The Individual and the Community
Order Instructions:
The Individual and the Community
Drawing on the readings and lectures for this topic, examine the tensions between the claim to individual autonomy and the obligation to conform to the expectations of the wider community. Answer with reference to ONE of the following issues: immigration, immunisation, obesity, euthenasia, same sex marriage.
based on this authors and readings, please read them and make it professional.
1.* Theodore Zeldin, An Intimate History of Humanity (1994), pp. 43-54.
2.* Alain de Botton, The Consolations of Philosophy (2000), pp. 3-42.
3. Richard Tarnas, The Passion of the Western Mind: Understanding the
Ideas that have Shaped our World View (1991), pp. 282-290.
4. Lawrence Stone, ‘The public and private stately homes of England,
1500-1900’, Social Research, vol. 58, no. 1(1991), pp. 227- 251.
5.* Will Kymlicka, Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction (2002), pp. 212- 221.
6. C. Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination (New York: Oxford University Press, 1959), pp. 9-25.
7. Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism (revised edn, 1991), pp. 37-46.
8. Katherine Betts, The Great Divide: Immigration Politics in Australia (1999), pp. 97-134.
above 8 readings are important!
Helena Grehan and Andrew Webster: ‘Introduction to the Unit: Nothing speaks for itself’
Topic One: The individual and the community
Lecture 2 (Tuesday, 25 February)
Helena Grehan and Andrew Webster: ‘Autonomous individuals and imagined communities’
WEEK 2
Lecture 3 (Monday, 3 March)
Andrew Webster (History): ‘The Enlightenment creates the individual’
Peta Bowden (Philosophy): ‘Women’s autonomy and the Pill’ WEEK 3
SAMPLE ANSWER
Individual autonomy is the freedom that allows people to do things, within the ethical acceptance, without external manipulation. It is the freedom that allows people to undertake what they deem right in their conscience without external control, as long as they are of stable mind (Wright, 1995). The concept of individual is of central concern, especially, within the diverse community. Several personal issues that should be left at the discretion of the concerned individuals are, at times, greatly controlled by the communities’ perception about them. For instance, issue such as immigration, immunization, obesity, euthanasia and same sex marriage among others are always at the core of individual autonomy with regards to their existence in the community.
For this case, analysis is given to the issue of immunization and individual autonomy as well as how the community plays a role to the effect. Immunization is normally carried out to prevent development of serious health problems and illnesses. For instance immunization against polio or whooping cough. Some of the diseases in which immunization are carried against are sometimes highly contagious. If, there is an immunization against them, the community always have a feeling that it should be mandatory to all individuals of a community who require it (Wright, 1995). However, according to the medicine and health fraternity, individuals have a right to determine what form of health action is administered to them.
The members of a community believes that their general safety and protection is more important than an individual’s freedom or rights. This simply means that, when the community’s interest overrides the rights and freedom of an individual, the community’s interests are prioritized. For instance, a highly contagious disease, but which a vaccine to it is available; then immunization is compulsory to all individuals of a community affected(Wright, 1995). Nonetheless, these moves are contradictory the individual’s autonomy with regards to medication. In this case, community manipulates the actions of individuals.
Although, in some cases individuals may have a free will to decide whether to undertake an immunization against a disease or not. This is only possible when such a disease to which immunization is offered is not easily spread. The individual in this case has all the rights and freedom to decide whether or not to be offered the medication. Nevertheless, the community can still manipulate the decision through sensitization and encouragements that in turn influences an individual’s decision. Individual autonomy is fundamental for a sound community(Wright, 1995), although it is highly regulated by the community itself.
Reference:
- Wright Mills. (1959). The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press. New York.
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