THE
WESTERN&ORIENTAL/
EASTERN THOUGHT
BY GROUP 1
INTRODUCTION
Culture and cultural practices have great
effects on peoples’ ways of life and changes
as well. Different cultures with varying
environments tend to create different
perceptions of the self. One of the most
common distinction between cultures of
people are the cultures of the Eastern versus
the Western. Eastern represents Asia and
Western represents Europe and Northern
America.
western
eastern
Western Thoughts
• it conducts scientific investigations to
understand the self and developed theories
and difference among them
• it emphasizes the importance of scientific
methods of investigations to provide
satisfactory answers to understanding the
self
• the Wester n culture is what we would call
an individualistic culture since their focus is
on the person
• most of the philosophers we have discussed
in our previous lessons fall under western
thoughts
Eastern Thoughts
• it raises question about the ultimate
meaning of human life
• they have developed theories of self as they
have investigated what it means to be a
human being
• its emphasis is relational rather than
individual
• the self is considered not in isolation but in
relation to others, society ,and the universe
• Eastern theories are highly practical. They
offer a variety of techniques for cultivating a
deeper understanding of the self
• they do not utilize the scientific techniques
of investigation
A closer look to different Eastern
Thoughts
• BUDDHISM
• HINDUISM
• CONFUCIANISM
• TAOISM
BUF
BUDDHISM
Buddhism comes from the root word
“budh” meaning awake
Siddhartha Gautama
known as the “Buddha” is the
founder of Buddhism.
BUDDHISM
THE 5 PARTS THAT COMPOSE THE
INDIVIDUAL
Matter
Sensation
Perception
Mental
Constructs
• Conciousness
•
•
•
•
BUDDHISM
• There is no self(or soul)
• there is only nothing all else is an illusion
• They also believe that nothing is
permanent, but change
BUDDHISM
The ideal is to
experience
Nirvana, a state of
transcendence
devoid of selfreference.
BUDDHISM
This state of
transcendence can
be achieved
through meditation
BUF
HINDUISM
The religion of ancient people known
as the Aryans
HINDUISM
Hindus believe that
Atman being an
immortal continues
to be reincarnated
from lifetime to
lifetime until it is
freed from the
cycle of rebirth and
reach a state of
nirvan or non-birth.
HINDUISM
Karma does not
end with a body’s
death; its influence
may extend
through
incarnation of the
soul.
BUF
CONFUCIANISM
A philosophy and belief from
ancient
China
“DO NOT DO OTHERS WHAT
YOU WOULD NOT WANT
OTHERS TO YOU.”
THE GOLDEN RULE
-CONFUCIUS
• another important feature in Confucian thought
is the individual’s greatest mission of attaining
self-realization wherein self-cultivation is
instrumental.
• self-cultivation could be accomplished by
knowing one’s role in the society and act
accordingly.
Based on Confucian
thought , moral
character is perfected
through continuously
taking every
opportunity to
improve oneself in
thought and action.
BUF
TAOISM
an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious
belief attributed to Lao Tzu
• Taoism believes that the self is an extension
of the cosmos not social relationships.
• They describe the self as one of the
limitless forms of the Tao.
• The Tao is commonly regarded as a nature
that is the foundation of all that exists.
• The perfect man has no self and the selfless
person leads to a balanced life, in harmony
with nature.
• There should be unity and
harmony among opposing
elements; the Yin and Yang.
DIMENSION
WESTERN
EASTERN
FRAME OF REFERENCE
THERE IS A SEPARATION BETWEEN
PHILOSOPHY AND
RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY.
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY ARE
INTERTWINED
EXAMPLES OF SCHOOL OF
THOUGHT/BELIEF SYSTEM
SCHOLASTICISM
RATIONALISM
EMPIRICISM
PHENOMENOLOGY
BUDDHISM
HINDUISM
CONFUCIANISM
TAOISM
NOTABLE PHILOSOPHERS
SOCRATES
PLATO
ARISTOTLE
RENE DESCARTES
JOHN LOCKE
CONFUCIUS
LAO TZU
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA (BUDDHA)
SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE
THEY MADE USE OF REASON RATHER THAN FAITH
TO PURSE WISDOM
THEY TRUSTED INTUITION AND IS
OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS
BELIEF
MODES OF COGNITION
ANALYTIC AND DEDUCTIVE
SYNTHETIC AND INDUCTIVE
EMPHASIS
DISTINCTIONS AND OPPOSITION
COMMONALITIES AND HARMONIES
VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE AND LIFE
LINEAR
CIRCULAR
VIEW OF SELF
EGOCENTRIC
SOCIOCENTRIC
THEOLOGICAL VIEW
MONOTHEISTIC
POLYTHEISTIC(PLURALISTIC)
IDEAL
SELF-ACTUALIZATION THROUGH PERSONAL
GROWTH
TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED LIFE AND
FIND ONE’S ROLE IN SOCIETY
CULTURAL FRAMEWORK
INDIVIDUALISM
COLLECTIVISM
Thank
you