The problem as I see in relation to the present capitalist system is the forcing of individualism upon society.
The existence of society is dependant upon social bond that individualism attempts to destroy. Individualism want everyone to be an individual distinct from one another in all respect, it promotes selfishness, greed, envy. Individualism want to promote people into thinking I want to do everything myself, without regard to the community.
This is because of the fear of submerging the individual by the herd. All great men are individuals, like Paganini. But how many Paganini are there? but one.
I do not believe society ought to promote individualism, but that an individual will rise himself from society. Society can never create an individual, but an individual emerge from a unified society with a common bond.
The powers of society don’t encourage individuality, they do their level best to destroy the individual. After all the ‘individualist’ chimera you see in slick advertising, it is merely an illusion. A true individual rises despite socialization, not because of it.
but how can an individual rise from society which does not exist. society exist because of a common bond, without it, it does not exist. so the precondition for the rise of individual in society is the existence of common bond that unite the society from which the individual can rise.
someoneisatthedoof:“It makes no sense to talk of the ‘individual’ when discussing politics. There is no individual, only society…”
K: That is simply not true. A society is simply individuals grouped together. Remove the individuals and there is no society.
You can (in radical situations) remove the society, and still
you have individuals. Politics is a part of society, and
still stands under the same rules. You can remove the politics
from the individuals, but not the individuals from political.
That is blatantly false. It is the society that does not exist. Only individuals exist. Take the example of a “society’s” view on abortion. After you average it all out, I can’t tell you how many people will fit the society, but I can tell you I’ll be able to find millions in the US or Canada for example who will not fit society.
“Society” is a way of simplifying individuals to make them easier to deal with. It’s like when I “type” people into INTP’s, ESTJ’s, etc. To try to understand a complete individual in minutes is impossible, but to reduce them into four basic categories and work from there is an easy shortcut to making assumptions on how to deal with them. The only problem is that it is a shortcut, and it will lead to mistakes that will cause problems in the long term if not corrected. Speaking of “society” is the same. It can help when discussing things in a short term manner, but it will only hinder you in the long term.
One does not change a society, it’s too large, yet societies change. This is because individuals can and do change. Only 6 years ago Canada’s political leaders were mimicking “society” by saying gay marriage should never be allowed, now the most conservative of them only say there should be a free vot ont he matter. No society is changed in 6 years. Individuals are. Individuals met homosexuals, and realized they are not pariahs to be avoided. Society cannot meet a homosexual. Society can do nothing. Society is nothing.
THose who speak of society are only cowards afraid of taking a step to make the world a better place.
Good to see that the two of you have attempted a refutation of my point without even understanding it.
Simply asserting the opposite because your brain cannot conceive of what I’m describing (despite it being a philosophy that is over 200 years old) doesn’t count as a refutation. Try again, by all means…
It makes sense to talk about the ‘individual’ when one is drowning in a swimming pool filled to the brink with stupid people who is to lazy to swim themselves. so they cling on to others hoping by others’ grace they will be saved.
if there is no individual, only society. then what remains of society if one one of its members survive? how can you have a one member society?
You’ve got it backwards. Capitalism does not “force” individualism. Capitalism is the economic system that is created by individualism, i.e the recognition of individual rights esp. the right to private property.
Intellectual freedom requires political freedom which results in economic freedom. Thus a free mind and a free market are corollaries.