My next book will share more nuance on how this ideology worked and didn’t work for me. I was a late bloomer...in Academia I expected that I joined a supportive community and eventually found out I was an Apprentice with no Master...I think a way of life that advantages the aggressive individualist leaves out too many people...and it only benefits a private sector led society...it does not create a supportive society...at the everyday level...
My final chapter will address the counter-trends among younger Americans who are seeing through the B.S. of a male-oriented, hyper-competitive lifestyle ideal...my belief is that we need state and federal policy to incentivize community properly...but we focus primarily on entitlements which is simply federal philanthropy...philanthropy that reacts to the negative outcomes and does not rebalance our culture...it may take a major external threat to bring us together...it has happened before...
“Georg Simmel followed Elias with a sociological vision of modern life as ego-centered social networks.”
I am sorry, I may be missing something, but Simmel was from a previous generation of sociologists and died long before Elias came up with his “civilizing process” theory, so how could he follow Elias with anything?
Happens to the best of us. That aside, I am always glad to see Simmel getting mentioned. I always have thought that he is a somewhat underappreciated thinker, especially in the English-speaking world.
Very thought provoking, thank you! "The problem with American-style individualism as a way of life, not just a guiding philosophy, is that it makes us emotionally insecure as it empowers us." Well put! I'm convinced that's why so many Americans are depressed and/or angry at the world. We know there's no safety net because relationships are based on transient affection instead of durable bonds of duty or loyalty. Fascinating to compare with various other cultures. Freedom is a luxury with a high price tag, it seems.
Loved this article. The amount of time you are expected to devote to working also compounds this relational poverty. It is hard to service obligations when you only have 3 hours between work and bed!
My next book will share more nuance on how this ideology worked and didn’t work for me. I was a late bloomer...in Academia I expected that I joined a supportive community and eventually found out I was an Apprentice with no Master...I think a way of life that advantages the aggressive individualist leaves out too many people...and it only benefits a private sector led society...it does not create a supportive society...at the everyday level...
My final chapter will address the counter-trends among younger Americans who are seeing through the B.S. of a male-oriented, hyper-competitive lifestyle ideal...my belief is that we need state and federal policy to incentivize community properly...but we focus primarily on entitlements which is simply federal philanthropy...philanthropy that reacts to the negative outcomes and does not rebalance our culture...it may take a major external threat to bring us together...it has happened before...
“Georg Simmel followed Elias with a sociological vision of modern life as ego-centered social networks.”
I am sorry, I may be missing something, but Simmel was from a previous generation of sociologists and died long before Elias came up with his “civilizing process” theory, so how could he follow Elias with anything?
Whoops. My bad. Corrected. Received memories from grad school sometimes fail.
Happens to the best of us. That aside, I am always glad to see Simmel getting mentioned. I always have thought that he is a somewhat underappreciated thinker, especially in the English-speaking world.
Anthropologists rarely study him...and yes, he was way ahead of his time...way ahead...Robin Dunbar owes his entire career to this man indirectly....
Very thought provoking, thank you! "The problem with American-style individualism as a way of life, not just a guiding philosophy, is that it makes us emotionally insecure as it empowers us." Well put! I'm convinced that's why so many Americans are depressed and/or angry at the world. We know there's no safety net because relationships are based on transient affection instead of durable bonds of duty or loyalty. Fascinating to compare with various other cultures. Freedom is a luxury with a high price tag, it seems.
Thanks for reading it Brigid
Loved this article. The amount of time you are expected to devote to working also compounds this relational poverty. It is hard to service obligations when you only have 3 hours between work and bed!