Society and its Role in the Development of Individuality
Term Paper
The aspects of life surround one as an individual and the society as a whole. The concepts and foundations of society receive contributions from individual members and also provide a contribution to each individual member. Society in which we live in, as a great role in our development of individuality and in turn the development of ones’ individuality benefits not only oneself but also the society. Such conditions that exist in terms of the role that individuality and society in the maturation of one another are human nature and mentality, the concept of ’oneness’ in such associations and an overall knowledge of the way the world works. Under these conditions, the foundations of society and the individual are built.
Society is a close association of individuals that have in common many things and therefore they are interdependent upon one another. The individual is of great importance to the society and how it is formed. However, the society as a whole has an influence on a vast magnitude to the maturation of one as an individual. The ideals, characteristics, thoughts and actions make up the overall human nature and mentality of the human species. The connections both emotional and mental, that members of a society share gives the basis to how they alternatively effect one another.
Furthermore, human nature is a vast, however inanimate, object of human beings. This is what makes one’s characteristics, qualities and faculties distinguishable from others. Despite this fact, we see a vivid resemblance in many individuals in different societies. However uncommon it is to find the exact same influences and results, the broader scope finds that different situations provide similar outcomes. This is where we find society’s role in the development of one’s individuality. Human nature in terms of society is: how the members think, what they expect and the ideals they believed should be followed. This gives the basis to how people associate with others.
The fact of the matter is that one’s human nature in comparison to that of the society is on a different level. The dominance of society as a whole intimidates the individual. In addition, this hinders one’s efforts to seek one’s own identity. One becomes engrossed in the revels of society feeling no need to protest what he does not feel he should obeyed by and in turn society gains greater power over the individual. In his book On Liberty, John Stuart Mill notes:
They majority being satisfied with the ways of mankind as they now are (for it is they who make them that way), can not comprehend why those ways should not be good enough for everybody; and what is more, spontaneity forms no part of the ideal of the majority of the moral and social…but is rather looked on with jealousy, as a troublesome and perhaps…obstruction to the general acceptance of what [they]…in their own judgment, think would be best for mankind.(121)
Not to say society influences the individuals through fear, on the contrary, as we look at the mentality of the society we must consider its ideals. Ideals are what provide the foundations to a society and its members. The principals of society as a whole is shared by its members, however, it is impossible for every individual in a community to be able to think, feel and act the same way and never change.
Also the concept of an individual changing over time is natural. However, society is based on what state of mind a group of individuals are in at a certain time in which they were to create the society. When an individual member evolves and grows to a maturity beyond the other members, the society and its values to the individual diminishes. In contrast to this, many of the other members in the society do not evolve at the same time or to the same level. This is where the idea of radicals and rebels comes from. This becomes problematic in the sense that many fear change. Once again human nature finds society compared to the individual is on a different level.
Although what is stated above is true, this leads us to the fact that individuality and society play major roles in the development of one another. The situation illustrated above can have two common outcomes: the individual has developed he identity to the level that he has enough human faculties to further expand on his own regardless of society’s perceptions or regresses and accepts society’s principals to avoid becoming an outcaste. As we examine the foremost of the two possible results, we must consider the individual and his human nature. If he has developed his individuality then he has realized his own potential and the meaning of life in his own being. With that, he does not desire, and in many respects, needs to follow the ideals of society. He is now one with himself and society can not break that connection.
However, unfortunate the fact, it would seem as if the latter of these two outcomes is far from complete evolution into his own being. On the contrary, he has evolved somewhat mentally to the point where he sees his own human potential but he remains under the control of society. This individual is not uncommon, rather he is too common. Yes, it is the nature of human beings to need that emotional connection to others and to try and preserve it at all cost. Individuals find this comfort in their associations within the society. At times the appeal of an interdependent community overshadows that of recognizing one’s identity. No matter how unfortunate it is, many sacrifice their identity for the whole.
In contrast, in the terms of the individual foremost illustrated, his benefit would have extended to the society as well. This individual if allowed by society can develop an advanced level of his own human faculties. Not to say that society can abolish every effort within an individual to find his identity, however, they can intimidate and divert them ever so subtly away from such. However, as society hinders ones’ abilities, it creates a backlash upon itself. The philosopher John Stuart Mil notes in his work On Liberty that:
Where not the person’s own character but the traditions or customs of other people are the rule of conduct, there is wanting one of the principal ingredients of human happiness, and quite the chief ingredient of individual and social progress.(120)
All in all we find that with the development of our own faculties in which we are able to advance, we also contribute to the expansion of society in view of its own improvements internally.
Another condition under which one lives in a society that influences ones’ identity is the concept of ‘oneness’ in a community. This interferes with individuality in many ways. When considering the oneness in a society, we view it as singleness, sameness, uniting or connecting. This is all true except these few word do not emphasize the circumstances that come out of achieving this oneness. These phrases of course trigger a list of mental themes and leads to the understanding of why this is also a role played by society in one’s individuality.
To attain the goal of oneness in a society, one is believed to unite completely with others in the community. This is when the interdependence of a group of people begins to develop. Even though we are put on this earth together and we must share it so of course we are liable to help one another, it is not practical to assume absolute dependence in others. It is, however, common for individuals to feel the comfort of this and not see the danger it may lead to. This is because the concept of oneness supply’s the connection of emotions, ideals, thoughts and many other basic human faculties with those of others.
Despite this fact and all the good relations it develops between people, it is not always good for the individual. Once one becomes infiltrated into such a life, what real need is there for one’s own abilities? This is fact that many face. In another one of his great works entitled Utilitarianism, he states:
The deeply rooted conception which every individual even now has of himself as a social being, tends to make him feel it one of his natural wants that there should be harmony between his feelings and aims and those of his fellow creatures…he still needs to be conscious that his real aim and theirs do not conflict; that he is not opposing himself to what they really wish for, namely, their own good, but is on the contrary, promoting it. (79)
They have this very close nit community where everything about being apart of this life and its ethos dilutes them mentally and spiritually from the fact that they have become depersonalized. They do not see their own capabilities as singular from those of the society.
It seems as if the concept of oneness as stated above is over exaggerated, however its real effect is more or less underestimated. Why it is that conformity is so much more prevalent? Why even in the development of a nation (and speaking from American experience especially) are there so few individuals willing to speak out against society and use their own abilities to go forward with their revolutionary ideas? In greater instances, the answers to these questions revolve around society’s perceptions and principals.
When one enters into a relationship of oneness, it is a revelation of something scared, something they’re only able to share with the others in their society. This life includes deep emotional, spiritual and intellectual connections. It gives them the sense of safety and security. They feel they have found complete trust and loyalty to another group of people outside of their family. Everyone knows the feeling of an endless search for this type of connection with others.
Truthfully speaking, we have to admit that we all are probing throughout our lives for that oneness that we think associations with others can provide. It’s supposed to be that special bond that makes one’s life fulfilling. This is why people believe that you have to be social when you are young. Many believe that being social will create a much healthier adult. However, we are not speaking in terms of children in school; we have to consider the overall society. Soren Kierkegaad in his work Either/Or: A Fragment of Life notes that:
When an individual considers himself aesthetically, he becomes conscious of this self of his that as a multiple concretion inwardly determined in many ways, but in spite of all the inner diversity it is all still his nature…His soul is like soul from which there spring all kinds of herbs, all equally entitled to thrive; it is in this diversity that his self lies, and he has no self higher than this. (525)
When individuals use a society to satisfy their human needs, they believe they are receiving the equivalent to all of this. It is impossible for an outside force to educe such human capabilities.
This type of oneness bond is dangerous in terms of one coming into one's own identity. There is no room for one’s individuality here. These individuals live in a society that is a veneer. It appears to provide every aspect that is suffice to the development of a human being. The society does this by playing on an individuals’ feeble mind, which doesn’t know or understand its abilities as a human being, and their strong emotions that is devoted to find that bond. Society glamorizes interdependence as one of the essentials to a satisfying life that will lead to happiness.
However, society only depraves the individual further by evading this fact. They use this once they have deemed it necessary to the goodness of the others in the society. The society makes one aware of the fact that they would be losing the feeling of acceptance, companionship, and all other humanistic needs. By glorifying what they can provide for an individual, they entice them through images that are prone to attract them.
Moreover, when attaining oneness in a society one becomes endangered, in the sense that inducing one’s own individuality is plagued. The society believes it is in the individuals’ interest to do so as well as in their own. Of course with this devout support from anyone, a society will stay alive. According to Erich Fromm in his book On Being Human:
Society, while having a function both stimulating and inhibiting at the same time, has always been in conflict with humanity. Only when the purpose of society is identified with that of humanity will society cease to paralyze man and encourage his dominance. (103)
If one is not allowed to develop their identity separate from their society, they are not able to evolve. In addition to this, if the individual is not able to evolve, the society will have little chance of doing so itself.
The final condition under which one lives is the lack of awareness of one’s life meaning. This is because many ignore this fact. Society creates a wall blocking these thoughts making it seem as if the meaning of life can only be found within the community. However, the individual can not understand why they are on this earth or the purpose of the human species whatsoever. The curiosity of one’s mind may never be fulfilled.
Moreover, an individual may be plagued by the unlearned answers to such a question. Even though the answer for every individual isn’t the same, the unique knowledge of life’s meaning is obtained through one’s own separate existence from the rest of the world, provides an answer nonetheless. Life’s meaning can only, more than not be found within the individual himself. This is an exclusive awareness of emotion, education, thought and action. The distinction of each individual’s character from one another provides this uncompromising truth.
To be alive and to just survive does not make one aware of life’s meaning. To endure one’s existence through frivolous and meaningless actions will only provide even more senseless and trivial answers in response to this question. Many don’t use experiences to understand their lives. They don’t create events and memories that have infinite significance to their existence. Society contributes to one’s frivolous pursuit of happiness. Society’s part in this revolves around the fact that they discourage the individual pursuit of this question. They make it apparent that the only answers they seek can be found within the community.
Society presumably makes accessible the answer to life’s meaning. However, it doesn’t, or at least not in the reference that one seeks. Furthermore, the answer that society provides dose not answer the meaning of one’s life, but rather the meaning of relationships and associations with others. Moreover, the society can not do so. As a whole the society must consider every member. Also, as stated before, the answer to this question is unique to every person. The society, no matter how efficient, can not satisfy this inquisitiveness in which each of its members has.
One’s individuality makes the answer to this question difficult and easy simultaneously. When one lacks identity, the answer to this question has little to no importance. This is where society makes a universal answer apply to every member. This is also the instance that makes the individualistic members search more thoroughly. However, for those who have accepted the society’s answer, individuality will be difficult to attain. In addition the entire reason for one’s purpose on this earth will never be learned.
Society does not realize that their feeble attempt to satisfy human probing into life’s meaning is inadequate. They believe that the answer to one’s question will satisfy that of the others. This response is assumed to the universal truth, where the answer to one’s question applies to all. However, we know this not to be the case; for if it were, centuries of philosophers would have long found this out. One great writer named Ralph Waldo Emerson notes in his essay entitled “Self-Reliance” that:
Nature suffers nothing to remain in her kingdoms which can not help itself. The genesis and maturation of a planet, its poise and orbit, the bended tree recovering itself from the strong wind, the vital resources of every animal and vegetable, are demonstrations of the self-sufficing and therefore self-relying soul. (37)
Society hopes that every member can accept this as an ideal apart of the community. They can’t seem to understand that one’s life quest for life’s meaning can not be easily found within their limits or at the benefit of others. This is precisely why the search for this answer can only be found within the individual himself.
Despite this, the individual feeling that the significance of society over exceeds that of his own humanity and furthermore lacking his own identity will find comfort in society’s attempt to answer all his questions. However, the most individualistic member will distinguish himself from this and venture on his own. When he does find the answer which he seeks, it will inspire his fellow society members. He will be the influence that forces them to pursue their own life journey. It will force the society to move forward and acknowledge each member individually. This will also have the society surrender their hold on an underestimated ideal and create room for advancement. In other words, they won’t expect members to accept the meaning of life to be what they assume it to be but what each individual’s character say it to be.
Overall this can be the most important of conditions that force society and individuality to influence one another. The realization that this quest must be taken alone comes to play. The answer to what the meaning of life is not a math equation that can easily be solved with a predefined function. It is not a question of science where the scientific method, no matter how previously successful, can be used. It is a deeper level of thought. It is the examination of theory, the past and individual humanity. It is by far the most difficult question to be answered. This is why society can not answer it for us.
Such is the case in life. The individual searches, sometimes endlessly, for his humanity and identity in this world. He seeks that purpose and knowledge that makes him a functioning and noteworthy part of society. In turn, society searches for its importance in an individual’s life. This is followed by endless attempts to over exert their influence in the individual’s life. Causing individuals to be forced to live n=under conditions of over powering outside forces.
Individuals make up the society. While the society helps make the individual. One can not survive or evolve without the other. We must take into consideration that we are all on this earth together. We all must breathe the same air, share the same space and utilize the same oceans and dirt. We can not assume any responsibility in another’s life. But we also can not assume absolute responsibility either. We must see the balance of life where we accept the influences of one another; however, we can not blame others for our misguided lives. And in turn, others can no over exceed their power in our lives.