dig.ni.fy
William Paul Wanker
Founder
dig.ni.fy magazine
is produced in partnership with Dignity Projects.
London, England
© 2023, dig.ni.fy magazine.
All rights reserved.
Welcome to the Winter 2023 issue of dig.ni.fy!
In this issue, we continue to explore the notion
of human dignity and what constitutes living a
dignified human existence by focusing on the
relationship between individuals and groups.
The reason for this focus stems from the
divisiveness consuming so much of our
discourse these days. In surveying the landscape of our world, it seems as though individualism – generally defined as a theory or practice that emphasizes individual thought and action – has come under increasing attack in recent years, with theorists and practitioners arguing individuals should stop endorsing the concept of individualism and instead embrace the beliefs and actions of the “group.”
The call to end individualism stems from personal observations, economic considerations, scientific research, political agendas, and moral claims. Politicians, leaders of social movements, schools boards, and even some academicians believe individuals are simply incapable of addressing the complexity of issues facing the world today: they argue that individualism underpins aggressive capitalism, whose excesses increasingly create disparities between rich and poor and exacerbate the climate and biodiversity crisis; that neuroscience demonstrates the perception of a distinct self is an illusion, and thus we should no longer trust the moral foundations of any individual decision; and, that the Internet proves decisions made by groups – whether focused on political or economic considerations – are better predictors of individual need, political outcomes, and ethical considerations than any individual belief.
We will explore these claims and the argument for the end of individualism in this issue, but as a counter balance and challenge to this perspective we will focus on telling the stories of individuals and organizations who encourage and strengthen an individual’s right to dignity, who singularly ensure that storied traditions remain relevant, and who ask us to willingly embrace diversity.
For example, individual artists and artisans such as Clunie Fretton, Kelvin Birk, Mario Roldan, and the late Chris Killip demonstrate that their choices, decisions, and actions taken individually not only represent the truly independent character underpinning creativity but raise issues which allow for growth across the entire social spectrum. Equally, organizations such as Southwest Creations Collaborative, Cockpit Studios, the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Foundation, and the English Livery companies are groups which focus on bettering individual lives through training and support of persons, families, and communities – thereby, strengthening the social fabric that in turn respects individual character and supports personal growth.
At the end of the day, we might learn from such an exploration that the individual is not only the exception to the rule but the foundation of exceptional rule.
Enjoy!
Wil
In this Issue ...