Individualism

Culture is a learned system of thought and behavior that classifies a certain group who shares particular beliefs, values, and practices. Arguably, it is one of the largest forms of identification when representing specific individuals; one can understand the nature of another via having a well-rounded understanding of culture. Birthroots play an immense role in shaping character; nevertheless, it is not the entire basis that embodies the wholeness of an individual. Mindy Cherri—a high school…

In the case of societies that have certain values, there are members of society that follow the societal rules and those that are overcome by emotion who cannot see the rules’ necessity to society. The Bhagavad-Gita has In this paper, I will argue how in order to overcome desire in the Tao Te Ching and The Bhagavad-Gita, one must understand the negative effects that desire and greed have on society and the Way. In the society of The Bhagavad Gita, everything is done with a purpose and a reason…

Duality exists across many concepts: dark and light, bad and good, burden and duty, war and peace. However, one of the most valuable is that of the beacon and the gibbet: the notion of carving our own futures for the sake of destiny. This idea is as old as time itself. In Greek mythology, the tale of Icarus is depicted as one of overestimation and pride. As the story goes, Icarus and his father flee imprisonment from the island of Crete using wings built of feathers and wax. His father warns him…

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Every human being, of whatever origin, deserves respect. We must each respect others even as we respect ourselves.” This makes people wonder, could society function without respect? We all respect different people for different reasons. Maybe you respect your parents for how hard they work, or you might respect a friend for their accomplishments. Sometimes you could show somebody respect by just shaking their hand, or doing something as simple as saying thank…

Within numerous societies many individuals must give up their uniqueness for the good of civilization as a whole, succumbing to such things as minority status and inequality. However, Dorothy Lee’s intriguing piece Individual Autonomy and Social Structure, discuses how individual integrity and social structure are able to function simultaneously (Lee 14). This is crucial to the community, yet it is often lost within the confines of social structure that creates barriers around what one can and…

Edwin Arlington Robinson described a man that appeared to have it all in the poem, “Richard Cory.” The subject was revered by the town’s people and known as a man of great assets and his satisfactory lifestyle. The poem is ended abruptly when Richard Cory shoots himself in the head, taking his own life. The moral of the story is that money and materialistic things offer some level of security and stability, but not necessarily happiness. Though his outward appearance was polished and he seemed…

In the realm of normative ethical theories there are many choices that can best represent one’s own personal belief structure. The one that best suits my personal thought process and belief structure is Egoism. When I say “I am an egoist” I automatically know what the majority of people will think, and that is “how selfish of you to think only of yourself”? When most people hear the word egoist it is automatically associated to have an extremely negative meaning about a person being a selfish…

Though most human actions and desires are undeniably formed in the protection or furtherance of the agent 's personal interest, to say this constitutes the entirety of human interaction would discount the altruistic capabilities of empathetic thought, and consequent action, seen in human beings. In this paper, I will directly respond to ethical egoist , both strategic and metaphysical, arguments in defense of cooperative action being rooted in self-interest. I will begin with a strategic ethical…

A society is built on a basis of a variety of talents that each person living in that society holds. In order for society to prosper, it must continue the system where people make use of its talent to perform a particular job. Thus, it is helpful that one makes use of their talents to create more income for society. Book 1 of Smith’s Wealth of Nations, supports the idea that the divisions of labor promotes the concept of individuality. One way the use of one’s talent in the division of…

o Although egoist may agree that a man exists for his own sake, egoism neglects our nature as social creatures.”. o Main source texts: Stephen M. Cahn, A supreme Moral Principle. o The Egoist declares us all selfish and that humans are only motivated by self-interest. Philosophers such as Ayn Rand elaborates saying it our best nature to only be concerned about one’s self as it the main motive for one’s existence. I. Main argument. o Your main premise: The Egoist Claims we are all selfish just…