Individual Differences Essay : Community Vs. Individual Needs

Improved Essays
Community vs. Individual Needs
For many years, a question of which is more important has been debated. Is it the community or the individual? In regards to general welfare, social well being and the basis of utilitarianism , the community is more important than the individual. In almost all cases, it is nearly impossible to attend to each and every individual person’s needs. Community is a group of people living in the same area. Therefore, it is often the case that most decisions are made based on what benefits the entire community.
There are several political philosophies that support the idea that the community is more important than the individual. The first of these philosophies is utilitarianism. In this philosophy, it states that the best action is always the one that benefits the most people and maximizes utility. This policy focuses solely on the outcomes of actions. This idea goes beyond the needs of the individual and takes into account the interests of others. A famous political philosopher by the name of John Stuart Mill is one of the believers of this philosophy. He believed that that individual freedoms are important, but ultimately the outcome that benefits the most people is the best one.
In addition, another philosophical belief called communitarianism that recognizes that there is a connection between both the individual and the community at the same time. It’s the idea that one’s individual beliefs and way of thinking is actually shaped by how their

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Amy Nguyen ENGL 1002 Paper #1 As humans, we grow up in a community of family and friends. They provide the learned values and direction that allows us to become functioning members of society who are able to help others and ourselves. It is the basis of society. Community presents itself as an interwoven network of various part and sub-parts, and every small action can create a ripple effect that may go unnoticed by those immediately surrounding it, but more clearly seen as the waves spread.…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Once we recognise the dependence of human beings on society, then our obligation to sustain the common good of society are…

    • 175 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    well-being before the interests of any other particular group.…

    • 1700 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Annotated Bibliography: Bonnet, Jean-Marie. “Society vs. the Individual in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.” English Studies 63.1 (1982): 32-36 Bonnet argues that Miller fully contradicts himself in his standpoint between the individual and society in the Crucible. The play alternates between being about an individual’s self-discovery and being about a community’s uproar. Bonnet illustrates how Miller constantly forces the characters to deny themselves at the sack of the community’s unity.…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many people assume that a community is just the people who live in a certain area. In reality, a community is much more than just a population of people. It is a group of individuals who work towards a common goal. A community positively influences individuals by trying to solve an obstruction that the individuals must face together. The following sources will be used to explain how a community influences an individual : Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, King’s My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr., CBS News’ “National Guard sent to quell violence following Ferguson Shooting,” and Hu’s “Ferguson Teachers Use Day Off as Opportunity For A Civics Lesson.”…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    If every person in today's society had identical personalities, purpose, and a similar or same physical appearance, the community as a whole would struggle. With no individuality among the people, a desired utopia turns into a dystopia. A person of esteemed position abuses his power. As many dystopia novels such as the "Divergent" series and "Anthem" show, a society will become blind, as well as its balance of power, wealth, and knowledge is thrown off when individuality is renounced. Individuality serves an immense purpose in both a group identity and one's respective self that maintains a positive balance in society, which prevents an adverse, dystopian community.…

    • 1043 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Underserved communities are the group of people who has been treated unequally because they have insufficient funds to cover their expenses, they have medical problems, or they have been discriminated against. According to the American Journal of Managed Care, underserved community include, “. . . [E]conomically disadvantaged, racial and ethnic minorities, the uninsured, low-income children, the elderly, the homeless, those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and those with other chronic health conditions, including severe mental illness.” This means underserved communities are the people who are desperate for help but do not have the source to get appropriate help. Throughout my life I have encountered with underserved population a lot…

    • 1260 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    “Habits of the Heart” by Robert Bellah discusses how individualism is rooted in the heart of American culture. Bellah points the different American cultures that exist across the country, which all have one value in common: the emphasis on the individual. In America, each person should be given the opportunity to strive towards their own will for their life. Another thing Robert Bellah brings up is that community is important in creating a balance between individualism and public life, because people who only focused on dreams for themselves would ruin the country. He talks about the different types of individualism and which ones are the issues.…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The things that i 've learned this year in APUSH is that Americans only believe that they are right so their perspectives are the only correct ones. The second thing I learned is that racism in American history can come in different ways and forms. Third thing I learned is that during The Civil Rights Movement MLK wouldn’t be able to do many things without having Malcolm X threatening the government (this actually made me think about life in a different way, X is the unsung hero).Fourth thing I learned is that the US wanted people to immigrate over here but when they did not need them anymore they rushed to kick out immigrants. The last but not least, Individual vs. Community has a big role in American history, people say that individualism…

    • 1915 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Argument of Utilitarianism In “Utilitarianism” John Stuart Mill presents the case of Utilitarianism as a moral theory. Moral theories are structured as a set of statements used to predict a set of factors or concept. Moral theories are thought to be universal and tell which action is the right one in any given situation. Utilitarianism is one the most influential and best known moral theories, often called “The Greatest Happiness Principles”.…

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In today’s world, people must make decisions that can impact not only them as individuals, but those around them as well. A question that is asked all the time is if the greater good of society is more important than the life of a single person. For example, some hot topics today are gun control and vaccination. Should there be tighter restrictions for guns so more tragedies like Sandy Hook do not happen again? Should parents be made to vaccinate their children so others who cannot get vaccinated are not affected?…

    • 566 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    How do you feel the qualities that you have gained by being a Varsity cheerleader will help you in your future endeavors? “Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” – Heywood Broun The lessons I have learned and my experience of being a Varsity cheerleader is invaluable and vital to success in my future.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    There has been many arguments as to whether having a major sports team in a community can be either beneficial or destructive. By having a professional sports team in a city, it brings the community together and allows them to have similar views on the same subject. People feel as though they belong and are among others that are cheering for their team. Having a sports team in a city gives the people a sense of togetherness and union because they are all wishing for the same thing. This can be seen by using a communitarianism approach and the idea of social capital and social division.…

    • 1346 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In “Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley, John “The Savage” is the character who fought the most for individuality. Because he grew up in a savage lifestyle, he is horrified by the inhumane society of the World State. After he realizes how disturbing the World State society actually is, he fights against it. John wants to live a real life, instead of one taken over by soma-dependent happiness. He voices his desire to Mustapha Mond when he says, “But I don’t want comfort.…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Community Engagement When I was assigned the community engagement assignment I had no idea what I wanted to do for it. So I thought about what is something that I do not have a lot experience in so I can try to better myself as a person. Growing up I never really attended church. Attending church is something that I have been thinking about starting recently, I just have never got myself to go. I have wanted to learn more about religion and it is interesting to me.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays