Lesson Objective:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able

to:
1. Differentiate the concept of self according
to Western against Eastern perspective;
2. Explain the concept of self as found in Asian
thoughts; and
3. Create a representation of the Filipino self.
 “Different culture and varying
environment tend to create different
perception of the self.”
 You are the eldest among your six (6)
siblings in the family. You are currently a
college student. Your two other siblings are
about to enter college. However, your parents
cannot finance three children in college.
With this situation, what will you do?
It can be seen as a code
of ethical conduct, of
how one should properly
act according to their
relationship with other
people; thus, it is focused
on having a harmonious
social life (Ho, 1995).
Two kinds of Ethics:
1. For Ordinary
people
2. Scholars
Confucian ethics for ordinary
people advocates the
maintenance of
interpersonal harmony
by following the principle
of respecting their
superior (those above one
in the hierarchy) and the
principle of favoring
the intimate (those with
whom one has a blood
relationship; Hwang, 2001).
 • parents are Children in a Confucian
obligated to show society are generally
educated to have the
kindness by discipline to cultivate
taking good care themselves to be morally
of their children. upright by following the
rules of proper conduct
and working hard to strive
for socially approved goals
• “kind father and filial son” (Bell & Ham, 2003; Tu,
1976).
 personal needs are
• Wherein
repressed (subdued) for the good
of many, making Confucian society
also hierarchical for the purpose of
maintaining order and balance in society
(Ho, 1995).
 Eastern Thought Western Thought
• Subdued self • self-contained individualism
“personal needs are “human rights and free
repressed (subdued) choice are emphasized
for the good of with the belief that there
many” should be a clear-cut
boundary between
one’s self and others
(Sampson, 1988).”
Think of one word to describe
‘self’ according to
Confucianism?
 Personal stand on Confucianism:
“Self is bounded with our relationship
to other people. It can cause emotional
disturbance and frustration.”
Taoism is living in the way of the
Tao or the universe.

The cosmology of Taoism

suggests that every element in
every system of the universe is
composed of two opposing
components - yin and yang.
The self is not just an extension of
the family of the community; it is
part of the universe.
 Taoism advocates self-
cultivation as a source of
healing and seeks to liberate
one’s self from the ethical
bounds of this world by
following the way of Nature and
returning to a state of
authentic self—just like a
newborn baby (Munro, 1985).
The ideal self is selflessness but this
not forgetting about the self…
it is living a balanced life with society
and nature,
being open to change,
forgetting about prejudice ideas and
thinking about equality as well as
complementarity among humans as
well as other beings.
 Personal stand on Taoism:
“Self is being spontaneous in
action and in harmony with
everything in the universe.”
List down the things that
make you happy.
• He was born into a royal family in
what is now Nepal
• He is exceptionally intelligent and
compassionate
• Tall, strong, and handsome
• He was given five hundred attractive
ladies and every opportunity for
sports and excitement
• He won his wife in an archery
contest
 The self is seen as an
illusion, born out of
ignorance, of trying to hold
and control things, or
human-centered needs,
thus, the self is also the
source of all these
sufferings (Ho, 1995).
 The eternal goal of self-
cultivation for Buddhists is
nirvana, a state of nonself
or anatman (the existence
of self is as clear as crystal
without any hindrance in
one’s mind ).
Personal stand on Buddhism:
“For us to have any thing we
must surrender everything. Self
must choose simple and
righteous way to attain
happiness.”
GROUP ACTIVITY
Explain and discuss the concept of
self as found in Asian thoughts through
a word cloud.
• Confucianism’s Subdued Self
• Taoism’s Authentic Self
• Buddhism’s Nonself
 “Different culture and varying
environment tend to create different
perception of the self.”
 Western Thought Eastern Thought
• The focus is always • Counts the role of
looking toward the self. the society and
environment in the
formation of the self.
Listing down Activity
• List down ten statements that starts with…
“I am (a/an) ______________________.”
 Western Thought Eastern Thought
• The world is in • Sees the other
dualities. It means you person as part of
are distinct from the yourself.
other person.
 Western Thought Eastern Thought
• Example: Americans • Example: Asians talk
talk more about their about their social
personal attributes roles or the social
when describing situations that
yourself. invoked certain traits
that they deem
positive for
themselves.
 Western Thought Eastern Thought
• Individualistic culture • Collective culture
since their focus is on since group and
the person. social relations are
given more
importance.
 Western Thought Eastern Thought
• Competition is the • Look for welfare of
name of the game their groups and
• Equality values cooperation
• Hierarchy
 Create a poster that represents your
‘self’ according to Filipino culture.
At the back of your output, provide a
brief explanation of it.