Temporal Relationships Between Individualism Collectivism ...
A History of Individualism and Collectivism SOC 30.
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Transcript of A History of Individualism and Collectivism SOC 30.
A History of Individualismand Collectivism
SOC 30
The Popularity of Individualism
One of the dominant characteristics of modern culture is individualism. This individualism prevails not only in the United States, but elsewhere, including Korea. In view of such a long human history, it is not easy to define individualism because as a phenomenon it is complex and varied…
- Yung Suk Kim
Early Understandings of Individualism and Collectivism
Purpose of Individualism• Autonomy: the state of
an individual outside of authority
• Self-reliance: being solely responsible for your own well-being
Purpose of Collectivism• Common Good: group
goals and needs above individual ones
Early Understandings of Individualism and Collectivism
• For any hunter-gatherer society, individualism most likely meant death
• Hunting was by necessity a communal activity– What if you were
injured?– What if there was too
little game?– Who would watch your
family while you were gone?
– Who would watch your back?
Early Understandings: Athens
• Hyper-individualist– Philosophy is an individual pursuit– Democracy is the best form of
government– A “free market” is the best system
• The government’s role is to protect the aforementioned democracy
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Sparta
• Hyper-collectivist– All men enrolled in the military
• Continuous military service• The Hoplite
– All women supporting their men and operating businesses
• Everything that a Spartan does is for the benefit of the Spartan State
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: The Apostles
• See Acts 2:44-45• “All those who had believed were
together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”
• Collectivism was again, a social security net
– For weak / sick– For widows / orphans / elderly• Christians were soon envied by
those around them
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Medieval Period
• Pax Romana – Peace of Rome – Rome had provided safety and
security for all people– The Roman army operated as a
collective entity
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Medieval Period
• The “Barbarian Tribes” that wore down the Roman Empire were far more individualist– Individualist for the warrior!
• Common people were provided with structure and security in exchange for loyalty and service to their lords– But, individual lives held little value
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Christian Europe
• By AD 800, the Catholic church had spread throughout Europe. Its only competition was the Orthodox church in Asia– The church held immense power
and was one of the largest landowners
• People were organized into different social categories– However, you yourself did not
count. It was how you fit into your group that counted
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: The Renaissance
• Now we see a shift in the importance of the individual
• Renaissance = “rebirth”– The Roman Empire was viewed
through rose-covered glasses, and many Europeans believed that they had finally re-reached the greatness of Rome
• Revival of classical Greek and Roman culture
• Major questions:– What is the importance of life?– What is man’s central role?
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: The Renaissance
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Protestant Reformation
• Caused By:– Growing abuses of the Catholic
Church (and thus mistrust)– Philosophical thoughts of the
day• Increasingly, Europeans begin to
acknowledge the powers and abilities of individuals
– Desire for increasing education– Increasingly individualist
perspectives
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Early Understandings: Protestant Reformation
• The invention of the Printing Press by Johannes Gutenberg in 1439 is extremely significant– The Bible may now
be translated into the common tongue
– The Catholic Church no longer has to “translate” the bible for followers
– Individuals can read it for themselves
4th century BCAristotle & Self-Interest
AD 30-100Early Christian Collectivism
44BC - AD 476“Pax Romana”
AD 800Christian Europe
1450-1600Renaissance
1500-1650Protestant Reformation
Concluding Thoughts
• The widespread belief in individualism is a relatively new phenomenon– However, it never replaced
collectivism entirely• Individualism and
collectivism exist side-by-side in today’s cultures
• These two tendencies will continue to be in tension for the far foreseeable future – they will continue to shape societies
Activity• With a partner (or in
groups), decide whether or not the following are individualist or collectivist in nature:– Schools– Hospitals– Government– Traffic Patterns and Rules– Church