3 ms·

Individualism has nothing to do with it. The French people actually enjoying the Champ de Mars are not not being individualistic. Rather, enjoying private pleas

by javert 11y ago

Individualism has nothing to do with it. The French people actually enjoying the Champ de Mars are not not being individualistic. Rather, enjoying private pleasures is individualistic. What you are actually lampooning is being thoughtless and having poor taste.

eevilspock 11y ago
He isn't saying being individualistic is bad, but that the philosophy that elevated individualism above all else leads to, among other things, narcissism. The latter is what he lampoons. Many Americans observe Millennials to be the most narcissistic generation ever. I think there is much truth in that. But I also see hopeful signs of reversal. Maybe.
- javert 11y ago
  Complaining about "narcissism" has recently, and strangely, become part of our cultural milieu. I don't know what is really meant by that term or why it is supposed to be a problem. It seems like the intellectual boogeyman de jure. If "Millennials" really are narcissistic, they will most likely grow out of it (whatever it is) in the normal course of, you know, growing up. Separately: > the philosophy that elevated individualism above all else I don't know of any such philosophy in particular. Except possibly Ayn Rand's, which is not what he is talking about. Enlightenment philosophy in general does elevate individualism, but not "above all else."
  - Jtsummers 11y ago
    > If "Millennials" really are narcissistic, they will most likely grow out of it (whatever it is) in the normal course of, you know, growing up. They might. But the Baby Boomers were also known as the "me generation", and they don't seem to have grown out of it. And the millennials are the consequence of the baby boomers' childrearing. NB: Individuals in any generation may be exceptions. I'm speaking specifically to the gross cultural, business and political trends these generations exhibit.
icanhackit 11y ago
> Individualism has nothing to do with it. My argument was that individualism, unchecked by introspection and consideration, drives people towards simplistic behaviors focused on the self. As a result, cultures that reward introspection and consideration are at a disadvantage to cultures focused on consumption.

by javert 11y ago

eevilspock 11y ago

He isn't saying being individualistic is bad, but that the philosophy that elevated individualism above all else leads to, among other things, narcissism. The latter is what he lampoons. Many Americans observe Millennials to be the most narcissistic generation ever. I think there is much truth in that. But I also see hopeful signs of reversal. Maybe.

javert 11y ago
Complaining about "narcissism" has recently, and strangely, become part of our cultural milieu. I don't know what is really meant by that term or why it is supposed to be a problem. It seems like the intellectual boogeyman de jure. If "Millennials" really are narcissistic, they will most likely grow out of it (whatever it is) in the normal course of, you know, growing up. Separately: > the philosophy that elevated individualism above all else I don't know of any such philosophy in particular. Except possibly Ayn Rand's, which is not what he is talking about. Enlightenment philosophy in general does elevate individualism, but not "above all else."
- Jtsummers 11y ago
  > If "Millennials" really are narcissistic, they will most likely grow out of it (whatever it is) in the normal course of, you know, growing up. They might. But the Baby Boomers were also known as the "me generation", and they don't seem to have grown out of it. And the millennials are the consequence of the baby boomers' childrearing. NB: Individuals in any generation may be exceptions. I'm speaking specifically to the gross cultural, business and political trends these generations exhibit.

icanhackit 11y ago

> Individualism has nothing to do with it. My argument was that individualism, unchecked by introspection and consideration, drives people towards simplistic behaviors focused on the self. As a result, cultures that reward introspection and consideration are at a disadvantage to cultures focused on consumption.