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The Self in Western and Eastern Thought

Reviewer: The Self in Western and Eastern Thought

Quick overall gist

This module compares Western (individualistic) and Eastern (collectivist / Confucian) views of the self — basically, whether identity is about being an independent person chasing self-fulfillment, or about being part of a network and fulfilling social duties. Both views shape how people understand their purpose, relationships, and moral development.

1) Individualistic self — what it means (short & casual)

  • Definition: Your identity is mainly about your unique traits, personal goals, and individual achievements. You value autonomy, self-expression, and making choices based on what you want.

  • Example (from the handout): Kate sets her own academic goals and focuses on her grades and achievements rather than comparing with classmates.

  • Cultural traits: Emphasizes independence, personal rights, freedom of choice. Countries often listed: USA, Australia, Canada, UK, Germany.

Exam tip: If asked “describe the individualistic self,” give the definition + Kate example + one country example. Simple pero one-liner + example = safe points.

2) Collective self — what it means (short & casual)

  • Definition: Your identity is rooted in group membership, relationships, and roles. The group’s goals and harmony come before personal desires.

  • Example (from the handout): James joins local clean-ups and activism to benefit the neighborhood rather than just himself.

  • Cultural traits: Values loyalty, interdependence, shared responsibility. Countries often listed: Japan, China, South Korea, Philippines.

Exam tip: Compare collective vs individualistic with one example each — that shows you understand the contrast.

3) Social construction of the self — Western angle (clear & casual)

  • Main idea: Western thought tends to see the self as distinct and autonomous — freedom, choice, and self-realization are central. People describe themselves by personal traits (e.g., “I am brave, honest”). It doesn’t mean isolation — relationships still happen, but they’re chosen based on personal judgment.

How to answer a long Q: Define Western individualism → mention traits (freedom, autonomy) → give one example of how someone might describe themselves (trait-focused) → short comparison to collectivist idea.

4) Confucian / Eastern view — relational & spiritual development (deep but chill)

  • Who’s Confucius? Kongqui (Confucius), born 551 B.C., major teacher/philosopher who shaped East Asian moral thought.

  • Core idea: The self is embedded in relationships — identity develops through fulfilling social roles and moral cultivation rather than pursuing pure self-interest.

Key concepts to memorize (easy):

  • Five Cardinal Relationships — the backbone of Confucian social order:

    1. Ruler ↔ Subject

    2. Father ↔ Son

    3. Husband ↔ Wife

    4. Elder brother ↔ Younger brother

    5. Friends ↔ Friends.

  • Relational self: You are who you are mainly because of your roles in these relationships; identity is communal.

  • Subdued self: Prioritizing duties and social obligations over personal desires — being selfless for harmony.

  • Ren (human-heartedness): The Confucian virtue emphasizing benevolence, altruism, and caring for others.

  • Filial piety (Xiao): Deep respect and duty toward parents/elders — a central practice that shapes moral growth. Example: a child caring for parents is a core part of becoming a morally developed person in Confucian thought.

Exam tip: If the question says “Explain Confucian view of the self,” mention the Five Relationships, define relational/subdued self, and use Xiao (filial piety) as a concrete example.

5) Side-by-side contrast (one-liner style you can memorize)

  • Individualistic (Western): Self = unique individual; values = autonomy, personal goals.

  • Collectivist / Confucian (Eastern): Self = relational; values = duty, harmony, moral cultivation.

Cheat one-liner for essays: “Western self seeks personal fulfillment through autonomy; Confucian self achieves moral identity through fulfilling relational duties.”

6) Memory hacks & mnemonics (cheesy pero effective)

  • I vs C — Individualistic vs Collectivist: I = “I do me”; C = “We do us.”

  • Five R’s for Confucius (quick list): Ruler, Father, Husband, Elder bro, Friend — just memorize the order and what each pair implies (duties and harmony).

7) Short practice questions (with answers + quick why)

  1. MCQ: Which of the following best describes a collectivist self?
    A) Emphasis on personal achievements
    B) Identity defined by group roles and obligations
    C) Self described by personality traits only
    D) Isolation from community
    → Answer: B. Collectivist self focuses on group roles and harmony.

  2. Short: Give one example of Confucian “subdued self.”
    → Answer: Choosing to care for family needs over pursuing a personal job opportunity because duties to family are prioritized.

  3. MCQ: Which country is commonly cited as having an individualistic culture?
    A) Japan
    B) China
    C) United States
    D) South Korea
    → Answer: C. United States is an example of an individualistic culture.

  4. Short: What is ren in Confucian thought?
    → Answer: Human-heartedness — a core virtue emphasizing benevolence and altruism.

Exam tip: For short answers, 1–2 lines defining the term + 1 concrete example = full credit.