Robert Bellah's Habits of the Heart Individualism and Commitment in American Life chronicles the history, definition and present condition of individualism in America, and how it has affected the lives of modern society. Bellah attempts to define individualism by mapping its evolution in America and illustrating how the present condition it finds itself in is a perverted version of a basic republican value. The foundation that individualism was built upon and "lies at the very core of American culture" (Bellah 142), is the belief in the intrinsic, "dignity, indeed the sacredness, of the individual. Anything that would violate our right to think for ourselves, judge for ourselves, make our own decision, live our lives as we see fit, is not only morally wrong, it is sacrilegious" (Bellah l41). However, as time and history marches on, the individualism that we hold near and dear has taken on an identity that is far removed from its original intent. The singular entity that our culture encourages seems to result in a self-destructive tendency defeating the purpose of its own tenor.
[...] Instead of asking the question: Could it be that Bellah, by excluding the African-American influence, be inadvertently censuring one group over the other and in effect, complementing the black community? Similar types of reactionary responses are destructive tools that undermine the "community of memory" (Bellah 152). A community that Bellah states is needed to force Americans to " . remember the history of suffering inflicted and the gap between promise and realization, which has always been great" as well as their record as a socially interdependent mass. [...]
[...] If the exemplar is justice, mercy, righteousness and truth based on a higher source than self, and then individualism becomes a celebration of humanity and an integral contribution to the "common good". However, this is not the case and our more recent tradition of American individualism has and will continue to make it difficult for us to sustain committed relationships to one another, to our marriages, to our communities and to our nation at large. Unfortunately, I believe it will only get worse. [...]
[...] It depended upon the belief that besides the grimly self-focused passions, there was in human beings a capacity to apprehend and pursue the good and to recognize in the character of others the qualities of integrity, grace and excellence" (Bellah 254). Our culture presently finds itself in a virtue famine. We don't have it ourselves and we wouldn't know how to recognize it in others. How can we commit to one another, in marriage, family or society as a whole when the only sacred, dignified individual we recognize and vehemently defend is ourselves? [...]
[...] Just as Robert Bellah exemplified in his work, we desire autonomy and self- reliance but we also have a deep conviction that our life has less meaning unless shared in the context of the larger community. Unfortunately, this community will never emerge as long as the idea of individualism continues to enable us to think that "oneness" is equivalent to a "collective mediocrity" (JSM 62). However, there is no way to shake our entire culture and society free from the false belief that they alone are "Master of their fate . [...]
[...] The question that arises from Bellah and his colleagues is whether commitment is possible at all in light of the present reality we have constructed. Is one who places self at the center still able to reach from that crux to anything beyond with the same fervor and commitment that implement acquisition of individual goals? Bellah's idea of moral character and virtue is evidenced by an individual's relationship to society as a whole. Bellah believes that "sense in our lives” (Bellah, Preface X.) is gained through relationship with others be it within marriages, family, church commitment, or public community. [...]
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