“Individualism?” Don’t be Daft!

      

The trees are dependent on the environment, but the environment is purified through trees.

      The topic of individualism tends to be lionized in contemporary society, but to further perpetuate the lie of the individual existing truly as an independent subject would be foolish. 

In history class, we learn about the codependency of colonies to the imperial core (without the raw capital of the colonies, the empire would not flourish) and the reliance on mutual understanding and bureaucratic decisions to further beneficial trade. (international alliances such as NATO) In biology class we learn about the cycles and how the environment is affected by our actions. We learn about the dependency of trees to the sun, soil, and rain; the dependency of soil nutrition levels to human action; the dependency of humans to the trees. In nature, a tree dying would be detrimental to the rest of the ecosystem, so why do we as humans think so high and mighty about ourselves? 

Even the idea of individualism itself is a result of human cooperation. For political theory to be drafted, schooling had to be established, tutors hired, paper and writing utensils manufactured, and the author born. In order for the theory to be brainstormed, the author had to agree with, criticize, or piece together the work of past philosophers. Individualism is a lie! Independence is dependency! Isn’t that ironic?

My independent situation only goes so far if no one is willing to respect that invisible boundary; ergo, it is true that I am reliant on others for my fragile residency as an independent. It really makes you wonder what the point of the opioid of independence is even about. But when I am asked about myself, I can’t just answer with “I am a part of a greater whole. I AM society and society is me,”  but it does irk me to see preachers of individualism bowing down to the intoxicating “independence” drug.