At our final meeting we will discussing the topic of individuality in contemporary American society.
What does it mean to be an individual in an environment saturated by media influence and popular
culture, where we are programmed to adopt a herd-mentality and become docile robots. From a sociological
perspective, individualists act on the principle of being autonomous and self reliant, but you can take
that notion farther and say that they are ones who think and behave independently of conventional
thought in a progressive way to develop the self, which is in stark contrast to how most live their lives today. Another
interesting facet is, what is my life purpose, do I just want to graduate, get a good job and make a lot of money?
If not, then what accomplishments in my life will make me happy and how do I want to live my life? These are integral
parts of individuality.
Somethings that might be worth considering beforehand are: in what ways do you live your live independent
of your friends, family, society, institutions and country? Do you think, dress, communicate and behave in the same
ways that you find in your own immediate environment? What are the costs and benefits when you conform to or
reject what is deemed as “acceptable and expected” behavior by the people around yourself? Does it even matter, or is it
beneficial when we examine our culture around us and ask ” am I living the life I want to be living or the way I am
expected to?” Do you adopt the dominant values and ideals of contemporary society or shun them?
These might be important and interesting questions to reflect upon as we approach the end of the academic year
and enter the next decade. You could entertain the question of where you are at in in the development of your own
life and where you would truly like to be in the immediate future and farther down the line.
Feel free to stop by the Philosophy Club this Thursday at 11:15, by the clocktower to add your own opinions to the discussion.
