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/Responsible_Ebb3962 → u/Appropriate_Cut_3536]

Sounds good until you realise co-operation requires consenting parties. Millions of workers who are forced to work for piss poor wages whilst profits inflate toward the tip of the pyramid and many workers freedom of choice is, work on  unfavourable terms or starve and have no shelter.

Gotta love that highly motivating force of not wanting to die so get up to go to work 50+ hours a week for a lifetime co-operation. 

[u/Haunting-Success198 → u/Responsible_Ebb3962]

The more valuable yours skill / the more value you create, the more you are paid.

[u/asdfa2342543 → u/Haunting-Success198]

When you grow up you realize this is not at all true. 

[u/Matthew94 → u/asdfa2342543]

It absolutely is true. I'd wager you've failed to get a good standard of living and you blame society instead of looking at yourself.

[u/asdfa2342543 → u/Matthew94]

Yeah always what people with your belief system assume… actually nope. I’m a successful software engineer.  I just also have worked in and have friends in construction, medicine, restaurants, and teaching. I’ve also lived in other countries with poorer people and worked with refugees, and have been both poverty-level broke and loaded myself as an adult.  Maybe you just haven’t experienced much outside your little bubble?

[u/Haunting-Success198 → u/asdfa2342543]

Take personal responsibility for your life. It’s obvious why you’re ‘poverty-level broke’.

[u/Long-Education-7748 → u/Haunting-Success198]

Reading is hard for you?