个人主义和集体主义

“I’m a individual,I can do anything by myself.” This is what we often hear from the westerners. Just for this sentence, the people of different cultures will have different views.

For the westerners, they will feel that this is their self-confidence, independent performance, and this performance is that they are most proud of. This high degree of belief in the western world is individualism. To some extent, individualism has influenced the western society deeply. Now, let’s shorten the scope from the whole western world to America only. Either from the country itself or from the Americans, we can find the shadow of individualism. In the US, individualism is the very core of American culture and the main value in America, and it has played a decisive role in the development of American history and it is American’s deepest identity. Therefore, when we refer to the western individualism, it is the American individualism in essence.

In America,the individualism of “freedom, equality” such slogan has been a great spiritual strength to inspire people, educate people and mobilize people. Values of individualism encourage the people and become the impetus for moving forward. Second, the early individualism made the Americans win the “opportunity” of full enjoyment of life to ensure the nation’s success. At the same time, during the development of the history of the US, the Americans subdued nature, and rely on the strength of the individualism to develop frontier, seek survival, and it has created enormous material wealth. American agricultural and urban development is also branded by the brand of individualism. Third, under the influence of individualism, people’s pursuits are more diversified. The reason why the US is a vibrant, dynamic country is that Americans pay

attention to a “new” character and gleaning the changes. Those are the philosophy of Americans’ lives. The concepts of innovation and change promote the Americans to engage in new inventions and promote the social progress. We can see that individualism is very important to the Americans. And it plays a very positive role in the development of the American society.

Although individualism is regarded as a highly respected value by westerners, the easterners have a totally different understanding. In the east, individualism is equal to be selfish, especially in China. Influenced by our political, historical and traditional cultural factors, many of us regard western individualism as selfishness. Speaking of individualism, what comes to our mind first is that “every man for himself and the devil takes the hind most” or “profiting oneself at the expense of others”. Also, China’s Dictionary defines individualism as “all personal interests as the starting point of thinking for undercut, profit-seeking, intrigues, etc.” All in all, the Asians viewed individualism as a derogatory term. Moreover, they believe in collectivism. The easterners also criticizes the individualism which over-emphasizes the personal value, and holds the view that Individuals are means for the social history to achieve its goals. Only by accepting national mission, fulfilling the national obligations can all individuals make themselves a free and moral people; individuals should subject to the country and make the accomplishment of the national aim as their sacred duty.

For me, I think we should see the both positive and negative sides of individualism to the western society. We should also take an objective approach to correctly understand and evaluate it. We do not argue whether Americans should give up their individualism, because for the

Americans, to abandon their individualism is tantamount to abandon the most profound essence. However, the limit of extreme individualism, from the political, economic, social, cultural and other fields, in all directions to build an open, cooperative and creative new American individualism, should become a long-term and difficult task for all the Americans.