ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to expand the theoretical and conceptual horizons of the concept of self by examining the ideas and ideals of self in two non-Western cultural traditions, namely, the Kemetic and Confucian philosophical traditions. In contrast to the Western individualistic idea of the isolated, static and rational self, both the Kemetic and Confucian traditions conceive selfhood as a center of relationships engaging in a never-ending process of moral cultivation and transformation through constant interactions with other human, natural and spiritual beings. Both of these two non-Western visions emphasize collectivity, morality, sensitivity, transformability and inclusivity. The Kemetic and Confucian models of the self provide us with the possibility to conceptualize the uniqueness of the person or the self without falling into debased forms of individualism, as well as the possibility to embrace culture or community as a unifying and empowering force for human flourishing without sacrificing human diversity.
