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







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







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







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







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







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?







Early Understandings: The Renaissance







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







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







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

a history of individualism and collectivism soc 30

Documents

bc ad

early christian collectivism

pax romana ad

christian europe

protestant reformation

collectivism soc

history of individualism

popularity of individualism