by Jinglin Li

Created on: January 13, 2009

The Individualism and Individuality

When Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote the famous Self-Reliance, he did not know that this article would be regarded as the most classic interpretation of a virtue that Americans would treasure and celebrate through the centuriesthe individualism. Yes, indeed, America is famous for its emphasis on individualism which is considered the origin of creativity and upon which the modern education theories center.

I have only been in America for two months and I don't think such short time can give me any credit to comment on any national qualities, however, when I read The Concept ofI': Individualism in the Modern Age from Ms. Mcrae, I cannot help thinking of some traits of modern Chinese youngstersthe same phenomenon pointed out by Ms. Mcrae in American society. So I dare to think that this trend should be somewhat global and my own rough observation also provides me some confidence that this argument is not totally without facts and causes.

As Ms. Mcrae states, the modern technology, especially the internet, has dramatically changed our views in information, transportation, economy, nationalism and every other aspects of life. The idea of Individualism is no exception. To be more exactly, a modernized concept of individuality has emerged side by side to the traditional idea of individualism.

Individualism, as Emerson put it, is based on the belief that "in yourself slumbers the law of all nature" (Lauter 1620), that "Man is not a farmer, or a professor, or an engineer, but he is all"(Lauter 1610).
Man must also trust himself and believe his own thought, because "none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does he know until he tried."(Lauter 1622) This process of self-actualization is not without difficulty. There is not only the hard work to realize your dream but also solitude as well "because you will always find those who think they know what your duty is better than you know it."(Lauter 1625)
Most importantly, "individualism sees the person as the responsible agent, that one's actions should not bring harm to another, that government is not meant to govern action, but rather defend the right to take action." (Mcrae 1)

The present day individuality emphasizes on the propaganda of one's personality through the new technology and the ever more connected globe enables people search for audience in a world wide range. In the immense sea of information, people compete for attention by spreading all detailed information, blogs, space,

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