Lesson 5: Western Self

• Sources in which we can analyze the perspective of each culture and country about the concept of the “self.” : literature, socialization and cultural diversity
• WESTERN THOUGHTS give higher value with their personal rights.
• The western society is trying to find and prove the "truth."
• Eastern thoughts gives more value to social responsibility and accepting the reality of life (fact) and interested in maintaining the balance of life
• Westerners emphasize more on the value of equality even if they see that the individual can rise above everything else.
• Eastern with their collectivistic culture, put more emphasis on hierarchy as the culture wants to keep things in harmony and order
• Self-descriptions of Westerns, talks more about their personal attributes when describing themselves
• Self-descriptions of Easterns, talk about their social roles or the social situations that invoked certain traits that they deem positive for their selves.
• Self-evaluations of Westerns, would highlight their personal achievements
• Self-evaluations of Easterns, they would rather keep a low profile as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that disrupts social relationships
• Individualistic is focused on the person
• Individualistic talk more about their personal attributes when describing themselves.
• Westerns highlight their personal achievements
• Individualistic looks at the world in DUALITIES wherein you are distinct from the other person, the creator is separate from the object he created.
• collectivist is when the group and social relations are given more importance than individual needs and wants
• Collectivists talk about their social roles or the social situations that invoked certain traits that they deem positive for their selves.
• Collectivists keep a low profile as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that disrupts social relationships
• Collectivists 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
• CONFUCIANISM Also known as RUISM, is described as tradition, a philosophy, a humanistic or rationalistic religion which was developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher CONFUCIUS.
• Confucius considered himself a re-codifier and re-transmitter of the theology and values inherited from the Shang and Zhou dynasty.
• Confucianism is focused on having a harmonious social life. Identity and self-concept of the individual are interwoven with the identity and status of his/her community or culture, sharing its pride as well as its failures
• Subdued Self’ is when personal needs are repressed (subdued) for the good of many, making Confucian society also hierarchical to maintain order and balance in society.
• 3 Essential Core Values of Confucianism: filial piety, humaneness, and ritual
• 5 Basic Virtues of Confucianism: ren, yi, li, zhi, xin
• Filial Piety is the respect for elders
• Humaneness is the goodness
• Ritual is the proper conduct
• Ren is benevolence and humaneness
• Yi is righteous and justice
• Li is proper, rite
• Zhi is knowledge
• Xin is integrity
• Taoism is also known as Daoism. A Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu (6th century BC) advocating humility and religious piety.
• Taoism is living in the way of the TAO or the UNIVERSE. It is a simple lifestyle and its teachings. It aims to describe how to attain life.
• Based on Taoism, the self is part of the universe.
• Taoism is living a balanced life with society and nature, being open and accepting to change, forgetting about prejudices and egocentric ideas and thinking about equality as well as complementarity among humans as well as other beings.
• Based on Taoism, the self is in harmony with everything.
• The 3 Treasures or 3 Jewels - (3 ESSENTIAL ENERGIES SUSTAINING HUMAN LIFE): Jing, Qi, and Shen
• Jing is essence
• Qi is energy