The Power of the
Individual
Since the
dawn of mankind, humans have searched for a perfect world free of conflict with
only happiness. Many attempts have been
made to create this perfect “Utopia” but none have succeeded. Throughout our class’s studies of Utopias, an
interesting idea continues to appear. Like
countless other scholars, I have become stumped with the question: can a
perfect society with no flaws or conflicts even exist? After reading several essays and studying
several communities, I have been met with a subtle but clear answer: no. Mankind will never be able to achieve
perfection because of human nature and the numerous differences between every
individual.
One of the
most beautiful yet destructive characteristics of the human race is its extreme
variation on the individual level. Every
human being has countless minor differences that ultimately make them an
individual different from anyone else on the planet. This trait allows us to think independently and
is essentially the root cause for the progress that we as a species have
made. Our ability to think on an
individual level as well as a societal level allows us to problem solves and confronts
challenges from countless angles. Our
individuality is in essence what separates us from every other species on
earth, and what makes us human. However,
the very trait that has on many occasions led to our rise has also been the
cause of our falls. It is human nature
to group with those of similar traits and beliefs, and to stay away from those
without. The differences in opinions and mindsets of
every human being cause disagreements and separation. Our gift to think as individuals and possess
our own identity is also a curse which isolates us from people unlike us. This isolation and grouping that occurs, is inevitable
and cannot be stopped.
Now, one
might argue that if people of similar beliefs were to group together and form
communities, then there would be no conflicts and Utopias would be
achieved. However, this solution only
addresses the surface of the problem and would achieve nothing. If humans were to group together by large
common beliefs and consolidate themselves into a community, there would still
be differences in beliefs over one idea or another. Thus, groups would divide within the new large
community based on shared smaller beliefs once more. However, in this new sub-community, the
problem would not be solved. The differences
between individuals would once again arise, and new sub-groups would form. This endless process would continue until only
the individual was left. Despite our
efforts to unite and create communities without conflicts or disagreements,
this Utopian world is simply not possible on a societal level. The only way that a society would reach
complete harmony, would be if there was only one individual in the
community. However, a society made up of
one individual is not a society at all.
Without other individuals to interact with, humans cannot accomplish
anything.
So, it
becomes clear that unless narrowed down to the individual, a society will never
be free from disagreements and conflicts in opinions. However, this is not necessarily a flaw. Disagreements and conflicts are the root of
progress. Without a problem, there is
nothing to solve and no way to improve.
And so, our individuality and our inability to create a world without
conflict is not a curse but a gift. It
is these differences that allow us to move forward as a species and create a
better world. It is our individuality
that makes us human.
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