Individualism Essay, Research Paper

Individualism versus Other “Isms”

“Liberalism expresses an encompassing view of human life, one that aspires to leave individuals as much as possible free to shape their lives in a meaningful direction.” According to Ronald Beiner, practices of liberalism are not the same with what it must be. Ronald Beiner criticises the liberalism and the communitarianism. In his journal, individuals have to get more rights to choice what they want and what they will do. However, it can only be a utopia. Also, it is not a good idea to break of individuals from community. The benefits of individualism -communitarian system like human’s need of protection, success at the management and shaping of government and government’s control over individuals.

All beings have born in a society. Thinking process is done by the concepts which all comes from the language, the individual learns their usage and meaning from the society. His behaviours are shaped by the society. If all moral and expectations are shaped by the society, how this individual can be separated from society. Many individuals use social groups for preventing them from the outside. Community protects their members. An individual finds an environment to grow and get power. According to Singh, “?a liberal democratic society may sometimes have to weigh the importance of certain forms of uniform treatment for all individuals against the importance of cultural survival and perhaps opt sometimes in favour of the latter.” (Burtonwood 3)

At many areas, the using of the communitarianism and individualism at the management helps making more money and efficiency. At the example from the People Management, in such companies such as Shell, Motorola and ABB, for instance, the individual gets a reward based on the basis of how well it nurtures individual. (2) However, the US’ firms reward only individuals and this hinders the teamwork.

Society forms the norms. These norms put in order of individual’s life appropriate for the social life. From the changing system to comminucater system, no new moral system will develop. It is called anomie in the sociology. Anomie is a social condition where there is no meaning shared among people. People tried to invent ther own ways of living. Durkheim’s searches showed that many individuals couldn’t find the solution and these cause suicides. (Hall 177)

Individuals have no abilities to change the sysytem but the communities have to power o recreate new systems. Etzioni mention this power by “I am suggesting a third way that reminds us we are all brothers and sisters, but we cannot wait for government to take care of us. We all must sacrifice, take care of our responsibilities, do our share.” (D’Antonio 2) Also, Etzioni added “The more social oreder within a state or society-the more individual autonomy has to be romoted.” (Schilcher 1)

In conclusion, let’s symbolize individual by gem. Gem is expensive individually. However, a necklace, which many gems are used to make, becomes much more valuable selling those gems individually. By the idea of the Etzioni’s new theory of synthesis of individualism and communitarianism, thes two differen ideology has to be used in the social order.

Burtonwod, Neil. “Liberalism and Communitarianim: A Response to Two Recent Attempts to Reconcile Individual Autonomy with Group Identity” Educational Studies Nov.98, Vol.24 Issue 3, p 265; 10p

D’Antonio, Micheal. “I or We” Britannica 2 Feb. 2000

“Etzioni’s New Theory: a Synthesis of Liberal and Communitarian Views”

Jornal of Socio-Economics 01-January-1999 28-February-2000 Vol. 28, Issue 4

Hall, Stuart, and David Held, Don Hubert, and Kenneth Thompson., ed. “Disenchantment With The Modern World.” Modernity An Intrduction to Modern Societies

“Managing in 7 Dimensions.” People Management 22 Apr. 1999 28 Feb. 2000 Vol.5 Issue 8, p 33, 1p

Annotated Bibliography

“Liberalism and Communitarianim: A Response to Two Recent Attempts to Reconcile Individual Autonomy with Group Identity”

This article is about the liberal democracy and non-liberal communities. There are topics about inividual compromise, Halsted and the case for differentiated curricula. It is a good reference for understanding these concepts. It is very detailedon individual autonomy and cultural development. Its information comes from the quotes of Singh and Halstead, mostly. Writer uses direct statements. There are statements like “I agree with?, I argue ?” Words are sophisticated. For example: appropriate, reconciliation, authenticity, curricula. Mostly sentences are long and complex. This article helps me to understand better the individualism and its harmful effects.

“I or We”

It is a good source for understanding Etzioni and his synthesis of indvidualism and communitarism. Writer tells the Etzioni’s idealogy by story. Opinions are given like dialogs. Wirter does not use direct statements. He only gives the opinions of others. He is using common words. There is only one topic. The topic is not explained in detail. There are only opinions about the new ideology. There is no statistics or data. By this article, I learned ideas of many people about Etzioni and I take quotes of Etzioni from here.

“Etzioni’s New Theory: a Synthesis of Liberal and Communitarian Views”

It is another source of mine that only tells the ideas of Etzioni. All information is about Etzioni’s ideas and his new ideology’s development. There are quotes for showing the idea. Topics are not explained in detailed. Words are sophisticated and sentences are long. Also, writer uses direct statements. I use quotes for understanding Etzioni better and use one of this quotes for supporting my writing.

“Disenchantment With The Modern World”

This text is written about costs of liberation. Liberation comes with the many problems and this text tells some of these problems in socologically. In the text, there are opinions of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Book is sociology lesson book. It is written for students in academic language. There are no data and statistics. There are three main topics; loss of norms, alienation, iron cage of rationality. Topics are not explained in detail, just mentioned. Sentences are long and some words are sophisticated but usually common. I use anomie from this text for supporting my writing for showing what will happen to individual if he come off from the society.

“Managing in 7 Dimensions.”

There are many values differ between cultures can be grouped under the seven dimensions. It is a source for managers. Its purpose is helping the managers from seven different dimensions. The topics are universalism vs. particularism, specific vs. diffuse, neutrality vs. affectivity, inner-direct vs. outer-directed, achieved status vs. ascribed status, sequential time vs. synchronic time, and individualism vs. communitarianism. Topics are not detailed. It is not using statistics or data. Just give examples of firms and countries using which of it. The sentences are short and Mostly words are common. It helps me to understand how individualism-communitarianism is applied in business administration. I used it like evidence.