Recently, an article titled "The worse people are, the more they like collectivism" has caused widespread controversy on the Internet. The author of the article claims to be an individualist, believing that collectivism is a kind of ideology that ravages the individual, destroys the individual, and destroys the individual's personality, and the worse the person, the more he likes collectivism, because the collective can give them security, warmth and glory. The author of the article also flaunts his independence and freedom, disdainful of any connection with society, groups and the state.
As soon as this article was issued, it aroused strong opposition and criticism from netizens. Many netizens believe that the author of the article is completely a psychologically deformed fetus, not only does not understand the connotation of collectivism and individualism, but also does not know the relationship between the collective and the individual, let alone what is the connotation of the progress of human civilization. This kind of remarks are very harmful to the development and progress of society.
Some netizens pointed out that collectivism is the basic principle of human development and progress, the concrete expression of the world outlook and values of the working people, and in modern society, it is also the basic principle of socialist moral norms. It conforms to the fundamental interests of the entire society, the nation, and the state. It is not only an ideological theory, but also a spirit of human civilization and an overall will for human progress. The expression of collectivism is that all words and deeds must take the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people as the fundamental starting point, safeguard the fundamental interests of society, the nation, the state, or certain social groups at all times, and have the courage to wage an unremitting struggle against all words and deeds that undermine the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people. The interests of the individual in collectivism are in principle consistent with the interests of the whole. Collective interests are the concentrated embodiment of individual interests. Of course, if there is a contradiction between individual interests and collective interests, individual interests should give way to collective interests, which is the basic principle of safeguarding collective interests.
Some netizens retorted that individualism is the fundamental starting point of everything that takes personal interests as the fundamental starting point, and believes that personal interests are above all else. Individualism emphasizes individual freedom, personal interests, and political and ethical doctrines and social philosophies that emphasize self-domination. 7. The essence of individualism is a worldview that starts from the supremacy of the individual and looks at the world, society and interpersonal relationships with the individual as the center. This theory asserts that the individual is an end in itself, that society is only a means to an individual end, and that all individuals are morally equal. Individualism arose with the advent of private ownership of the means of production and developed with the development of private ownership. 10 The capitalist system is the last and most complete social form of private ownership of the means of production, and individualism has reached its peak in the bourgeoisie.
Individualism has a wide meaning: as a value system, it asserts that all values are centered on the individual, and the individual itself has the most important value. As a general attitude towards political, economic, social, religious, and ethical behavior, it includes a high value of personal self-confidence, personal privacy, and respect for the individual, and opposition to authority and all forms of domination of the individual. 12 The political assertion of individualism, in political philosophy, individualism asserts that the state should be used primarily as an instrument to protect the freedom of the individual, to protect the individual's ability to do whatever he wants without infringing on the equal freedoms of others. Individualism is primarily concerned with protecting the individual from the encroachment of the state. Individualism emphasizes that the individual enters society in order to pursue his own interests, without considering the interests of society.
Some netizens questioned that the author of the article only considered personal interests, did not consider the social responsibilities and obligations due to external factors related to his own survival and development, and placed himself as a pure individual outside the society and the group. This kind of individualism, in fact, in the community of human society, there is no such thing as absolute individualism. Human society itself is a social group composed of all people, in such a social group, all contain the elements of individualism and collectivism, a single individual cannot exist alone, no one lives in a specific collective, there is no transcendent individual existence. If a society, a nation, a country, or even a small unit are individualistic and supreme, then won't this human race become a complete mess?
Some netizens give an example, we only need to think about the Qing Dynasty back then, the economy of the Qing Dynasty was the richest country in the world, however, when the British and French coalition forces and the Eight-Nation Coalition invaded China, why did so many people lead the way for foreigners?When the Eight-Nation Alliance attacked Yuanmen Garden, there would be people who set up ladders for foreigners, and wherever foreigners went, so many ordinary people would take the initiative to provide food for foreigners and entertain foreigners like guestsThis was an important reason for the demise of the Qing Dynasty. There was also the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, according to incomplete statistics, there were 3 million traitors in China. What does this mean?It shows that in the minds of those people, there is no such consciousness as the state and the nation, and there is no collectivist ideology. According to that person's logic, those traitors and traitors are not rotten people, which is completely absurd logic.
Some netizens appealed that when we talk about collectivism, that is, we must have a sense of the overall situation, and we must attach importance to the interests of the group, the nation and the state within a certain range, collectivism is an ideological theory that advocates that the individual is subordinate to the society and that the interests of the individual should be subordinated to the interests of the group, the nation and the state, and it is a spirit, and the highest standard is that all speech and action conform to the collective interests of the people. Collectivism is not opposed to individual interests, collectivism is essentially the sum total of the interests of all individuals.
Collectivism is a philosophical, political, religious, economic, or social perspective that emphasizes the interdependence of each individual. Human society itself is a social group composed of all people, in such a social group, all contain the elements of individualism and collectivism, a single individual cannot exist alone, no one lives in a specific collective, there is no transcendent individual existence. If a society, a nation, a country, or even a small unit are individualistic and supreme, then won't this human race become a complete mess?
At the same time, only when the spirit of collectivism becomes the mainstream consciousness of people's thinking and understanding can society have cohesion, form an invincible and tremendous force, overcome all difficulties, and achieve the ideal realm that people hope for. We all know that ants and bees in the animal world, although they are all small beings, their collective consciousness is very strong. It can be said that all animals in nature have a strong collective consciousness, let alone us humans. Obviously, it's really incredible to call people who like collectivism "rotten".
In conclusion, collectivism and individualism are not opposites, but complement each other. A healthy society should not only respect individual freedom and rights, but also emphasize individual responsibilities and obligations, not only ensure individual development and interests, but also safeguard collective harmony and interests, give full play to individual creativity and initiative, and enhance individual unity and dedication. We should establish a correct concept of collectivism, resist erroneous individualistic thinking, and contribute our strength to the progress of society and the happiness of mankind.