McGill TribuneNorth American society has an intense focus on individualism and subsequently placing one’s self-interest and personal pursuits above all else. The consequence of this is a narrow, linear view of personal goal pursuit that does not always fit properly with our basic need for close intimate interactions and relationships. It’s important to think about yourself, what you want to do with your life, and how you will achieve it. Nevertheless, there is a point where one must slow down before casting everyone to the side because they seem to be blocking your path and impeding your progress.
Recently, I read something rather sad but quite profound. Basically, people, due to the emphasis on individualism in our culture, are growing incapable of wholly loving other people. This claim is based on the idea that these people are so intensely focused on themselves, and truly loving someone else necessitates a shift of interests off oneself. The power of self-interest doesn’t allow some people to open up and give themselves up, wholeheartedly and unselfishly to someone else.
Emotional commitment to others is just as vital and significant in our lives as success at school or work. If school or work falter, it will be the support and care from your closest relationships that helps you along. Discussing and emphasizing this seems superficially important to some people, but there are numerous instances where it is forgotten.
This promotion of self-focus and self-serving action can seriously compromise other people through a focus only on one’s success and a disregard for the well-being of others. Situations like this can be seen in the news in the actions of greedy people trying to get their hands on as much money as possible. Particular cases of this can be seen in the documentary Food Inc., which illuminates certain situations in which large corporations disregard health regulations in their factories, resulting in millions of people being put at risk of contracting diseases, or even dying. All this is done to maximize their production and increase profit. Clearly extreme self-interest in a capitalist society is ultimately a negative for the whole population.
On a different level, nearing the end of one’s university adventure seems to bring out this quality in many people, since it suddenly strikes them that, after a few years of fun, it’s time to get serious. Many people’s instinct is to presuppose that time-consuming relationships are the cause of their lack of concentration in school. I must admit that on rare occasions relationships can get out of hand. But your interactions and relationships add an unquantifiable amount of pleasure and experience to your life, so even with exams just around the corner, and maybe graduation, or even the beginning of a career, don’t forget to appreciate all the important people in your life.
Five years from now are you going to remember those 10 extra hours you spent in the library, or that pretty afternoon when it finally stopped snowing and you went on an adventure? Undoubtedly everyone is entitled to their own priorities, I just wish to express words of caution: attending to one’s self and one’s future is clearly essential, but we must not forget all the people deeply intertwined in our lives.
Chloe Turner-Bloom is a U2 student in philosophy. Contact her at [email protected].
