In the introduction of A World of Ideas, Jacobus states that he feels individualism will keep society in balance. However, in today's off-kilter world, this argument should be revisited to determine if individual thinking is selfish in the context of modern society. Individual expression and thought is an inevitable and unique cornerstone of human life. Without freedom of thought, rebellion is inevitable. As seen in a description of the Russian government by Vladmir Lenin, a society restricted in thought is an unjust society. "Our power does not know liberty or justice. It is established on the destruction of the individual will." In this statement, Lenin contrasts free societies and sequacious societies. Revolts in situations such …show more content…
Because of this, it is no surprise that writer John Steinbeck emphasizes that, "The free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in all the world." Individualism gave the world artwork that, without intellectual freedom, would have been discouraged. Artists such as Claude Monet embody the beauty of individualism in art and creativity. Monet was a pioneer of his time in Impressionism and philosophy ("Biography of Claude Oscar Monet"). Because he was at the forefront of his fields of study, Monet was often criticized during his time. However, despite critics, Monet was not prohibited from continuing his work. Because of this, Monet produced some of the most iconic paintings in history such as The Water Lily Pond and Pink Water-Lilies. Individuality does not only uniquely contribute to art, but to innovation as well. Because of the capabilities of the human mind, individual thought can produce an endless supply of new ideas in all situations. These new ideas can help to solve communal problems by starting with the individual or can help develop new business ideas to improve the economy. Individualism benefits a society politically and culturally, making it an important and unique part of human
In Reflections of a Russian Statesman, Konstantin Pobedonostsev starts off his discussion by describing democracy as a system that is built on falsehood. He notes that the most fictitious principle of democracy is this idea that the power lies at the hands of the majority. Instead, he believes the concept of popular sovereignty is merely an illusion created by a delegation of leaders that in reality, “are in no way restricted by the opinions of their constituents, but are guided by their own views and considerations…” (RORS 4). This claim is Pobedonostsev’s attempt to show that a democratic state is disguised under the phrase “the will of the people” but instead is ruled by the interests of a minority that consists of a body of elected representatives such as Parliament. To advance his arguments, Pobedonostsev refers to countries that have incorporated the parliamentary system and how its members have failed to satisfy any of their promises. In theory, they care about public welfare, but in practice they formulate lies to get elected and gain personal wealth and fame. To Pobedonostsev, Parliament is a despotic entity that fools people into believing in a fantasy where “the representative as such, surrenders his personality, and serves as the embodiment of the will and opinions of his constituents” (RORS 5). Lenin, however, disagrees with Pobedonostsev’s criticisms of democratic representation. His revolutionary scheme, which involves the proletariat takeover of the bourgeoisie state, consists of a small private unit of party leaders executing the socialist policies that the larger public unit of workers’ demand. In the excerpt What is to be Done?, Lenin labels these two distinguished committees as the Organization of Revolutionists and the Organization of Workers. Unlike Pobedonostsev who thinks a
Joseph Stalin said, “Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don 't let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?”. Stalin was a dictator of the USSR from 1929 to 1953. Under his dictatorship, the Soviet Union began to transform from a poor economy to an industrial and military based one. While still a teen, Stalin secretly read Karl Marx 's book the “Communist Manifesto”, and became more interested in his teachings. When Stalin gained power, he ruled his nations using terror and fear, eliminating those who did not comply with his governance.
The famine in Russia alone led the peasants to become angry and fed up with the Russian government, suggesting a future revolution. Because of the peasants’ unrest, they began to break the law by as stealing food for their families and shouting in the streets. Russia had attempted revolution before, and a fear of an uprising was feared again. Their everyday routi...
Society is flawed. There are critical imbalances in it that cause much of humanity to suffer. In, the most interesting work from this past half-semester, The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx is reacting to this fact by describing his vision of a perfectly balanced society, a communist society. Simply put, a communist society is one where all property is held in common. No one person has more than the other, but rather everyone shares in the fruits of their labors. Marx is writing of this society because, he believes it to be the best form of society possible. He states that communism creates the correct balance between the needs of the individual and the needs of society. And furthermore thinks that sometimes violence is necessary to reach the state of communism. This paper will reflect upon these two topics: the relationship of the individual and society, and the issue of violence, as each is portrayed in the manifesto.
Rule of Lenin vs the Tsar The beginning of the 20th century saw a great change in the political structure of the Russia. A country once led under an autocracy leadership. was suddenly changed into a communist state overnight. Dictatorship and communism are at separate ends of the political spectrum. This study so clearly shows both involve the oppression of society and a strict regime in which people are unable to voice their opinions.
Both A “Brave New World” and events from our own world disprove the statement that individuality is seen as a threat to a harmonious society. In the book Huxley introduces the characters Bernard, Helmholtz, and John as outsiders. They do not fit into the societies that they are a part of which threatens the system Mustafa Mond and the other world leaders have instilled into the society. The accusation above is flawed and incorrect. Individuality was seen as a threat to a harmonious society however it is not a threat. It is important for civilization to keep moving forward.
Think back to the 1800’s when slavery existed. The owners of the slaves treated them like animals. The slaves were just doing what they were told to do or else they knew that there would be punishment. They could not really show who they really were. If they were funny, shy, or maybe even artistic. No one got to see the real side of the slaves. As the years went on society really started establishing individualism more and more.
Arbitrary coercion and terror existed in varying degrees in the Soviet Union. Lenin’s sense of responsibility to guide the world to a socialist future combined with the people’s dissatisfaction with the recent years of war and temporary government allowed him to step in as a leader. The party under Lenin was taciturn with regards to its inner workings. While the discretion allowed communism to establish itself, such opacity could not have gone without moments of distrust from the Russian public about the agendas of this new covert government.
John Locke, John Stuart Mill, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau all dealt with the issue of political freedom within a society. John Locke's “The Second Treatise of Government”, Mill's “On Liberty”, and Rousseau’s “Discourse On The Origins of Inequality” are influential and compelling literary works which while outlining the conceptual framework of each thinker’s ideal state present divergent visions of the very nature of man and his freedom. The three have somewhat different views regarding how much freedom man ought to have in political society because they have different views regarding man's basic potential for inherently good or evil behavior, as well as the ends or purpose of political societies.
Claude Monet is often considered one of greatest most dedicated of the Impressionist painters. His aim was to catch the light and atmosphere, something that was scarcely done before. He enjoyed painting outdoors and developed a free and spontaneous painting technique. His brushwork is remarkably flexible and varied. He often changed his technique, sometimes broad and sweeping other times dappled and sparkling.
Inspired by the works of Karl Marx, V.I. Lenin nonetheless drew his ideology from many other great 19th century philosophers. However, Marx’s “Communist Manifesto” was immensely important to the success of Russia under Leninist rule as it started a new era in history. Viewed as taboo in a capitalist society, Karl Marx started a movement that would permanently change the history of the entire world. Also, around this time, the Populist promoted a doctrine of social and economic equality, although weak in its ideology and method, overall. Lenin was also inspired by the anarchists who sought revolution as an ultimate means to the end of old regimes, in the hope of a new, better society. To his core, a revolutionary, V.I. Lenin was driven to evoke the class struggle that would ultimately transform Russia into a Socialist powerhouse. Through following primarily in the footsteps of Karl Marx, Lenin was to a lesser extent inspired by the Populists, the Anarchists, and the Social Democrats.
Amai- ambiguity: more than one intended meaning for Japanese words. The Japanese are generally tolerant of ambiguity. Expressing oneself ambiguously and indirectly is expected in Japanese. Pg 9
Lenin’s reforms were necessary to carry out a socialist revolution in Russia, and the contributions he made drastically changed the course of history. It can be assumed that, the Soviet Union would not have been as powerful if it had not been for Lenin’s initial advocacy of violence and tight organization. Marxism is a philosophy coined by Karl Marx with the help of Friedrich Engles in the early nineteenth century. Marx’s writings inspired many progressive thinkers throughout the European continent and the United States. The Marxist doctrine stated that first a bourgeoisie revolution, which will ignite a capitalist fire.
The second section of The Communist Manifesto is the section in which Karl Marx attempts to offer rebuttals to popular criticisms of his theory of governance. These explanations are based upon the supposition that capitalists cannot make informed observations upon communism as they are unable to look past their capitalist upbringing and that capitalists only seek to exploit others. Though the logic behind these suppositions are flawed, Marx does make some valid points concerning the uprising of the proletariat.
Many characteristics may create one’s individualism. Personality, appearance, environment, and heredity are the characteristics that make up one’s individuality. One can control the individual he may become with the help of individualism.