Society and the individual.

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 437.

America is often said to be an individualistic society, i.e. the needs and desires of individuals are put before those of society as a whole. In many ways this is true. Americans strongly support the rights of individuals, and most would agree that people should be free to make their own choices and do what they want, provided that they do not hurt other people. Americans also believe that individuals should take responsibility for their own situation and not expect society as a whole, through the government, to take care of them.

It is said that, since the 1980s, British society has become more selfish and individualistic, and that people try to improve their own position at the expense of others. Britain is still a class-based society, but now education, employment and money matter as much in determining people's opportunities and place in society as their family background. There is also belief that personal morality is a matter for the individual, and that society should not expect everyone to have the same values. Most British people, however, believe that society has a moral responsibility to care for those in need, even though they are afraid that they will have to pay higher taxes to pay for social welfare benefits.

Before the 18th century, membership of a particular social class defined an individual's status and determined the level of education they got, the work they could do, and who they might marry. The idea of an individual having personal freedom and equality of opportunity is relatively new. The challenge facing modern society is to balance an individual's freedom of expression and choice with the need to maintain basic social structures and processes for the benefit of society as a whole.