UNIT 5: The Self From Eastern And Western Perspective Flashcards
Buddhism, Confucianism,
Hinduism, Integral Yoga, Islam,
Taoism, Zen
EASTERN
PHILOSOPHY
Christianity, Rational, Scientific,
Logical schools
WESTERN
PHILOSOPHY
Eastern Philosophy VS Western Philosophy
- Main Principles
- Living Principles
- The “Me” Concept”
- Search for Absolute Truth
- Goals and Key to Success
- Search for Truth and
- Fundamental Research
Individualism/ Collectivism
Main Principle of east vs west
EAST
❑ Cosmological Unity
❑ Life is a journey
towards eternal
realities
❑ Circular View of the
universe
❑ Behavioral Ethics
West
❑ Feeling of oneself as
an element of the
divine
❑ Life is a service
❑ Linear View of the
Universe
❑ Self-dedication to the
goal
The “Me” Concept East vs West
EAST
Discovering the true
me; your purpose in
the world
WEST
The true “Me” in every
human being needs to
become apparent.
Search for Absolute Truth EvsW
EAST
The truth is GIVEN but have
not been proved
WEST
The truth needs to be proved
Individualism VS
Collectivism EvsW
EAST
A human being is an integral
part of the universe and society..
Duty towards all others is a very
important matter.
COLLECTIVISM is dominant
WEST
A human being has an
individualistic nature and is an
independent part of the universe
and society. INDIVIDUALISM is
dominant.
Goals and Key to Success
EAST - SPIRITUAL
Fulfillment of duties
and responsibilities
WEST - MATERIALISTIC
Getting rich, achieving
fame, creating a lasting
legacy
Western concept of Self
Analytical
Monotheistic
Individualistic
Materialistic/ Rationalistic
Inclination to see
actuality as an
aggregate of parts
ANALYTICAL
Said to have originated in Classical Greece during Plato and Aristotle’s time. It studies the
nature and origin of knowledge.
EPISTEMOLOGY
Engaged in the tendency
toward unitary
explanations of phenomena
and a closed system view of
self
MONOTHEISTIC
It seeks to understand God
and His relationship with man
through reason and logic.
Christian Philosophy
Quality of Western thinking
where self-expression and selfactualization are essential ways
of establishing who one is, as
well as discovering satisfaction
in the world
INDIVIDUALISTIC
Often associated with Friedrich
Nietzsche (1844-1900). It challenges religious doctrines and traditions and views life as having no purpose; man is not to waste time finding meaning.
Western Nihilism
The goal is to become an
________________. This is
achieved when an individual lives
according to his/her purpose and
values, not at the expectations of
society
Ubermensch (superman)
Discredit explanations
that do not use
analytic-deductive
modes of thinking
MATERIALISTIC
Founded in 3rd Century BC by
Zeno of Cithium and spread
throughout Greece. Its goal of
denial of self is quite similar to
Buddhism
Stoicism
The goal of Stoicism is
freedom
from passion (“anguish” or
“suffering”) through the pursuit of reason and “apatheia”
(objectiveness, lack of emotion);
to recognize the commanality of
all men
Eastern Concept of Self
Confucianism
Taoism
Buddhism
Story of the 3 vinegar tasters
Three men were tasting a
pot of vinegar. Each has acquired a
different taste; sour, bitter, and
sweet. Each man represents one of
the three prominent teachings of
Chinese wisdom—Confucianism,
Buddhism, and Taoism—and the
vinegar represents the “essence of
life.
Propagated by Confucius in the 6th5th Century BC. It was the state
religion of China for over two
millenia
the importance of identifying oneself to
the community. Self Cultivation,
the development of one’s life
through living ethically and
following rules, is the purpose of life
Confucianism
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CONFUCIANISM
LI
HSIAO
YI
XIN
JEN
CHUNG
principle of
self-restraint . It
includes
following social
etiquette and
mannerisms
LI
