Individual and Social Resilience

Individualism is keeping yourself in a prison of selfish ideas and beliefs. It's not in universal order and harmony.. So it will be always in conflict with reality.. The reality is "We are the world and world is we "

Ali Anani, PhD Very insightful, thought provoking. This is one point for basis of all my philosophical quest ever since my childhood. Ayn Rand quoted this as an ancient conflict Individualist Vs. Collectivist in Fountainhead. There has been an ever lasting debate if we are lone wolves or herd animals (part of pack) that was argued. There is no society without individual. We have come up with these structures, frameworks post civilization era with some principles that it would enrich and evolve mankind ahead. But unfortunately we have been successful in making those frameworks (like society etc.) at the cost of principles on which these structures were made. We learnt to compromise on Integrity for socially desirable attitudes, behaviors. The question is not about building the resilience, if it's built in Integrity or not. If it's built on integrity, the individual resilience will indeed be aligned to the collective or social resilience. There is chaos for compromise of Integrity. “To be alone is the fate of all great minds – a fate deplored at times, but still?always chosen as the less grievous of two evils.” (Schopenhauer) “In loneliness, the lonely one eats himself;?in a crowd, the many eat him.?Now choose” (Nietzsche)?

I believe that as a society, we do need to come together on certain social issues to benefit the greater good. There’s no question that community and connectedness are important for a resilient society. At the same time, we can’t overlook the importance of maintaining our individuality. If we aren’t being true to ourselves, what’s the point? We’d just be going through the motions, and that sounds pretty miserable, right? To focus completely on others without any regard for the self creates a dangerous imbalance. Imagine if a platform like LinkedIn were only about the collective—no one sharing their individual experiences or thoughts. It’d become too individualistic in a different sense—not allowing for personal expression or growth. The social contract we all operate under would require a massive culture shift if it was solely about the other and never about the self. But here’s where I always come back to: if I’m not taking care of myself, how can I truly take care of others? There’s a balance between taking care of yourself and being a responsible part of the community. Self-care and self-awareness are important because they allow us to show up for others in meaningful ways.

Great post & questions, Ali Anani, PhD ... The individual and society are inextricably linked, each influencing the other. While the individual's rights and freedoms are essential for a just and equitable society, society also provides the framework and resources necessary for individual growth and fulfillment. The part and the whole are similarly interconnected; the individual contributes to the well-being of the whole, while the whole provides the context and support for the individual's existence. As the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau famously stated, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." This quote highlights the tension between individual liberty and societal constraints, reminding us that the balance between the two is crucial for a harmonious and just society.

Ali Anani, PhD If only an individual or a group of people grows, if an elite of any kind is created, and the majority is ignored, only in that circle will the circulation of growth energy be created and that will push the others even more away , dear friend. Taking care of individuals, not only from the margins, because in many societies the middle class has disappeared, is a task that needs to be seriously thought about, so that it doesn't just remain a dead letter on paper. For some it is an abstract thought, but I repeat again, the life of some of us takes place in a crowd where every bright example of help is a miracle. It is one thing to learn to be strong and resilient as an individual, but with a great need to be an integral part of the community and not to "turn a blind eye" when the community needs help. Sometimes the elite really walk with their eyes closed, and it is the ordinary invisible man who closely follows the needs of the people around him. People are ashamed of their poverty, their illnesses, their "vicious" circle that they often did not fall into through their own fault, but let's not forget, it can happen to anyone.