LESSON 1 – S3: WESTERN AND EASTERN

PHILOSOPHIES
GEERTZ (van Meif, 2008), he defines the western concept Self also seen as “an entering distinct from other selves
of the self as “a bounded, unique, more or less integrated and all other entities. “Self belongs to the individual and
motivational and cognitive universe, a dynamite center of to no other.”
awareness, emotion, judgement, and action organized
into a distinctive whole set contrastively both against In an individualistic perspective, the western self is the
other such wholes and against its social and natural measure of all things, that is, the source of all reflections.
background.”

Frank Johnson (1985) traces the earliest historical roots

The western concept of self is holistically defined in of the western concept of the self to works on
terms of the following aspects: philosophy, almost half a million years ago. By the middle
and nineteenth centuries, psychology has provided
1. WESTERN SELF AS ANALYTIC answers to philosophical questions about the concepts of
• Western way of thinking is soul and mind.
analytic-deductive with emphasis
on the casual links (part-to-whole- The growth of sociology, anthropology, and psychology in
relationships) the late nineteenth century saw the emergence of various
• The whole is understood when concepts of self, among them the western concept.
differentiated into parts.
• One must categorize and make
distinctions to pursue cause. EASTERN CONCEPT OF SELF
2. WESTERN SELF AS MONOTHEISTIC
• The belief in one supreme being The self in four great system of thought:
coexisting with the universe
condensed the supernatural and ➢ Hinduism
human capabilities into bipolarity ➢ Buddhism
of both existence (e,g, ➢ Confucianism
beautiful/ugly, kind/cruel, ➢ Taoism
sacred/profane) and categories of
identity or experience. Eastern thought is described as pluralistic.
3. WESTERN SELF AS INDIVIDUALISTIC
• Western individualism exhibits the HINDUISM
coexistence of favorable and ➢ Hinduism concept of self is expounded in
unfavorable conditions inherent in Vedanta, a major school of Indian thought
personal freedom. based on Upanishads, the classical Indian
• Although the right to individual philosophical treatises.
freedom provides opportunities ➢ True knowledge of self is identical to
for self-fulfillment, it is also Brahman.
increasing the likelihood of ➢ Vedanta characterizes human suffering as
experiencing frustration. the result of failure to realize the distinction
4. WESTERN SELF AS MATERIALISTIC AND between true self (permanent and
RATIONALISTIC unchanging.) and the non-true self
• Western way of thinking is (impermanent and changes continually.
focused on material “things” and 1. SHIVA – Mahadeva is one of the principal
favors a rational-empirical deities of Hinduism. Supreme being.
approach over magical and 2. BRAHMAN – Absolutely reality
superstitious explanations of 3. ATAMAN – Soul or Spirit
immaterial “things”. The goal of the person is Karma – is the most
to have a knowledge of important doctrine of
the true-reality – Hinduism. All actions are
Brahman. subject to karma.
Individual actions will
David Ho (1995) describes the western self as an lead to either good or
individualistic self that is deeply aware of itself, its bad outcomes in one’s
uniqueness, sense of direction, purpose, and volition. life. Individual is the only
one responsible for the
Self is located at the center within the individual through consequences of his or
which the world is perceived. her actions.

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 LESSON 1 – S3: WESTERN AND EASTERN
PHILOSOPHIES
BUDDHISM The selfless person leads to a balanced life, in
Four noble truths – Basic Principles Eightfold Path harmony with both nature and society.
In Buddhist philosophy, man is just a title for the
summation of five parts (matter, sensation, perception There should be unity and harmony among opposing
mental constructs, and consciousness) that compose elements the Yin and Yang.
the individual.
There is oneness of the Tao.

CONFUCIANISM
Analects Confucian doctrines SUMMARY:
(conversation of
Confucius) Eastern Philosophies Western Philosophies
Core of Confucian thought Golden rule or the Confucianism - Do not include the role of
principle of reciprocity. the environment and
“Do not do to others Code of ethical content; society.
what you would not focused on having a
want others to do to harmonious social life. Focus is always looking
you”. towards the self.
Self-cultivation – ultimate
Basic virtue or proper purpose of life Individualistic
conduct is knowing
how to act in relation “Cultivated self” subdued Look at the worlds in
to others. for the good of many. dualities.
Five Cardinal Relationships The self-known as
rational self. Taoism- You are distinct from the
other person.
Attaining self-realization wherein self-cultivation is
Living the way of the Tao
instrumental.
or universe Emphasize more on the
• Self-cultivation could be accomplished by
value of equality.
knowing the role in society and acting
“Ideal self” – balance life
accordingly.
with society and nature Promote ideals of fair
• Moral character is perfected by
competition.
continuously taking every opportunity to
Buddhism- (INDIVIDUALISM)
improve oneself in thought and action.
• Proper harmonious relationships when Self-illusion born out of School thoughts from
individuals follow the rules of proper social ignorance; source of all Greek philosophy.
behavior. these sufferings.
• The individual is set to respond to what is
Takes its roots from
socially required rather than to one’s Aims to attain the state Rome and Christianity,
personal needs and goals. of Nirvana. specifically Judeo-
• Self is subdued self. It is conditioned to Christianity (Latin)
respond to perceptions, not of its own
needs and aspirations, but of social Main Principle: Self
requirements and obligations. dedication

Focused on ethics.
TAOISM
(COLLECTIVISM)
• Chinese counterculture.
• Taoists reject the Confucian idea of a Based mainly in Asia,
relational self. To them, the self is an more specifically the
extension of the cosmos, not of social chinese philosophy.
relationships.
• The self is described as one of the limitless Take it roots from
forms of the Tao. Confucianism, Buddhism,
Tao Commonly regarded as nature that is the and Taoism.
foundation of all that exists.
The perfect man has no self. Main Principle: Unity

Selflessness is attained when the distinction between Thrives on virtues.

“I” and other dissolves.

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 LESSON 1 – S3: WESTERN AND EASTERN
PHILOSOPHIES
DICHOTOMY OF WESTERN AND EASTERN
CONCEPTIONS OF SELF
EASTERN THOUGHT WESTERN THOUGHT
It emphasis the relational It tends to view the self
rather than as autonomous, unitary,
individualistic. Self is and stable. It emphasizes
considered not in the importance scientific
isolation but in relation methods to provide
to others, society, and satisfactory answers to
the universe. Aim at understanding the self.
transformation in
consciousness, feelings,
emotions, and one’s
relation to other people
and the world.