Personalism is a political philosophy which aims at the spirituality of man as it’s highest good. I’ve been wondering, however, whether this philosophy is better advanced by communalism or individualism?
I wonder if the nature of man is not something which seems not yet defined in partisan politics; as man, who lives as part of society, acts and creates his life as an individual in the context of the community, which good ends in the community. But unlike radical communism, he remains an individual worthy of self-determination.
Hi mrn. Good topic and I can’t believe it’s remained untouched since you posted it.
Spirituality is by its very nature a highly personal, individual thing. We express our spirituality in differing, individual ways by how we each live and how we each create.
Given this, I can see no other way but individualism to best allow each of us the personal freedom to express our spirituality in the ways that are uniquely and exclusively our own.
my real name:Personalism is a political philosophy which aims at the spirituality of man as it’s highest good. I’ve been wondering, however, whether this philosophy is better advanced by communalism or individualism?
K: the Greeks believed that man was made whole by
service within the community. And this service was
participation within the polis. Without the polis, man
was not and could not be complete. Because Individualism
as you call it, was not possible alone or in the family, but
within the polis.
MRN: I wonder if the nature of man is not something which seems not yet defined in partisan politics; as man, who lives as part of society, acts and creates his life as an individual in the context of the community, which good ends in the community. But unlike radical communism, he remains an individual worthy of self-determination.
K: The unspoken truth is, without community, we all die.
Conservatives talk about rugged individualism, and going it alone,
and building up by one’s one hands. But the fact is, we can only
function as well as our society/community functions. And instead
of pretending that outdated philosophies such as rugged
individualism, still exist, let us embrace the reality. That is
we can only be strong if the society/community is strong.
communism is acceptance/understanding of the real value
of community. It is us and we are it. communism is
taking community and creating a political context for it.
Democracy does not have a place for community because
it has been hijacked, (democracy) by those who advocate
rugged individualism, instead of community. I.E. those who
advocate smaller government because it preempts man.
But the Greeks quite clearly would have rejected that argument,
because without the polis (city/state)man cannot achieve
their goals/promise. We have reject the Greek (and roman)
ideal of the value of society for the christian ideal,
the christian ideal is man with his soul. Society, polis,
community mean nothing to the christian because the
only value is man with his god. anything else takes away from
god. this is the modern idea of democracy,
I.E. one man, one vote. Community has no place in modern
democracy because of the christian rejection of the ancient
ideals of community.
An interesting observation, at least with respect to protestantism, perhaps.
However, some christians (the Catholics and the Orthodox) still are influenced by classical philosophies,
and are saved as the member of a community, the Church.
i can have both, i can be a individual, and be part of a community.
During my time as a christain it was all about the community, i think that’s one of the reasons i left (that and lack of faith/trust), but my mother does lots of things for the community, and loves the community involved with the church.
Glider, hi. I wonder if the answer and the problem aren’t come across here. Cannot unity in a community, and an individual person working for community, only not be servile if it is done freely (with love, as in this case…i suppose hate could work too)? But if so, how do you make a community (federal, not tribal), where this is possible in the modern world?
Do you understand my problem? Maybe the answer involves the necessity of patriotism (for your community). Maybe it depends on a feeling of unity for all in the world. On the other hand, maybe it’s only possible with universal love-for-neighbor.
