

  human species that thinks, lives, and acts toward goals.
• Individualism - The priority is personal success and self-reliance over collective or group needs.
• True about Individualistic Self

  -being self-sufficient

  -self-reliant and independent

  -the “I” self

  -responsible for themselves

  -distant from others
• Not True about Individualistic Self

  -about self-isolation

  -never get or give help to others

  -never owes anything to other people
• Countries (INDIVIDUALISTIC SELF)

  United States

  Germany

  Australia
• Collectivism - the idea that the fundamental unit of the human

  species that thinks, lives, and acts toward goals is not the individual,

  but some group.
• The group exists as a super-organism separate from individuals: A group may

  make its own decisions, acts apart from the actions of individuals, and has its own interests apart from those of the individuals that compose it.
• Collective Self - The survival and success of the group ensures the well- being of the individual, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself.
• Collectivist characteristics are often associated with women and people in rural settings.
• Asian countries are known to be collective in nature.
• Self has been an area of interest by French and English philosophers,

  and evident in the ideas of Greek philosophers like Socrates and

  Plato.
• Descartes in 17th century emphasized the self in his dictum “I think

  therefore I am” which claims that cognitive basis of the person’s

  thoughts is proof for the existence of the self.
• Kant believed that the self is capable of actions that entitles it to

  have rights as an autonomous agent.
• Qualities imparted to the Western subjective self

  Western self as analytic

  Western self as monotheistic

  Western self as individualistic.

  Western Self as materialistic and rationalistic
• Western self as analytic. To see objects as divisible combinations of yet smaller objects.
• Western Self as Monotheistic. Monotheism can be known as the rigid

  consequence of the doctrine of normal human being. It is like forcing

  the concentration of supernatural capabilities.
• Western self as individualistic. The emphasis on individualism has direct

  and indirect effects on both the presentation of self (in public ways) and

  the experience of the self (in private awareness).
• Western Self as materialistic and rationalistic. The western

  accentuation of rational, scientific approach to reality has tended to

  define spiritual and immaterial phenomena as potentially

  superstitious and dangerous. In any society, belief system is stratified

  and composed of a hierarchy of interrelated, causal-explanatory

  models.
• Confucius - Born in the period of the Zhou Dynasty in 551 BCE in the state of Lu
• Confucius philosophy is known as humanistic social philosophy which focuses on human beings and the society in general.
• Humanistic social philosophy which focusses on human beings and the

  society in general.
• “Confucianism is an ancient Chinese belief system, which focuses on the

  importance of personal ethics and morality.”
• Confucianism is centered on ren which can be manifested through the li (propriety), xiao (filiality), and yi (rightness).
• Ren - reflects the person’s own understanding of humanity

  found within each person and can be realized in one’s personal life and relationship

  guides human actions that makes life worth living
• Ren can be manifested through:

  li (propriety)

  Xiao (filiality)

  Yi (Rightness)
• Li (PROPRIETY) - Its rules, the customs, ceremonies, and traditions, should be followed to guide human actions
• According to Confucius, “to master oneself and return to propriety is humanity” (Koller, 2007).
• Self mastery involves self development. Self mastery is characterized by

  self-control and the will to redirect impulses to change these to socially accepted expression of human nature.
• Li conforms to the norms of humanity, thus one must fulfill their duties and

  responsibilities in this five (5) relationships

  -father and son

  -ruler and subject

  -older and younger brothers

  -husband and wife

  -friend and friend
• Xiao (filiality) - virtue of reverence and respect for the family. Parents should be revered for the life they and given. Children show respect to their parents by exerting efforts to take care of themselves. Reverence for parents and family is shown by honoring them, achieving success, and earning respect. If someone struggles to honor their family, they should at least avoid bringing them shame or disgrace.
• Yi (rightness) - The right way of behaving which is unconditional and absolute.

  Right is right, and what is not right is wrong, Confucius emphasized that actions

  should be performed because they are right and not for selfish benefits that they provide.
• Individualistic self- are kind of people who like working alone and often

  responsible for themselves, in example: independent people

  Collective self- are kind of people who prefer working with a group,

  Example: Bayanihan

  Qualities imparted to the Western subjective self: Analytical,

  Monotheistic, Individualistic and materialistic and rationalistic

  Confucianism is centered on ren which can be manifested through:

  • li (propriety)
  • xiao (filiality)
  • Yi (rightness)