UTS | Module 1: EASTERN AND WESTERN PERSPECTIVES ON THE SELF

Self

There are a lot of sources in which you can analyze the perspective of each culture and country about the concept of?

Artworks, dances, even clothing

These may show you clues about the “self.”

Confucianism

This can be seen as a code of ethical conduct of how one should properly act according to their relationship with other people. It is focused on having a harmonious social life.

Harmonious Social Life

Confucianism is focused on having a?

Do not do to others what you would not want others do to you

Golden rule and the Core of Confucianism

Ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, brothers, and friends

Cardinal Relationships on CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism

Therefore, the identity and self-concept of the individual are interwoven with the identity and status of his or her community and culture, sharing its pride as well as its failures.

Self-cultivation

This is seen as the ultimate purpose of life but the characteristic of a chun-tzu, a man of virtue or noble character, is still embedded in his social relationships.

Chun-Tzu

A man of virtue or noble character, is still embedded in his social relationships.

Subdued Self

The cultivated self in Confucianism is what some scholars call a?

Subdued Self

Wherein personal needs are repressed for the good of many, making Confucian society also hierarchical for the purpose of maintaining order and balance in society.

Taoism

It is living in the way of the Tao or the universe

Taoism

This rejects having one definition of what the Tao is, and one can only state clues of what it is as they adopt a free-flowing, relative, unitary, as well as paradoxical view of almost everything.

Taoism

This rejects the hierarchy and strictness brought by Confucianism and would prefer a simple lifestyle and its teachings thus aim to describe how to attain that life.

Tao

The self is not just an extension of the family or the community; it is part of the universe, one of the forms and manifestations of the?

Selflessness

TAOISM: The ideal self is _______, but this is not forgetting about the self, it 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 and other beings.

Taoism

The perfect man has no self

Simplicity, Patience, and Compassion

Three of the Greatest Treasures in TAOISM

Tao Te Ching

TAOISM: Lao Tzu wrote?

Taoism

In this way, you will be able to act spontaneously because you will not be restricted by some legalistic standards but because you are in harmony with everything.

Yin and Yang

There should be unity and harmony among opposing elements. Hence the oneness of the tao.

Buddhism

The self is seen as an illusion, born out of ignorance, of trying to hold and control things, or humancentered needs; thus, the self is also the source of all these sufferings.

Nirvana

It is, therefore, our quest to forget about the self, forget the cravings of the self, break the attachments you have with the world, and to renounce the self which is the cause of all suffering and in doing so, attain the state of _____ or perfect happiness.

Budh

BUDDHISM: Means awake

Seed of Enlightenment

Every person has this. Humans can be a buddha provided it must be nurtured.

Four Noble Truths

Basic Principles of Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

• Life is suffering

• Suffering is cause by attachment to desires

• Suffering can be eliminated

• Elimination of suffering is through the practice of Eightfold path

Eightfold Path

BUDDHISM: Elimination of suffering is through the practice of?

Right View, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration

The Eightfold Path of Buddhism

Order, and Harmony

In striving to become a better person, one does not create the self above other people or nature but a self that is beneficial to his or her community as well as in ______, and ______ with everything else

Buddhism

The self, with all its connections and selfish ideas, is taken not just out of the center of the picture, but from the whole picture entirely

Collectivism

The self or the individual is not the focus of the abovementioned Eastern philosophies or beliefs.

Collectivism

In striving to become a better person, one does not create the self above other people or nature but a self that is beneficial to his or her community as well as in order and harmony with anything else

Yin and Yang

This ancient symbol of harmony reminds us that life is a balancing act and most fulfilling when we learn to embrace its dualities: the ups and downs, the good and bad times, and the joys and struggles.

Yin and Yang

The best harmony and duality we should attain in life, for Eastern Philosophy, is that we are always with other people. We are not alone.

Vedanta

The Hindu concept of the self is expanded in ___________, a major school of Indian thought based on Upanishads, the classical Indian philosophical treatises.

Upanishads

The Hindu concept of the self is expanded in Vedanta, a major school of Indian thought based on __________, the classical Indian philosophical treatises.

Hinduism

It has been stated that Brahman is an absolute reality, and Atman (soul or spirit). the true knowledge of self, is identical to Brahman.

Brahman

According to Hinduism, _______ is an absolute reality

Atman

According to Hinduism, _____ (soul or spirit) is true knowledge of the self (same to Brahman)

True Self, and Non-True Self

Vedanta characterizes human suffering as the result of failure to realize the distinction between ______ (permanent and unchanging), and ________ (impermanent and changes continually).

Hinduism

The goal of the person is to know the true reality---Brahman. Self-realization is being united to all-embracing Bahman.

True Selfhood

HINDUISM: However, the realization of ___________ will result in a complete dissolution of individual identity.

Reincarnate

Because of the nature of atman, a person will _______ from one life to another until it is freed from the cycle and reach nirvana or non-birth

Nirvana

Because of the nature of atman, a person will reincarnate from one life to another until it is freed from the cycle and reach _____ or non-birth

Law of Karma

This is the most important doctrine of Hinduism

Karma

All actions are subject to this. Individual actions will lead to either food or bad outcomes in one's life.

Karma

People get exactly what they deserve. If you do good things, you will be rewarded; if you do bad, you will be punished. Therefore, the individual is the one responsible for the consequences of his or her actions. 

Confucianism, and Taoism

Even with extended discussions about how the self should work, _______, and ________ still situate the self within a bigger context.

Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism

EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES consists of?

Analytic, Monotheism, Individualism, Materialistic, and Rationalistic

WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES consists of?

Analytic-Deductive

Western way of thinking is ____________ (Parts to whole)

Self

Western perspective does not discount the role of the environment and society in the formation of the self but the focus is always looking toward the?

Primacy

WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES: You compare yourself in order to be better; you create associations and bask in the glory of the group for your self-esteem; you put _____ in developing yourself.

Monotheism

Evaluation of the self also differs as Americans would highlight their personal achievements while Asians would rather keep a low-profile as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that disrupts social relationships.

Eastern Perspective

On the other hand, the ____________ 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.

Dualities

One can also describe that the Western thought looks at the world in _______ wherein you are distinct from the other person, the creator is separate from the object created, in which the self is distinguished and acknowledged.

Dualism

Evaluation of the self also differs as Americans would highlight their personal achievements while Asians would rather keep a low-profile as promoting the self can be seen as boastfulness that disrupts social relationships. (uniqueness)

Individualism

By valuing this, Westerners may seem to have loose associations or even loyalty to their groups. Competition is the name of the game and they are more likely straightforward and forceful in their communication as well as decision-making.

Personal Freedom

Western individualism exhibits the coexistence of favorable and unfavorable conditions inherent in _________.

Alienation, and Frustration

INDIVIDUALISTIC: although the right to individual freedom provides opportunities for self-fulfillment, it also increases the likelihood of experiencing?

Materialistic and Rationalistic

Westerns way of thinking is focused on material "things" and favors a rational-empirical approach over magical and superstitious explanations of immaterial "things".

Eastern Perspective

On this perspective, they look after the welfare of their groups and values cooperation. They would also be more compromising, and they tend to go around the bush in explaining things, hoping that the other person would “feel” what they really want to say. (Self-dependency is self-discovery)

Self-Dependency

This is self-discovery

Equality

Westerners also emphasize more on the value of _____ even if they see that the individual can rise above everything else. Because everyone is on their own in the competition, one can say that they also promote ideals that create “fair” competition and protect the individual.

Collectivistic Culture

Asians, with their ___________, put more emphasis on hierarchy as the culture wants to keep things in harmony and order.

Colonization

It must be emphasized, however, that these are general commonalities among Western cultures as compared to Asian or Oriental cultures. In the case of the Philippines, we can also consider the ____________ experience for differences and similarities with our Asian neighbors. We might also find variation among provinces and regions due to geographical conditions.

Geographical Conditions

It must be emphasized, however, that these are general commonalities among Western cultures as compared to Asian or Oriental cultures. In the case of the Philippines, we 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?

Social Media, Migration, and Intermarriages

With the _______, _______, and ________ variety between the Western and Asian perceptions may either be blurred or highlighted.

Peace

Whereas conflict is inevitable in diversity, ______is also possible through the understanding of where each of us is coming from.

Western Thought

FRAME OF REFERENCE: There is a separation between. Philosophy and religion/spirituality

Eastern Thought

FRAME OF REFERENCE: Religion and spirituality are intertwined

Western Thought

EXAMPLES OF SCHOOL OF THOUGHT/BELIEF SYSTEM: Scholasticism, Rationalism, Empiricism, Phenomenology

Eastern Thought

EXAMPLES OF SCHOOL OF THOUGHT/BELIEF SYSTEM: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism

Western Thought

NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Rene Descartes, John Locke

Eastern Thought

NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS: Confucius, Lao Tzu, Siddharta Gautama (Buddha)

Western Thought

SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE: Has made use of reason rather than faith to pursue wisdom

Eastern Thought

SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE: Has trusted intuition and is often associated with religious beliefs.

Eastern Thought

SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE: Has trusted intuition and is often associated with religious beliefs

Western Thought

MODES OF COGNITION: Analytic and Deductive

Eastern Thought

MODES OF COGNITION: Synthetic and Inductive

Western Thought

EMPHASIS: Distinctions and oppositions

Eastern Thought

EMPHASIS: Commonalities, and harmonies

Western Thought

VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE AND LIFE: Linear

Eastern Thought

VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE AND LIFE: Circular

Western Thought

VIEW OF SELF: Egocentric

Eastern Thought

VIEW OF SELF: Sociocentric

Western Thought

THEOLOGICAL VIEW: Monotheistic

Eastern thought

THEOLOGICAL VIEW: Polotheistic

Western thought

IDEAL: Self-actualization through personal growth

Eastern Thought

IDEAL: To achieve a balanced life and find one’s role in society