EASTERN AND WESTERN PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF
Summary
TLDRThe video discusses the concept of the self from Eastern and Western perspectives, focusing on how these cultural differences shape self-perception. It explains how Eastern views, such as Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, emphasize interconnectedness, social roles, and harmony with society, while Western thought centers on individualism, self-improvement, and independence. The video highlights the contrast between collectivism in the East and individualism in the West, illustrating the impact of culture on how people define themselves. The lesson concludes by encouraging reflection on these differences and their influence on identity.
Takeaways
- 📚 The lesson explores the concept of the self from both Eastern and Western perspectives.
- 🌏 Eastern thought emphasizes self-cultivation and the importance of harmonious relationships within society.
- 🤝 Confucianism highlights that the self is connected to others, focusing on social roles and obligations over individual needs.
- 🌀 Taoism teaches that the self is part of the universe, promoting balance and selflessness without forgetting one's own identity.
- 🧘 Buddhism views the self as an illusion and a source of suffering, encouraging detachment and the attainment of Nirvana.
- 🌍 Western thought emphasizes individualism, self-improvement, and self-esteem, with the self viewed as distinct from society and the creator.
- 🏅 Western perspectives encourage comparing oneself to others as a way to achieve personal growth and success.
- 🤗 Asian cultures, especially the Filipino self, value collectivism, humility, and harmonious social relationships, avoiding boastfulness.
- 💼 Western cultures tend to promote independence, competition, and straightforward communication, while Asian cultures focus on implicit, polite communication.
- 🎓 The discussion highlights the importance of understanding cultural perspectives to avoid culture shock and foster better social integration.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Lesson 5 in 'Understanding the Self'?
-The main focus of Lesson 5 is understanding the self from Eastern and Western perspectives, highlighting how cultural perceptions shape the concept of self in these two different regions.
How does Confucianism view the self?
-In Confucianism, the self is understood through harmonious relationships with others. The self is not about individual needs but fulfilling societal roles and obligations, focusing on self-cultivation within a social context.
What is self-cultivation according to Confucianism?
-Self-cultivation in Confucianism is the process of becoming a virtuous person by fostering harmonious relationships with others and contributing positively to society. The cultivated self prioritizes societal needs over personal desires.
How is the self defined in Taoism?
-In Taoism, the self is seen as a part of the universe, emphasizing balance and selflessness. The self is not just a social extension but a manifestation of the Tao, focusing on living harmoniously with society and nature while embracing change.
What is the key distinction between Taoism and Confucianism in understanding the self?
-The key distinction is that Taoism focuses on selflessness and balance with the universe, while Confucianism emphasizes societal roles and relationships. Taoism considers the self as part of a larger, universal context, whereas Confucianism sees the self as central to maintaining social harmony.
How does Buddhism view the self?
-Buddhism sees the self as an illusion and the root cause of suffering. It teaches that attachment to the self leads to suffering and that to achieve enlightenment (Nirvana), one must detach from worldly desires and renounce the self.
What is the Western perspective on the self?
-The Western perspective emphasizes individualism, self-development, and personal achievement. The self is viewed as independent from others, focusing on personal growth, success, and self-esteem.
How do Eastern and Western perspectives differ in terms of personal achievements?
-Eastern perspectives tend to downplay personal achievements, seeing self-promotion as boastful and disruptive to social harmony. In contrast, Western perspectives highlight individual achievements and encourage self-promotion as a sign of success and independence.
What is the difference between collectivism and individualism as discussed in the lesson?
-Collectivism, common in Eastern cultures, prioritizes group harmony, social roles, and interconnectedness. Individualism, seen in Western cultures, focuses on personal independence, self-improvement, and individual success.
How do communication styles differ between Westerners and Asians?
-Westerners tend to be direct and explicit in their communication, whereas Asians often use implicit messages to avoid being too straightforward, reflecting their focus on maintaining social harmony and politeness.
Outlines
🧑🏫 Introduction to Lesson 5: Self in Eastern and Western Perspectives
The lesson begins by introducing the topic of understanding the self from Eastern and Western perspectives. The objectives are to differentiate between Western and Eastern views of the self, explore Asian thought on the self, and create a representation of the Filipino self. The cultural perception of self will be discussed through the lens of Eastern (Asia) and Western (Europe and Northern America) frameworks.
🌏 Eastern Thought: Confucianism and Self-Cultivation
This section explains Confucianism's focus on self-cultivation and harmonious social relationships. Understanding oneself involves understanding one’s role and contributions to society. The self is shaped by social interactions, and Confucianism emphasizes cultivating virtues through relationships. The cultivated self is conditioned to respond to societal needs rather than personal aspirations, promoting societal harmony and order.
🌿 Eastern Thought: Taoism and Selflessness
Taoism is discussed as a philosophy that promotes living in balance with the universe (Tao). Unlike Confucianism, Taoism sees the self not only as part of society but as part of the universe. The concept of selflessness in Taoism focuses on living harmoniously with nature and accepting change, emphasizing that self-improvement is achieved by understanding oneself in relation to society and nature.
🧘♂️ Eastern Thought: Buddhism and the Illusion of Self
Buddhism views the self as an illusion that arises from ignorance and attachment, which leads to suffering. To attain Nirvana, one must detach from worldly attachments and desires. The section explores the Buddhist belief that craving and attachment are the root causes of suffering, and renouncing the self leads to a state of enlightenment.
🧠 Western Thought: Focus on Individualism and Self-Improvement
Western thought, unlike Eastern views, focuses on individualism and self-improvement. The self is seen as separate from society, with an emphasis on achieving personal success and self-esteem. This perspective encourages competition, comparison, and the development of personal attributes, focusing on self-distinction and separation from both society and the Creator.
🎭 Differences Between Eastern and Western Views of the Self
The key difference between Eastern and Western views is highlighted: Eastern thought emphasizes interconnectedness and social roles, while Western thought focuses on individual development and achievement. Easterners value submission to authority and societal harmony, while Westerners prioritize personal success and self-promotion.
👥 Eastern vs Western Perspectives: Social Roles vs Personal Achievements
This section contrasts how Americans often highlight personal achievements while Asians focus on their social roles and contributions. Asians may downplay their accomplishments to avoid appearing boastful, while Westerners are more open about promoting their achievements. This reflects the collectivistic nature of Eastern culture versus the individualistic focus of Western culture.
🏠 Family and Independence in Eastern and Western Cultures
In Western cultures, independence is encouraged from a young age, while in Eastern cultures, family ties remain strong even into adulthood. Filipinos, for example, may stay under the care of their parents even after marriage, showing a strong emotional attachment. Westerners emphasize individualism, whereas Easterners value close-knit family structures and social harmony.
💬 Communication Styles: Directness vs Politeness
Westerners are more direct and explicit in their communication, while Easterners, particularly Filipinos, tend to communicate more implicitly. This section explains cultural differences in how messages are delivered, with Asians using indirect approaches to avoid confrontation or impoliteness, contrasting with Westerners' straightforward communication style.
⚖️ Values of Equality and Hierarchy in Eastern and Western Cultures
Western cultures emphasize equality and fair competition, while Eastern cultures place importance on hierarchy and maintaining harmony. Westerners may address authority figures casually, while Easterners, particularly Filipinos, show respect through formal titles and honorifics, reflecting a cultural emphasis on respect for elders and superiors.
🇵🇭 The Filipino Self: A Blend of Eastern and Western Influences
The Filipino self is shaped by both Eastern and Western influences, reflecting the country's colonial past and strong family values. This section highlights how Filipinos retain collectivistic values while also adopting certain Western individualistic traits. Social media and globalization have blurred the lines between these perspectives, leading to cultural diversity and conflict.
📚 Conclusion and Reflection: Understanding the Self in Different Cultures
The conclusion emphasizes that understanding the self is shaped by cultural perceptions, and highlights the importance of studying both Eastern and Western views. For Filipinos, understanding these perspectives helps prevent culture shock when encountering Western societies. The lesson wraps up with a call for reflection on how different cultures view the self, asking students to compare these perspectives.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Self in Eastern and Western perspectives
💡Confucianism
💡Taoism
💡Buddhism
💡Self-cultivation
💡Nirvana
💡Individualism
💡Collectivism
💡Hierarchy
💡Duality
Highlights
Differentiating the concept of self between Western and Eastern perspectives.
In Eastern perspectives, Confucianism emphasizes harmonious social relationships and understanding one's contributions to society.
Confucianism promotes self-cultivation as the ultimate purpose of life, where social obligations are prioritized over individual aspirations.
In Taoism, the self is seen as part of the universe and encourages balance with society and nature.
Taoism emphasizes selflessness, living in harmony with change, and finding balance without neglecting oneself.
Buddhism views the self as an illusion and the source of suffering, advocating detachment from the world to reach Nirvana.
The Western perspective focuses on individual self-development, success, and self-esteem.
Western thought emphasizes personal achievement, independence, and competition, often valuing the self over the community.
Western culture is described as individualistic, while Eastern culture is considered collectivistic.
In Eastern culture, there is a focus on social roles, group harmony, and minimizing boastfulness in order to maintain relationships.
Westerners tend to be more explicit and direct in communication, while Asians often use more implicit and polite messages.
Filipino culture blends Eastern collectivism with some Western individualistic influences due to colonization and globalization.
Westerners often emphasize equality and fair competition, while Easterners value hierarchy and order.
The self in Eastern and Western thoughts varies significantly, highlighting the importance of cultural context in understanding the self.
Filipinos experience both Eastern and Western cultural influences, which can create challenges but also opportunities for cross-cultural understanding.
Transcripts
so good day everyone no today we will be
um talking about uh our lesson five of
understanding the self
now we'll be talking about the self in
eastern and western perspectives
so
um you will differentiate now for your
lesson on objectives you will
differentiate the concept of self
according to Western thoughts or Eastern
or Oriental perspectives
second explain the concept of self as
found in Asian thoughts and create a
representation of the Filipino self
so here we'll be looking at the cultural
perceptions of Self in two different
ways
number one is the Western and number two
is the Eastern
so the Eastern as called as orientals
represents Asia
and uh Western represent represents
Europe and Northern America
so let's begin with the Eastern thoughts
now of the self based on Confucianism
so here it is more on the code of
conduct no of how one should probably
properly act according to the
relationship with other people new
harmonious social life
so here now we can say that in order to
understand yourself is to understand
what contributions or what effect that
you will have in the society to other
people
no so how you establish a good
relationship or harmonious relationship
with one another
so second no it is what they call the
self-cultivation it is seen as the
ultimate purpose of life but the
characteristics of achunsu a man of
virtue or noble character is still
embedded in his or or her social
relationship
so know how you connect with other
people
how you establish harmonious
relationship with other people so this
is not just based on your own self but
for the benefit of other people
the cultivated self is a subdued self
what so what does it mean so it is
conditioned to respond to perceptions
not of its own needs and aspirations but
of social requirements and obligations
no so to meet the demands of the society
is to let yourself be connected to the
norms
to the rules to the cultural perceptions
of the society in order to be part of
yourself
so yourself is actually part of the
society
your contributions to the society
nowhere in your personal needs are not
um repressed no not totally given more
importance but here you know the
confusion Society no also the
hierarchical for the purpose of
maintaining order
so next is what they call the taoism so
it is uh living in the way of the Tau or
the universe
however the taoism rejects having one
definition of what the tau is
the self is not just an extension of the
family or the community you know it is
part of the universe one of the forms
and manifestations of the Tau
the idea of self is selflessness but
this is not forgetting about the self it
is living a balanced life with society
and nature being open and accepting the
change
so no what does it uh what makes it
distinct from Confucianism
no what does taoism makes it distinct
from Confucianism
believes that you are not just an
extension of your family
or your contribution to the society no
but you are actually part of the
universe now that you have this
contribution that is being selfless to
thinking less about yourself and
thinking more of others
so here no it doesn't mean that you have
to forget about yourself
but to maintain balance understand
yourself and how you understand others
know so that it will actually give you
the openness in understanding more about
yourself and to accept certain changes
next is what we call Buddhism so the
self is seen as an illusion born out of
ignorance of trying to hold and control
things or human-centeredness
thus the self is also the source of all
things and sufferings
above and beyond the things now that we
understand about how we hold and control
things around no but this
um have consequences no or part of the
choices that we have and there's no what
they call corresponding sufferings
and in this suffering snow with tend uh
to have our Quest not to forget about
the self now forget about
um the claimings of the self now break
uh the attachments you have with the
world and to renounce the self no which
is the cause of all suffering
so in doing so not to attain the state
of Nirvana
so Buddhism here no it talks about the
sufferings it talks about the challenges
the trials that you are facing in uh
life
so the more that you crave you know the
more that you feed not the more um it
grows
the more you experience suffering and
you need to detach yourself now from the
world to renounce yourself now because
this will actually lead you to embrace
sufferings
okay
so in other words no in order to attain
certain decisions in our life is to
embrace certain changes certain
sufferings no certain challenges and
that uh that would lead you know in
having this what we call Ideal perfect
State or the Nirvana or what they call
the paradise
so Confucianism and taoism so the person
in striving to a better person does not
create a self no above the others so uh
this is not about not the more you
strive to become better no and it does
not have an impact with other person but
this is totally not the self itself no
but the self no is to have
um beneficial to your community no as
well as in order and Harmony no with
everything else
so there must be certain
thing no a person must do
like
um you need a person must have
contributions or
um I'm back to the community so if you
don't have uh contributions to the
community no that will impact the way
how you will understand yourself so
there must be contributions or
um there that would benefit no uh one
another not to achieve this kind of
Harmony
so as for Buddhism not the self no with
all connectedness
um with all with it all its connections
and selfish ideas is totally taken not
just out of center of the picture but
out of the picture as a whole
so it means that by looking at the
entire connectedness that you have with
one another
so on the other hand now we have the
Western thoughts of the self
so Western perspective no does not
discount the role of the environment and
Society in the formation of the self but
the focus is always looking towards the
self
so you compare yourself no in order to
be better
you create associations no and pass in
the glory of the group for your
self-esteem
you will put Primacy in developing
yourself
so this is now the opposite of the
Eastern perspective so if the Eastern
thoughts now would give us ways on how
we understand ourselves Now by being
with one another no with other people
here in Western thoughts this will give
us the idea that in order to understand
yourself not is to make yourself improve
to improve yourself not to make yourself
better to achieve to achieve certain
success now that will actually develop
self-esteem
so this is more on the focus of the self
so Western thought looks at the world in
dualities where you are distinct from
one another and you are separate from
the Creator
so the Western thoughts now basically
tells us about Duality know that each
one of us is unique
so you need to compare yourself to other
people in order
for you to become better
but sometimes no it's not the case no
and there are times that you have to
remember that you're actually separated
no from the community that you are
independent
so you are
okay
so let's look at now now the differences
of Western and Eastern thoughts so the
Eastern perspective
sees the other person as part of
yourself no as well as things you may
create
so there's a drama in which everyone is
interconnected with their specific roles
no so there is more on submission to
Authority
this is actually obeying to the rules of
the community now it's not just because
Eastern perspectives do not
um anymore follow certain rules no but
their focus is more on um yes
Independence but you have to look at
that know that this is just more about
themselves but this is before others so
they cannot understand other people
without even understanding themselves
first okay so
um but for the Eastern perspective you
have to understand other people in order
for you to understand yourself
no so Americans now for example they
talk more about their person okay so
Americans now for example
they talk more about your personal
attributes now when described describing
themselves no
while Asians no in general now we'll
talk about their social roles or their
social situations you know what uh
example what your job is how much money
you get how much money you earn now what
achievements that your family have you
know in general so what contributions or
impact that you have for other people
so this is more on Eastern perspectives
but for Western perspective it's more on
how you develop yourselves how you
attain a lot of possessions or even
success that you have in college or your
career jobs
so the evaluation or the assessment 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
okay that's why I know most Asians would
keep a low profile
don't humble themselves no they will not
highlight on their achievements because
notice they think that this may appear
boastful to other people
but we cannot also blame how westerners
get used to personal attributes of
themselves
you know so these are opposite poles
the Western culture then is what we
would call as individualistic culture
since their focus is on the person now
Asian culture on the other hand is
called collectivistic culture so as the
group and social relations is given more
importance than individual needs and
wants so it is true note that in America
in Western cultures that the movement
know that a child or apple a person
reached 18 years of age now the parents
would actually let go of their kids to
learn independence of themselves not to
identify the meaning and purpose of
their lives so that will actually give
them the Liberty to go on their own
but here now in Asia specifically in
Philippines no it's the opposite so even
if you're already married or even you're
not yet married no at the age of 30
you're still under the custody of your
parents
though
you can actually have your own life but
there is more of an emotional attachment
with your parents now with your
grandparents
some of us will still live no in the
same roof of our family together with
our own established family
by valuing the individual 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
so the westerners tend to be explicit no
in their communication
in other words no they tend to be
straightforward straightforward
and they do not hide ex implicit
messages
they would say the message in a specific
way as clear as possible to deliver the
um communication
or the message that they want uh they
would like to imply
on the other hand no Asians would
actually say a lot of things
but actually mean the same thing
so there are two flags the one is for
the U.S flag and one is for the
Philippines
Americans would say take care
but if
no they would say huh
they buy
another example
you know when you uh your seat mate no
have bad breath no then Americans now
would frankly tell that person that oh
you have a bad breath no but Filipinos
or Asians no they uh tend to make the
statement a polite manner
they will tell you or they will tell the
person that no no
um maybe I have a gift for you no but
the gift contains a mouthwash and a
toothbrush so we still have a creative
minor in generating you know
um a statement no not for him no not to
be uh
uh like delicious
so in uh the point is we tend to say
many things no but actually we just want
to mean the same thing and hoping that
the person will feel or think what we
want to say
so we tend to have an implicit message
of communication we don't directly tell
that person because that is impolite or
being straightforward because we we
would like to be as polite as possible
and
um that is you know what we are
accustomed not to do
so the westerners also emphasize more on
the value of equality
even if they see that individual can
rise above everything else they also
promote ideas Fair competition and
protect the individuals
so as Asians know whether Collective
regard puts more emphasis on the
hierarchy
as the culture wants to keep things in
Harmony and in order so westerners would
most likely call their boss their
parents or their seniors by their first
name
they won't call them a sir or Mom no
they will they will call them hi sir I
hi Joe
hi Anna no they won't call them by their
first name
but for us no Filipinos now we would say
Sir or Mom good morning sir good morning
parents so we we would call them as mama
and papa so when I on a reflex
because though that is the way how we
respect Elders now that is our culture
now here in the Philippines no how we
create a representation of the Filipino
self no by considering that we are
actually once colonized by Americans and
we somehow adopted that kind of Western
thought not of the self and we still
retain the majority how we take much of
other people rather than for our selves
so with social media migrations
intermarriages variety between the
easterners westerners and Asians
perception May either be blurred or
highlighted
whereas conflict is inevitable in
diversity
so in order to achieve this is to
understand the commonality that we have
regardless of our differences
so the reason why we study this
understanding oneself now in eastern and
western perspective is for us to know
how they view or how they Define
or how they give importance of
themselves like being more on their
personal attributes
okay so in conclusion no the self in
Western and Eastern thoughts varies from
one place to another
so also one of the reasons now
especially for Filipinos you know if
they go abroad is to have an idea of the
culture of the West now the Western
culture and
this so so that they will not experience
culture shock
so for your activity for uh this lesson
so kindly comment down below the
difference
or the perspective of the Eastern
perspective and the Western perspective
so comment down below and
um take a screenshot of your answer and
um upload it in the G form that I will
be providing later on
okay so I hope that this lesson will
give us the idea that we have different
ways on how we understand ourselves
depending on the cultural perceptions no
either
in Western thought or Eastern part
浏览更多相关视频
Linear Time vs Cyclical Time (Western Philosophy vs Eastern Philosophy)
Philosophies of Self: East-West Distinctions | Gish Jen | Big Think
Part 1: The Social and Anthropological Perspectives | Understanding the Self | Cebu
UTS Series: Self From the Anthropological Perspective
Science, Technology, and Society 8 - The Human Person Flourishing in Terms of Science and Technology
Fundamental Moral Unit | Concepts Unwrapped
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)