To What Extent Should We Embrace the Ideological Perspective(S) Reflected in the Source?

Is the level of interdependence a society maintains among its people (Hofstede). This is about a society in which everyone looks out for him or herself while collectivism the opposite of individualism is a society that embraces people being integrated into a strong cohesive in-groups including extended families. Germany is an individualistic society with a high score of 67 on the cultural scale. People expresses themselves based on personal achievements and individual rights. Likewise, the United State is also considered to be an individualistic scoring a high 91 on the culture scale. This is evident in the society by the saying “American dream” which encourages individuals to work hard and be whatever they chose to be in life. Countries like

Collectivism-> is basically when you think that values and the goals of the group and the common good over the goals of any one individual are the most beneficial. It stresses human interdependence and the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of separate individuals

In Storti’s book he defines the concept of self as a scale, individualism being one of the poles and collectivism as the other. Many people fall somewhere in between these two but there are some that are to the extreme of each. Storti defines individualist as “the smallest unit of survival is the individual (Storti, 1999, p. 25). According to Storti (1999) people identify primarily with self, and the needs of the individual are satisfied before those of the group”. The opposite pole is

In this era, the term “individualism” was first used. Unlike in the colonial period, many Americans now believed individuals should pursue their own self-interest, no matter what the cost to the public good, and that they should and could depend only on themselves. Americans more and more saw the realm of the private self as one in which other individuals and government should not

Adam Smith, an Enlightenment economist, advocated for a laissez-faire approach to the economy, leaving the citizens the right to control their economic system. He recommended that the government deregulate trade and allow people to be “perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way.” (Doc C) Since people work for their own benefit, Smith argued that the workers, while striving for their own economic gain, would ultimately benefit the entire society, “led by an invisible hand,” (Doc C) which would equate the supply and demand of the free market. By giving people the right to decide how the

“Individualism is the idea that the individual’s life belongs to him and that he has an inalienable right to live as he sees fit, to act on his own judgement, to keep and use the product of his effort, and to pursue the causes of his choosing.” My take on individualism, is basically that we can control ourselves, we can do what we want with restrictions to keep those that stand by us safe. Individualism is a way of a society. Now, on the other hand there is collectivism, “the idea that the individual’s life belongs not to him but to the group or society of which he is merely a part of has no rights, and that he must sacrifice his values and goals for the group’s greater good.” My take on this is “idea” is that you are completely controlled when put under this way of society. Having read the book Anthem by Ayn Rand collectivism is for sure something that I would not want to be a part of.

In 1946, Ayn Rand wrote, “‘The greatest good for the greatest number’ is one of the most vicious slogans ever foisted on humanity. This slogan has no concrete, specific meaning. There is no way to interpret it benevolently, but a great many ways in which it can be used to justify the most vicious actions.” Collectivism is defined as the practice of assigning primacy to a group over each individual within it. At its core, the ideology stems from prioritizing the well-being of all. However, when allowed to run rampant as it is in Anthem, collectivism contorts into a binding institution that impedes individual evolution. Idealistically, collectivism is utopic, but in practice it negates the significance of the identities of its subjects.

Individualism back during the late 18th century was given the meaning of the justification for individuals to focus more on their own economic success rather than have contributions to general society. This was the opposite of the original Puritan ideas of working hard in your position for the benefit of the community. These new capitalist ideas led to the downfall of moral economy as merchant took upon new individualistic economical approaches. With more successful stores and less competition, merchants had to power to drive prices higher than consumers liked. Economic opportunities and capitalist ideology would lead to the downfall of moral economy and a change towards a more capitalist

Individualism is a core value of American culture. It has been influencing all the fields of society, economics, politics and culture. It has played an immense and extensive effect to shape the character and mindset of the American nation. In the colonial period of 1607 - 1776, these Europeans had come to a new land to find new opportunity. The Colonists knew nothing but the rule and culture of England, thus bringing traits of it into their new society in the New World. They did not have a keep grip on societal development until people started to speak up about new ideas and meanings of life. But they feared from straying from the past traditions of England because of a possible chance that England would see that they were not able to thrive and settle in this new place. Thus, when different opinions, ideas, or anything opposing current societal ways, it was to be banished, killed, or in some way rid of before society was able to change in any way other than what the entire group of the community wanted. This time focused on groups of people and the entire population’s views and conformity rather than the individual’s beliefs and principles. The rationalism period between 1750 and 1800 focused on major changes in society especially through religion and government life. Acts and plans imposed by the British government enabled Americans to realize the lack of true freedom and liberty they had being under control of England. This era sparked numerous new mindsets and attitudes

Individualism could mean many things, for instance being yourself or simply saying ¨who cares¨. In my opinion, this word means ignoring what other people in a society have to say. It is to just allow yourself to be free and live your life how you want to live your life. For example, Mark Twain's satiric novel, The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn in the Antebellum South on the Mississippi River, published in 1844 promotes individualism through Huckś actions, the novelś main character.The author writes this in order to condemn the racism, Hypocrisy, and slavery of white society, similar to Walt Whitman's Free verse poem, ¨Song Of Myself,¨ from the collection of Leaves of Grass published in 1855, Whitman conveys that everyone has an equal place on this earth and composed of the same atoms .Whitman's purpose for composing this poem is to make the audience feel as if they have equal power in a society since the Industrial Revolution made society feel as if people had little power. Which also comes to a very important researcher named James McPherson, a historical nonfiction researcher who ,wrote ¨What We Fought For¨set during the Civil War describing why and what the North fought for. McPherson purpose is to inform the Union's soldier's motivation and hardships during the war. In the 19th century, being an individual meant that one could live in a society and just try to face them and suffer; however, he or she can just take themselves out of the whole problem by leaving society

For the last century, individualism vs. collectivism has been a political conflict in America. What is collectivism and individualism you might ask, well collectivism is briefly defined as a group of people working together to give priority over individuals. On the other hand, individualism can be defined as a theory of favoring freedom over collective individuals and working to benefit his/her own self. Although the two seem very different, they also share many similar characteristics.

Individualism is not selfishness. However, individualism helps people stand on different position and try to make changes in the society. These changes bring the America new ideas, push the nation make progress. There is not too much emphasis on individualism at the expense of social unity in American culture. Instead, individualism needs to weigh a higher status in this nation.

Individualism: ones individuality, what makes us different from everyone else, allows us to stand out in society, makes us unique. In Aldous Huxley’s novel A Brave New World, the word individualism is unknown to the civilians living in this dystopian lifestyle created by Huxley. “A squat grey building of only thirty-four storeys. Over the main entrance the words, Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, and, in a shield, the world states motto, Community, Identity, Stability” (Huxley 1) From the way the world state is producing humans, to the similarities between inanimate objects and civilians of the world state and the controlling of members of the world state with the use of soma, we are able to see the world state has no individuality and for this reason everyone is the same making everyone almost

Libertarianism is the social-political philosophy that emphasizes autonomy, freedom of choice, and individual rights above all else. Its name comes from Liberty - as in a liberty to act as a morally autonomous agent without public or private interference. Although Libertarianism holds a generally skeptical view of political government, it does not entirely argue for anarchism. Libertarianism does argue for a limited government, not necessarily limited in its actual physical size or scope, but rather limited in its ability, and power, to interfere into the aforementioned autonomy of a moral citizen. There are many schools of thoughts within Libertarianism.

The free-market embodies the ideals set forth by Adam Smith. The free market is different from other markets in that it allows its participants to purse their own interests rather than requiring the dictation of a government or ruler. This pursuit of self-interest causes a