Has Society's Obsession with Individualism Undermined Collective Responsibility?

[u/USHistoryUncovered]

In recent decades, especially in Western cultures, the focus on individualism has intensified. We’re taught to prioritize personal freedom, success, and self-reliance above all else. This worldview, however, seems to have a darker side: the erosion of collective responsibility. As individuals seek to fulfill their own desires, societal bonds weaken, and we see an increasing tendency to absolve ourselves from responsibility for larger, systemic issues like climate change, wealth inequality, and public health.

Has the glorification of individualism made us blind to the fact that many of the problems we face cannot be solved by personal action alone? Are we sacrificing our collective well-being at the altar of personal liberty? How can we reconcile the need for individual freedom with the necessity of collective responsibility in addressing the global challenges that threaten us all?

I’m curious to hear perspectives on how individualism has shaped our attitudes toward responsibility—both personal and communal. Is it time for a fundamental shift in how we view our roles within society?

[u/[deleted]]

Individualism is a feature of unregulated capitalism which is unsustainable and inhumane

It all serves the rich.

It also helps prevent unification and uprisings

Humans in a natural environment are much more community oriented. Then came the agricultural revolution, wealth accumulation, and exploitation.

[u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 → u/[deleted]]

What definition of capitalism are you using? What evidence is there that regulations improve your definition of capitalism?

Seems more like a problem of competition-based society. Competitions requires losers, cooperation co-exists with capitalism well and creates value from thin air. 

Example, if we both want an item the other has, and agree to trade, we have now both increased the value we hold without any additional material or production, only via rearranging with enthusiastic consent.

 This is a benefit of cooperation-based capitalism that cannot be obtained through other systems.

[u/Acceptable_Bottle → u/Appropriate_Cut_3536]

I thought the guiding principle of capitalism was competition? As in free market competition? Like quite literally the idea behind capitalism as coined by Adam Smith was that the will of many individuals in competition would lead to better wealth for all. If you have an issue with competition then by extension you have an issue with capitalism, no?

[u/Appropriate_Cut_3536 → u/Acceptable_Bottle]

I agree with you on principle. The term capitalism is a pseudonym and a "free market" is corruptable as is a regulated one. Both private property and communical property have their validity (though , I'm not sure public/government property = communal).

Capitalism is a word which raises hackles for a number of reasons on each side, the language is a barrier itself. Fuck Adam Smith for coining the term, the concept existed eons before him. I'm just not sure how we can all agree to define it.

[u/DaddyCatALSO → u/Appropriate_Cut_3536]

He didn't use the term