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Mats Kaarbö

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Redefining Individuality

We all love our individuality. It is what shapes us as human beings and not some brainwashed robots, right? But how free and individual are we really? Can anybody, regardless of their situation, go to any local store and buy the food they need, rent an apartment that provides them with the human and sanitarian needs such as sleep, a shower to clean themselves and a place to cook their food or perhaps book a flight to India the next morning that would enrich their life personally and socially purely out of the enjoyment of visiting and exploring other cultures and places? No. You are only as free as your purchasing power. That means from the day you are born you are dependent on other people to take care of you and provide you with the necessities of life until you are old enough to attend school (assuming it is free), memorize the information that will hopefully grant you with a diploma and that would hopefully make you able to compete with many others to a job that will likely rob your personal freedom to express your individual desires to take on your own projects, just so you make enough money to survive. Is this truly individuality?

Now, what if we made a society where we utilized science and technology to intelligently manage and allocate our resources to meet the needs of all human beings on the planet by claiming all of Earths resources as the common heritage of all mankind. Where we collectively would utilize technology to free mankind (through automation of jobs and labor) in order for every human being to be able to reach their fullest potential personally, socially and culturally. That sounds like a society that cherishes the individual, right?

Topics: critical thinking education happiness individuality redefinition science and technology
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  • Jerry Whidby

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    Nov 9 2012: I do often ask myself what we as a society are working towards. I hope that at some point we free up some or all of the very limited time we have in life. I am hoping that automation will be a big break through in that area as well. I would hate to think that in 300 years people would still have to perform menial mind numbing task in order to survive. That does not mean that our time can not be filled with meaningful task as a substitute for work. On the other hand they do say "Idle hands are the devil's playground.". I see myself as an individual who contributes to the whole. I accepted a long time ago that I am where I am because of the decisions I made. People who blame others for their lot in life are usually in self denial about their own contributions towards that life. Take for instance, here in the United States immigrants often raise themselves up from poverty much quicker than those who were born here.
    The internet provides a great way to explore the world now, and talk to people from those countries. I can not imagine the damage that would be done to the planet if billions of people just started exploring all at once. I do have a shower and I can buy what I need at the grocery store. I often hear about countries where people have less than I do. Rarely do I hear what happened in their part of the world to create that situation. Many times, no matter how much people assist those countries, it just continues to be a dreadful place to live. Many people sent food to North Korea as an example. Sometimes the people of those countries have to want a change bad enough to rise up against oppressors.
    Another point to consider is a possible population explosion. Come on, that much free time. What do you think people will do. That would strain our resources even more. I think that one day we may be ready for that step, but we have not reached that point. People who get off the grid are the closest to that dream, if you exclude the very wealthy, in my opinion

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