Emma Rixhon - Philosophy
To what extent are acts of individual rebellion necessary for social progress?
infringement of his rights” 19 and
the
loyalty
to
others
in
one’s
community
seem
to be the necessary factors in successful rebellion. This means that a combination
of strong self-importance and communitarian loyalty need to be present in order
for social progress to ensue. However, since communitarianism dismisses the
importance of an individual’s
self-worth and originality, it cannot attribute any
social
progress
to
individuals’
actions
or
original
thoughts.
If
a
more
radical
approach
is
applied
to
the
theories
of
communitarianism, they quickly develop into communist ideas. Communists
believe that each person making up their society is not important in themselves
but as a unit of labour which can benefit the society as a whole. Marx held the
view that a strong sense of individuality would not only be unnecessary to social
progress, but furthermore be counter-productive. He believed that individuals
should be more concerned with the flourishing of their society than their own
personal freedom. A society made up of individuals concerned with their own
success and liberty rather than that of the community as a whole would only
“encourage
each
individual
to
view
others
as
limitations
to
his
or
her
freedom” 20 .
According to Marx, a liberal individualist society would degenerate into an
egotistical collection of individuals, rather than progress or benefit from each
individual’s
flourishing.
These
individuals
would
end
up
oppressing
each
other
as a mode of increasing the possibility of their own liberty, as they would only
see each other as competition. The only way in which nobody would be
threatened by a competitor would be where everyone was viewed as equal.
Therefore a truly liberated society would be one where all the individuals
function and view themselves
as
“fully
co-operating members of a community of
equals.” 21 This would enable people to work together to progress rather than
work against each other, resulting in a more efficient society.
Although rebellion seems impossible as a means of progress in a society
of equals working for each other, Camus mentions the idea of a community-
Camus, A. 1971 p19
Wolff, J. 1996 p143
21 ibid. p143
19
20
213
10