Arguments Against Radically Individualism

Do you stand alone as a unique and special individual? Since the beginning of American history there have been struggles for individualism. The American Revolution, the American Civil War, and the separation from family life are all examples of individualism in American history. Individualism is an American paradigm designed by the modern societal structure that is an altered idea of the foundation by immigrants. In today’s society the struggle for individualism is more personal and represents how American values have shifted since the beginning of American history.

Eric Mack’s essay “In Defense of Individualism” provides a basic outlook of individualistic personalities and interactions that are prevalent throughout society. Mack gives definitions of different theories in individualism, breaking the encompassing thought

Huxley believes that with the advancement of technology, human individualism will be lost. He illustrated this loss of individuality through writing of human mass production and state conditioning. Beginning with the Bokanovsky process, Huxley writes that scientists can easily create up to 96 identical; embryos with predestined characteristics such as eye color and gender. Moreover, these eggs are grown in makeshift wombs they refer to as bottles. Individuals no longer exist when speaking of physical appearance as people are now cloned. Technology has ridded the variables of pregnancy and chance to determine who an individual will be. Exactly what Huxley felt would come as an extra with technology. But he isn’t finished just yet. Before the

What is individualism? Individualism is about being self-reliant in one self. How does individualism contribute into our government? Individualism makes someone strong. Individualism gives someone the courage to fight for what they believe in. In these three passages different people proved how individualism gives you the courage to fight. Depicted in Mark Twain’s satiric novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), the 14 year old protagonist, Huck exposes the hypocrisy of white society’s morals during his childhood in the Antebellum South. The author's purpose for authoring his work is to lambaste racism, slavery, and hypocrisy of the white society. As described in “Song Of Myself” from the collection Leaves Of Grass poet, Walt Whitman, expresses everyone is connected because every person who exists is important. Therefore everyone should be treated equally. Author, James McPherson, wrote a nonfictional war account collection in the year of the Civil War, the collection what we fought for took place in the northern states. The notion of independence and individualism is developed by North fighting for freedom and South fighting for freedom of states.

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is a science fiction book that captures both the good and bad sides of cloning and mass production of humans through science. Huxley’s book, published in 1932, conveys his well-developed and disturbingly accurate ideas about human behavior in what was then the distant future. In addition, his writing measures the capacity for which humans can obsess over not only having a perfect society, but also having total control over everyone and everything in a world where nothing is wild and untamed. Individualism is seen as a cause of instability, and society in its entirety is broken down into five castes. For the people of the

Ralph Waldo Emerson voices his beliefs on the importance of individualism through the quote: “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” This quote is said with the underlying purpose of decreasing the pressures to adapt to societal norms, while simultaneously encouraging the development of a unique identity. Of course, this should be the ideal mindset, but this concept does more damage to the individual, who is trying to stand out, than can be anticipated. Overall, the idea of this notion is admirable, but it does not take into account the obstacles that will overcomplicate the life of the said individual. Because of this, the position presented in the above quote is neither

Hyperindividualism deals with the extreme concern over the material world and decreased concern over the natural or wild. Our culture has become consumed by the materials that we create. Hyper individualism is not only about our culture becoming concerned with how much material things we have, but also a loss of things. Our communities are being designed based on the hyperindividualism rampant in our culture. In order to combat hyperindividualism our culture needs to examine and design our communities in a more traditional layout.

The Opposite of Collectivism Individualists societies are those in which the interest of the individual prevails over the interest of the group, and in which people are accepted to look after themselves and their imigiate families.

As I think about the conversation that I believe was among the most intriguing in the recent past, my roommate got me wondering about one major characteristic of Western Societies – individualism. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the term “individualism” means “the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant” or “self-centered feeling or conduct”. Some people often use the term when they are asked to define an American and when I asked my roommate a personal question about her decision, I felt that her reaction might have reflected the feature as well. Interacting with fellow peers at the University has contributed towards increasing my curiosity about why individualism been prevalent in the West since times immemorial, and

Many children are exposed to stories that fill their imaginations with heroic deeds. Over the past several decades, fictional characters such as Batman, Spider-Man, and Superman have graced the covers of magazines, appeared on television, and filled the toy aisle at department stores. Super heroes help children to cement the idea of bravery, chivalry, and morals. Children can take away from these action figures that a hero is someone who puts others before themselves; a hero personifies selflessness in the name of good. Superheroes expose children to the idea of real world heroes, Batman might save a ship full of people from a bomb on television, but essentially police officers and firemen will save everyday common citizens. All heroes, whether superhuman or an everyday hero, have the same goal which is to empower and protect the

An individualistic society gives greater weight to personal achievements and individual rights, as opposed to a collectivist society where the individual sees herself through the achievements of the group in which he/she belongs (family, friends, club, etc.) and in which the individual owes dedication

Next, to further support my claims I will be discussing the notion of Locke’s individualism wherein the theory revolves around and emphasizes the importance and primacy of the individual, of his or her rights, and of his or her independence of action (Velazquez, 2012). This theory negates society as a whole and focuses on the individual because it is as individuals where we are nurtured and become who we are today. An individual acts on his own, makes decisions of his own, and interact with groups as an individual (Rowlands, 2006). Human beings are not as social as they think. We do not depend on them, instead it is as individuals where we grow and learn. When one is taught a subject, the individual is the one that grasps it and retains that knowledge. It is through ourselves and no one

Aldous Huxley 's novel, Brave New World, tells the story of a dystopian world that contends with some of our modern world 's most debated topics; individuality vs. society and the price one is willing to pay for security. Far from a idyllic utopia, Huxley portrays an advanced, highly ordered, and technology-driven society in which security and stability are purchased at the price of individuality. While the citizens of World State seem to be content with a world in which all individuality must be given up; individuality is necessary for the survival of both society and the individual, thus the individual needs must be placed before the needs of the society.

Through my analyzation of these values, I have assessed the relevance of superheroes in cinema through the impact of American popular culture, the contrast of gender roles, and their impact on children. As a result, society should be gracious toward the immense popularity of superhero films, as they bolster American popular culture and positively impact children from a young age. Although the gender roles might be a bit skewed, many film companies are taking steps to include women in more empowering roles such as Wonder Woman in the DC cinematic universe. Therefore, superheroes in cinema tend to only create and preserve positive characteristics within society, which is glorious in the future of mankind. In closing, I end with the question, “Which superhero best depicts

When a person is young, they are allowed to follow their bliss, their passions. Frivolity rules your childhood and any chastisements are disregarded-- maybe you were reprimanded for certain behavioral “misconducts”, but those scoldings fell on deaf ears because you were simply carefree. Grievously, as a person matures, they are subjected to preemptive disciplinary tandem and prone to conformity. Society forms ideals and preferences that will eventually weigh on the consciences of individuals, forcing them to question their actions and their morals. Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet, essayist, and advocate of social reform, touches upon the subject matter of innate individualism in his thought-provoking Self-Reliance. Emerson believes that true individualism requires the ability to rely solely on one’s own intuition and live according to a self-popularized doctrine. This philosophy peaked my interest, leading to the formation of my question: How does being self reliant and the philosophy of individualism affect society?