We are Not Autonomous

While the idea of Individualism is not unique to Western culture, the degree to which it is embraced is culturally unique. The roots are embedded in Greek aesthetics and philosophy. This tree sprouted from the fertile seed of "Humanism". An idea that ((wo)man) is the apex of value and that great things could be accomplished on earth without the help of the gods. This idea contrasted sharply with the previous notions of muses and meddling gods who, in some myths, would literally manifest themselves upon earth to influence human beings. As centuries passed and Christianity spread across the continent, the human side of Jesus was emphasized. Even though Christian belief considered him divine, he was never called God. He was considered the son of God, the divine embodied in flesh. His life was worshiped. The human side of him shone through. Then the renaissance brought humanism back in full swing. Greek classics were studied. The age of reason helped bring about exploration, scientific achievement, democracy, industry and capitalism.

What we have now is world blanketed by a multifarious network of beliefs. This western idea of individuality has melded with eastern ideas of spirituality, aboriginal beliefs of nature worship and so on. This sometimes leads to beautiful new ideas or ways of thinking, just as much as it results in existential vacillation or clashes of culture. Moreover, a new world appears to be emerging from the old. While I have theories, I cannot say what this new world will ultimately be. No one can.

Returning to this emphasis on individualism, one of the things that makes America and similar societies great, is the concept that a person can rise up from humble beginnings and make something out of nothing. This of course is a shinning ideal and not easily realized, but it does happen. Additionally, it is empowering, in the true sense of the word, to take command of one’s own life. "Trust in your capabilities, there by manifesting your own future." What a beautiful thought! The grittier side of a life lived with too much focus on individualism is a certain brand of despair. I'll call it "despair-isolation", or the despair of isolation. This thought that there is nothing of value beyond ourselves plagues people at all ages, but becomes most apparent at the end of a life, even a powerful life as in the case of Howard Hughes. This brings me to my ultimate point, the difference between individualism and autonomy.

Autonomy, in the most basic sense, simply means "self rule". It is an idea that is relatively easy to understand when applying it to concepts of government. As Americans, we embrace this concept going back to the founding of our government, during which time people did just that, basically saying, "You will no longer rule us! We will rule ourselves!"

The concept of autonomy gets decidedly trickier when you apply to the individual. It is delusional to say that individuals are autonomous, or capable of autonomy, although certain thinkers have done so, Ayn Rand being one of the more outspoken in recent history. It is delusional simply because it takes individualism to the absolute degree. It disregards everything else that makes up a person, everything except the person itself. It disregards the others who have come before you and influenced you- your parents, your friends, your teachers, your favorite authors or philosophers and even your very culture. It tosses out the slightest consideration for those who may have helped you get an edge up or a start. Interestingly, it also ignores many internal aspects of the person, by emphasizing that rational, decisive side and ignoring the influential aspect of our moods and emotions, which by their very nature, we have little to no control over.

Individualism is fine. I'm all for the empowerment of the person, or the strengthening of person-hood. However, the world and the person both suffer when this idea is perverted to the extent of autonomy. We should be just as responsible for others as we are for ourselves. We should feel comfortable making our own decisions, but only after recognizing that any decision is the product of so much more than ourselves. To believe that you rule yourself in complete entirety is to start on that long, lonely road, which ends in the desolate lands of despair and isolation.