Junger’s book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, begins by comparing our modernized western society to the lifestyle of tribal communities during the Stone age. Backed by personal accounts and statistical data, Justin describes how an individual in modern societies, like America and Europe, have become disconnected, anti-social, and detrimentally independent. Throughout the first chapter, Junger does not ignore the savage and uncivilized qualities of a tribal community but instead uses these qualities to further prove that by being outrageously savage and uncivilized, the society allows for individuals to form unbreakable social bonds - a tribe. Junger argues that a tribal system, similar to that of the Stone age, would not only be beneficial
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Junger believes that the foremost problem in a modernized society is the lack of war conflict. He argues that without the coercive nature of war, tribes fail to form close-knit bonds and lose loyalty and trust within them. Though this may have worked in the smaller American population of the 17th century, he fails to mention how this type of “system” would work in the densely packed populations of cities like New York and Washington DC. Junger states that “virtually all of the Indian tribes waged war against their neighbors” (Junger 13). Imagine if this were to happen in 21st century America. Unlike the 17th century, instead of having access to bow and arrows and spears, individuals would now have access to nukes, tear gas, biological viruses, and military aircraft. These advancement in weaponry and transportation would practically give each individual the power to single handily eradicate all of the county - and potentially even the entire …show more content…
surrounded by others and yet feel deeply, dangerously alone” (Junger 18). Backed by research from the World Health Organization, Junger states that “people in wealthy countries suffer depression at as much as eight times the rate they do in poor countries” (Junger 20). Junger uses this to equate the increase in depression rates in modern society to a higher pay gap between individuals, and a lack of dependence upon other. Though being independent has its benefits, it is also helpful to be dependent upon someone else. Someone you can look to in a time of need and disparity. I greatly agree with him on the fact that our modernized society pushed us towards a life where we are expected of too much. Over the past decades alone jobs have been increasing their requirements in education and experience, making college almost a requirement for young adults at this time. Because of this, we are always stuck thinking about the future, planning for the future, and worrying about the future. We no longer have time to sit back and look at the present, a place where we could easily find happiness in our lives. The day to day lives of the tribal community allow to be carefree about the future, focusing most of their mind on the present. This is why Junger is not able to find accounts of physiologically
Junger believes that the foremost problem in a modernized society is the lack of war conflict. He argues that without the coercive nature of war, tribes fail to form close-knit bonds and lose loyalty and trust within them. Though this may have worked in the smaller American population of the 17th century, he fails to mention how this type of “system” would work in the densely packed populations of cities like New York and Washington DC. Junger states that “virtually all of the Indian tribes waged war against their neighbors” (Junger 13). Imagine if this were to happen in 21st century America. Unlike the 17th century, instead of having access to bow and arrows and spears, individuals would now have access to nukes, tear gas, biological viruses, and military aircraft. These advancement in weaponry and transportation would practically give each individual the power to single handily eradicate all of the county - and potentially even the entire …show more content…
surrounded by others and yet feel deeply, dangerously alone” (Junger 18). Backed by research from the World Health Organization, Junger states that “people in wealthy countries suffer depression at as much as eight times the rate they do in poor countries” (Junger 20). Junger uses this to equate the increase in depression rates in modern society to a higher pay gap between individuals, and a lack of dependence upon other. Though being independent has its benefits, it is also helpful to be dependent upon someone else. Someone you can look to in a time of need and disparity. I greatly agree with him on the fact that our modernized society pushed us towards a life where we are expected of too much. Over the past decades alone jobs have been increasing their requirements in education and experience, making college almost a requirement for young adults at this time. Because of this, we are always stuck thinking about the future, planning for the future, and worrying about the future. We no longer have time to sit back and look at the present, a place where we could easily find happiness in our lives. The day to day lives of the tribal community allow to be carefree about the future, focusing most of their mind on the present. This is why Junger is not able to find accounts of physiologically