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Collectivism vs individualism

musicmusic
edited September 2012 in General Banter
I am not talking about politics, such as collective ownership and all that. just read on. Collectivism is another name for herd mentality, the destroyer of originality. Being an individual is perhaps the most important thing, it makes you ... you. What could be more important than being yourself? Without individualism, we are just mindless drones following leaders, worshiping the rich and successful, and so on. We won't think for ourselves.

Consider the evils of collectivist mindset. People with that mindset believe we are all the same, and what applies to one will apply to the many. There is no recognition that people are unique with their peculiar problems that need addressing. They put everyone in the same box and conclude that one solution works for everyone. Not so in real life. A person with a healthy body will have different needs and objectives, plus strengths and weaknesses, as contrasted with a disabled person. A person with autism will need a different solution to his problems, as compared to an NT. And so forth.

Individualism > understanding, collectivism > ignorance

Comments

  • karastikarasti Breathing Minnesota Moderator
    I agree with what you said in general, but I also think it's up to the individual to do the best they can to be individual. It gets tricky when an individuals characteristics don't fit into society, because society overall can't/won't bend to fit individuals. It's up to individuals to find their niche and make it work within society, to find the peg that fits their hole so to speak. Our society is very collectivist, but sometimes that's in a good way, too. But people have to take their own responsibility not to get lost within it, and I do think you can both retain your "self" and work within society for the collective good of you and everyone else.
  • musicmusic
    vinlyn said:

    music said:

    ...What could be more important than being yourself?...

    Compassion for others.

    No, it is not. See, as individuals, we disagree. ;)
  • PrairieGhostPrairieGhost Veteran
    edited September 2012
    Hi, music:
    What could be more important than being yourself?
    What does being yourself mean?

    Collectivism just means working together to achieve more than we could individually. If we didn't collectively recognise paper as money, we wouldn't be able to have 'individualistic' capitalism.

    I think forced conformity is more what you are objecting to than collectivism. i.e. you are criticising totalitarianism, and I agree.
    MaryAnneperson
  • musicmusic
    PrairieGhost said:

    Hi, music:

    What could be more important than being yourself?
    What does being yourself mean?

    Collectivism just means working together to achieve more than we could individually. If we didn't collectively recognise paper as money, we wouldn't be able to have 'individualistic' capitalism.

    I think forced conformity is more what you are objecting to than collectivism. i.e. you are criticising totalitarianism, and I agree.

    Collectivism always leads to totalitarianism.
  • MaryAnneMaryAnne Veteran
    edited September 2012
    @Music

    So describe to us your version of "Utopia".... where everyone is an individual and there are no collective efforts of society, government or commerce to be had.

    Even better, go back in time to the earliest gatherings and tribes of humans and start there. Tell us where humanity would be without any collectivism at all.....

    I'm very curious to hear of this "vision of Individualism" and how it works.

  • PrairieGhostPrairieGhost Veteran
    edited September 2012
    Hi music:
    Collectivism always leads to totalitarianism.
    I expect that there are certain kinds of collectivism which you particularly disapprove of, and I think it would help us if you explained which kinds, because these words we are using have very broad, fuzzy definitions.
    MaryAnne
  • MaryAnneMaryAnne Veteran
    edited September 2012
    Where's that "Crickets" button when you need it? ;)



  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    It can't be asked.
    This one works well though....... :coffee:
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    People rarely, if ever, fit into a this or that type of label or ideology. From my point of view we are always an amalgam of individualism and collectivism to varying degrees depending upon the circumstance. To have a view or hold to an ideology that only sees one or the other leads to untrue assessments and thus unskillful decisions.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited October 2012
    Perfect. That answers THAT question.
This discussion has been closed.