英美概况论文美国个人主义
英美概况论文美国个人主义
浅析美国文化中的个人主义及其社会影响摘要:在美国文化中,有一种早已形成的文化现象,那就是个人主义,个人主义构成了美国文化模式的基本特性和主要内容,是美国文化的核心。
本文将从个人主义的含义、个人主义的本质以及个人主义对美国社会的影响三方面进行分析论述,从而有助于客观地了解美国文化中的个人主义传统。
关键词:个人主义;美国文化;含义;本质;积极影响;消极影响一、个人主义的含义英语中的个人主义与汉语中的个人主义不同。
从汉语的角度来看,个人主义带有浓厚的贬义色彩,即一切从个人的所得利益出发,是赤裸裸的个人物质利益与个人权利的追求。
然而英语中的个人主义的内涵却是积极的,肯定的,即认为个人价值至高无上,强调自我支配和自我控制,反对权威、宗教、国家、社会及其他任何干涉和阻挠个人发展的外在因素。
同时,个人主义又是一种价值体系,一种人性理论,甚至成了对某种政治、经济、社会和宗教行为的一种态度和倾向。
二、个人主义的本质美国文化中的个人主义,能真正表述美国思想。
它源自清教主义的理性原则,源自清教主义对个人自主的追求,是一种典型的西方资本主义政治和社会哲学。
在英语世界里首先使用“个人主义”一词的是美国哲学家爱默生,他对个人主义大加渲染和推崇,认为它有益于个性的发展和社会的进步,其“没有政治者的政府才是牢不可破的政府”的观点,早已渗透到美国民众的思想意识之中。
如今,美国成了个人主义价值观的典型代表,这种植根于早期殖民时期及在开拓边疆时期得到发扬光大的自立精神一直延续至今,成为美国精神的重要组成部分。
基督精神,自由主义与个人主义共同构成美国文化的三大支柱。
但代表美国文化模式基本特征的个人主义却是直接、真实地涵盖了美国思想。
个人主义成了美国人的最高理想及社会理想和世界观。
对美国人来说,个人主义等于其生命攸关的身份认同。
在美国文化的发展过程中,它成了美国思想的起点和归宿,构成美国文化的精髓。
三、个人主义对美国社会的积极影响个人主义的独立奋斗、开拓进取精神成为美国人的生命基调,是美国社会发展的内在驱动力,对美国物质文明和精神文明有巨大的推动力。
美国个人主义培育创造力和创新性
美国个人主义培育创造力和创新性美国个人主义:培育创造力和创新性的独特路径在当今全球化和信息化的时代,创造力和创新性成为了推动社会进步和发展的重要动力。
而在这个过程中,美国个人主义的影响不容忽视。
本文将探讨美国个人主义如何培育人们的创造力和创新性,并分析其背后的原因和特点。
我们来了解一下美国个人主义的概念和特点。
美国个人主义强调个人的自由、利益和责任,注重个体差异和独立性。
这种思想观念体现在美国社会的各个方面,如教育、科技、文化和政治等。
美国个人主义注重培养独立自主的精神,鼓励人们追求自我实现和创新。
在创造力和创新性的培育方面,美国个人主义起到了积极的作用。
个人主义价值观强调独立思考和自主创新,这使得美国社会充满了开拓和冒险精神。
在教育领域,美国教育体系注重培养学生的批判性思维和创新能力,鼓励学生发挥个性,挑战传统观念。
同时,美国个人主义文化也鼓励人们追求科技创新和文化多样性,这些都为美国的创造力和创新性提供了肥沃的土壤。
在科技领域,美国个人主义文化的独特性使得许多创新成果得以诞生。
例如,美国硅谷的创业文化就体现了强烈的个人主义色彩,许多创新型企业都是由少数几个创始人或者个人创立的。
这些个人凭借着对科技的热爱和追求,敢于挑战困难,勇于实现自己的想法,从而推动了科技领域的快速发展。
在文化领域,美国个人主义也展现了强大的影响力。
美国文化鼓励个体的独特性和差异性,这使得美国社会充满了多元文化的氛围。
这种文化多样性为美国的艺术、音乐、电影等产业提供了丰富的素材和灵感,也促进了美国文化产业的繁荣发展。
美国个人主义在培育创造力和创新性方面具有积极的作用。
个人主义文化强调个体的自由、利益和责任,鼓励人们追求独立思考和自主创新。
同时,美国个人主义文化也注重培养人们的冒险精神和坚韧不拔的品质,这些品质正是成功的重要基石。
美国个人主义文化还强调个体之间的差异和独特性,这使得美国社会充满了多元文化的氛围,为文化产业提供了丰富的素材和灵感。
关于美国个人主义研究文献综述
关于美国个人主义研究文献综述陈可珂引言:众所周知,美国原来是英国的殖民地。
独立后,具有开发精神的美国人以其惊人的毅力完成了西部大开发,并在19世纪末完成了工业化,跨进了世界大国并一跃成为头号强国。
美国的经济实力在世界上首屈一指,其通讯设备、航天与航空、计算机与软件、医药、科学仪器在世界上上独占鳌头;美国还凭借去军事实力扮演着国际警察的角色。
美国的经济为什么会这么强盛?其背后的推动力是什么?很显然,美国文化在其现代化的过程中有着不可替代的作用。
本文总结了对美国文化中个人主义的研究及成果,阐述了美国文化的重要根源并针对其提出了本人的观点。
摘要:个人主义是美国文化三大根源中最重要且影响最广的信条,美国人的最高理想是个人主义。
同时个人主义也随着美国社会的时代变迁发生了变化,经历了早期、拓荒、工业、新式和自我个人主义五个阶段,但一些核心的精髓仍然被保留并越来越多的影响着美国人的政治、文化、生活。
对于作为社会主义国家的我们,美国式的个人主义对我们有何作用,我们是否应该吸收个人主义以作为我们的行为方式,值得思考。
1.个人主义的产生法国社会哲学家托克维尔在他的《美国民主》一书中认为美国人的习性或者心灵习性是美国人得以维持的自由体制的关键。
他所谓的心灵的习性便是那种塑造概念、意见和思想习惯的东西,便是社会中人的道德与智慧习性的总和。
他对于社会中人和社会性格的塑造中的至关重要的作用给予了充分的肯定。
美国文化源于盎格鲁-撒克逊传统,但又不同于盎格鲁-撒克逊文化。
在两百年来的演变中,它向一座大熔炉吸收了世界诸多文明的精华,成了一个独立的、具有自己鲜明特点的开放性的文化体系。
个人主义构成了美国文化模式的基本的特征和主要没内容,它最雄辩的、实在的、真正的表达了美国思想。
托克维尔于1835年首次提出了“个人主义”一词。
他认为:个体的存在先于社会的秩序,自身利益既是个体的行为的目的,而社会制度则起源于个体间的互动礼仪中。
他完全不同于利己主义,个人主义有民主的根源,随着条件的平等愈益普遍,它也会愈益普遍。
美国个人主义的表现英语作文
美国个人主义的表现英语作文Title:The Manifestation of American IndividualismAmerican individualism is a defining characteristic of the nation's culture and society. It is a philosophical and ideological outlook that emphasizes the rights, freedoms, and independence of the individual. This essay explores some of the key manifestations of individualism in the United States.Firstly, American individualism is evident in the nation's political system. The Constitution guarantees the rights and freedoms of citizens, including freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly. This allows individuals to express themselves freely and pursue their own goals and ambitions. The emphasis on personal responsibility and self-reliance also reflects the individualistic values ingrained in American society.Secondly, economic freedom is a cornerstone of American individualism. The capitalist system in the United States enables individuals to start their own businesses, make their own financial decisions, and accumulate wealth through hard work and ingenuity. The American Dream, which promises success and prosperity for those who work hard, is deeply rooted in this individualistic economic philosophy.Moreover, American individualism is reflected in the nation's cultural values. The pursuit of personal happiness and fulfillment is a key priority for many Americans. They are encouraged to follow their passions,express their uniqueness, and make their own mark on the world. The celebration of individual achievements and successes, such as in sports, entertainment, and business, further reinforces these values. However, it is worth noting that American individualism is not without its critics. Some argue that it can lead to social fragmentation and a lack of community cohesion. Others point out that the emphasis on personal success and material wealth can overshadow other important values, such as family, community, and social responsibility.In conclusion, American individualism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that shapes the nation's culture, society, and political and economic systems. While it has brought about many positive changes and opportunities for individuals, it also faces challenges and criticisms. However, its influence and significance in American society remain undeniable.。
个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异英语毕业论文
The different Conception towards Individualism between Chinese and American Culture个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异AbstractThe paper represents a different conception between Chinese and American people towards individualism. American people think that individualism is “individuality”, while Chinese people t hink individualism is equal to “selfishness”. Different culture backgrounds between China and America affect the different conception towards individualism. As a social product and a phenomenon of the culture, right or wrong should not be branded with individualism and as a Marxist, an objective and dialectical method should be used to judge individualism. Then after they understand individualism in a right way, they could take advantage of it in the construction of Chinese society and the development of themselves.Key words: Individualism cultural phenomenon the positive aspect social product摘要本文阐释了个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异。
Paper范文-美国的个人主义价值观
Paper范文-美国的个人主义价值观个人主义价值观是美国文化核心以及美国社会最明显的特征之一。
个人主义的价值观支配着美国精神文化、思维方式、行为方式和生活方式。
在美国,个人主义强调个人的重要性和个人的尊严,主张自主动机和自主选择,鼓励个人竞争和个人成功的追求。
尽管每个美国人在行为方式上都有不同,但是在价值观本质上却有着惊人的相似之处,而这一切都源于个人主义的价值观。
Individualism values are the core of American culture and one of the most obvious characteristics of American society. The values of individualism govern American spiritual culture, way of thinking, way of behavior and way of life. In a sense, the understanding of American individualistic values is a key to the American society and culture, and it is of great importance to deeply study American values. This articlewill discuss the understanding of individualism from the concept understanding of individualism, the embodiment of individualism in American social life and the influence of individualism on American society.The term "individualism" was first coined by the French political critic Alexis DE Tocqueville. Tocqueville, in his book on American democracy, used individualism to describe this core American value. Our ancestors knew only about self-interest. Egoism is an extreme and excessive love for oneself that makes people care only about themselves and love themselves more than anything else. Individualism is an emotion that is self-centered and secure, which isolates every citizen from his fellow citizens, from his relatives and friends. So when each citizen builds his or her ownlittle society, they leave the larger society to its own devices.After individualism came to the United States, the development in the United States was increasingly complete with the development of society. American individualism is representative and dominant in the western school of individualism and has become the core ideology and dominant values of western capitalist ideology since the 20th century. The central theme of American individualism is "self-motivation, self-determination, self-realization through self-reliance. Most closely associated with itare notions of equality, freedom and competition. Equality of opportunity and individual liberty are the basic guarantees of self-worth, while competition is the fundamental way to realize personal worth. In the United States, individualism emphasizes the importance and dignity of the individual, advocates independent motivation and independent choice, and encourages individual competition and individual successful pursuit. Although every American behaves differently, there are striking similarities in the nature of values that stem from individualistic values.Language exists in social life and can be said to be the carrier and portrayal of a culture. Different languages can reflect different cultural attributes and social values. American individualistic values can be found in American English in many aspects of the portrayal and verification.In the personal pronoun, we can clearly find the shadow of individualism. In English we have pronouns you, we, they, he, she, etc. "I" is considered the most important in American values and relationships, so capitalize, while other pronouns are less important than "I." Many other compound words in American English are related to ego, such as self-control, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-esteem, egocentric, and ego trip, which naturally show the American people's self-identity, self-centeredness, and self-trip.English proverbs also reflect the western culture of individual values. Americans believe in God helping those who help themselves. They have a strong sense of personal struggle and competition, and generally accept the living creed of Every man for himself, and God for us all. In the declaration of independence more than 200 years ago, Americans advocated for freedom and equality: All men are created equal. All of these reflect Americans' sense of competition and struggle based on equality and freedom, and the values of individualism have been well reflected.American individualism emphasizes self-centeredness, self-reliance and self-reliance. Americans grow up on their own. At 18, they have to earn money to support themselves, even the children of the rich. Parents give little financial support, and relying on their parents to support them as adults is seen as a sign of weakness. Many young people take part in social voluntary work, which is not to work for money, but to gain social recognition through their own hard work and experience the meaning and value of their own existence as an individual.The right to privacy is an individual's basic right, and individualism emphasizes the protection and respect of personal life. It is impolite to offend without the consent of the party concerned, and legal liability shall be investigated in serious cases. In China, "how old are you? ", "where are you going? All of these are very common everyday expressions. For self-conscious Americans, this is their own privacy and no interference from others. Poke /push one's nose into other people's business, meddle in other people's affairs. There are expressions of protest and warning in American English about such behavior: Keep your big nose out of my business, Mind your own business, Put not your hand between the bark and the tree. So when dealing with Americans, be careful not to ask personal questions such as age, marriage, family, income.Individualism promotes economic development by encouraging competition. Individual competition is an aggressive attitude towards life, which can improve the efficiency of individuals and the whole society and make economic and social progress. The values of individualism have contributed to the initiative spirit of Americans and given them a strong spirit of struggle, competition and innovation, which has played a positive role in promoting the social and economic development of the United States. For an individual, the pressure of competition will bring a sense of urgency, crisis and challenge, and eventually motivate him to give full play to his initiative, enthusiasm and creativity. For society, competition can keep it alive. The society can develop rapidly and unceasingly through the "survival of the fittest"principle in the competition mechanism. In the historical development of the United States, Americans rely on the power of individualism to develop the frontier, for survival and development, for the United States created great material wealth. Therefore, in the United States, individualism plays an important role. In a certain sense, individualism is a synonym for Americanism. The reason why American social and economic development has a strong impetus is closely related to individualism.The American sense of innovation has changed people's way of life and attitude. Innovation and invention drive the progress of society, new products and new concepts emerge in endlessly. The idea of seeking new and changing urges Americans to innovate, to invent, and to promote social progress. The number of Nobel Prize winners each year speaks for itself. People like excitement, adventure, the pursuit of novelty and fresh experience, and constantly surpass themselves.The influence of individualism on people's attitude towards life is also evident in American family education. Individualism is a kind of personal life attitude and way of life, which emphasizes the independence of individuals. Americans always pay attention to the existence and development of individuals and respect the development of individuality. In American families, children are respected and treated as individuals. Americans do not encourage students to blindly obey, but encourage them to put forward their own views and opinions.The most distinctive feature of American culture, which is based on different ethnic and ethnic relations, is diversity. Individualism emphasizes freedom, which determines that the United States can be tolerant of various cultures. Therefore, the diversity of American culture reflects not only the rich connotation of culture, but also the unified value and spirit. It has a strong flavor of The Times and changes with The Times.。
美国个人主义演讲稿范文
大家好!今天,我非常荣幸站在这里,与大家共同探讨一个深具影响力的文化现象——美国个人主义。
个人主义,作为美国社会的核心价值观之一,塑造了美国独特的文化、政治和社会结构。
在此,我将从历史渊源、社会影响、文化内涵和未来发展四个方面,对美国个人主义进行深入剖析。
一、历史渊源个人主义在美国的发展历程中,有着深厚的历史渊源。
早在17世纪,欧洲的宗教改革运动推动了个人信仰的觉醒,使得个人从教会权威中解放出来,开始追求自由、平等和独立。
这种思想传播到北美大陆后,与当地土著文化和欧洲移民的文化碰撞,逐渐形成了美国个人主义的雏形。
1776年,美国独立战争爆发,独立宣言中明确提出“人人生而平等,拥有追求幸福的权利”,这标志着美国个人主义的正式诞生。
此后,美国在政治、经济、文化等领域不断发展,个人主义逐渐成为美国社会的核心价值观。
二、社会影响1. 政治领域:个人主义在美国政治中具有重要地位。
美国宪法强调三权分立,保障个人权利和自由。
此外,个人主义还促进了民主制度的完善,使得民众能够参与政治决策,实现自我价值。
2. 经济领域:个人主义推动了美国经济的繁荣。
在美国,个人创业精神得到了充分体现,无数成功的企业家凭借自己的努力,实现了财富的积累。
这种精神促进了市场经济的发展,为美国经济注入了源源不断的活力。
3. 文化领域:个人主义对美国文化产生了深远影响。
美国电影、音乐、文学等领域,都体现了个人主义的精神。
这种精神鼓励人们追求自由、独立和个性化,形成了独特的美国文化。
三、文化内涵1. 自由:个人主义强调个人自由,认为每个人都有权利选择自己的生活方式、信仰和价值观。
在美国,自由被视为最高价值,人们追求自由、平等和公正。
2. 独立:个人主义倡导个人独立,鼓励人们自主思考、独立判断。
在美国,独立精神体现在各个方面,如个人创业、自主教育等。
3. 个性:个人主义强调个性,鼓励人们发挥自己的特长,追求独特的人生。
在美国,人们追求个性,形成了多元化的文化。
美国个人主义和英雄主义
美国人信奉个人主义,追求个人幸福已成为一种社会共识。
当年美国建国之父们乘着五月花号,载着“宗教自由”的梦想,横跨大西洋,驶向这片自由的新大陆,也正是在那时,首批移民树立了一种“追求个人自由,崇尚个人价值”的个人主义精神。
英雄主义源于人类对自身的生存环境、人文理念的忧虑和畏惧,是发自内心深处的对于未知世界和生存危机的感应,所以期待那些拥有过人能力的英雄的出现,以期能在最紧要的关头给予最有力的保护与支持。
个人英雄主义是美国精神的核心内容,反映了美国人崇尚自由,实现自身价值的文化理念。
美国的主流价值观强调的是民主、自由和平等,其中个人主义是美国的传统价值观,另外包括政治、文化、权利等方面的价值观。
许多为了追求个人价值的人纷纷来到美国,其中最早来到北美大陆的一批移民是为了逃离欧洲殖民者的统治,国王、政府、贵族、教会、牧师以及特权阶级严重干预到了他们的生活,这批移民的到来具有很重要的历史意义,同时他们也对美国人性格的形成造成了深远的影响。
早期移民对个人价值的追求主要体现在民主自由等方面,他们渴望消除贵族权利,对于政府和教会所拥有的权利也应限制,这是个人主义在美国价值体系中形成的主要原因。
英雄主义则是来源于人对周边生活环境所存有的一种恐惧和忧虑,他们渴望通过某种能力和品质来消除生存危机,在人类最危险或最恐惧的时候给予有力的支持和保护,以保证人的生存权利。
个人英雄主义反映了美国的自由主义价值观,它不仅包含了对个人自由、幸福的追求,同时也表达了对自我价值实现的渴望。
美国英雄是平民英雄———通过自身不懈努力而获得成功的人。
影片中米樱指挥官一开始就嘲笑山姆是一个报信者而非战士,然而事实证明山姆———没有受专业训练的普通人———却比特种兵和特工都发挥了更多能量,在特种兵退缩不敢进芝加哥时,他英勇前往; 在侦察机都不起作用时,他准确地向总部报告了敌人方位……强烈的爱国主义和坚定信念支撑他勇往直前,书写英雄神话。
ATentativeStudyontheIndividualisminAmerica浅谈美国的个人主
对全球个人主义思潮的影响
促进全球个人主义思潮的发展, 成为其他国家效仿的对象
对全球经济发展产生影响,推动 全球经济的自由化和市场化进程
添加标题
添加标题
添加标题
添加标题
对全球文化交流和融合产生积极 影响,推动世界文化的多样性和 包容性
对全球政治格局产生影响,推动 全球政治的民主化和多元化进程
PART 4
YOUR LOGO
浅谈美国的个人主 义
abc,a click to unlimited possibilities
汇报人:abc
时间:20XX-XX-XX
目录
01
02
03
04
05
美国个人主 义的历史背 景
美国个人主 义的主要特 征
美国个人主 义的影响
美国个人主 义的争议与 批判
美国个人主 义的未来展 望
个人主义与道德沦丧的批判
批判观点:个 人主义导致道 德沦丧,忽视 社会责任和公
共利益。
争议焦点:个 人权利与集体 利益的平衡问 题,以及个人 主义对道德观
念的影响。
批判依据:一 些研究表明, 个人主义可能 导致自私自利、 不关心他人和 社会的行为。
反批判观点: 个人主义者认 为,个人权利 和自由是道德 的基础,个人 主义并不必然 导致道德沦丧。
重视个人成就和成功
美国个人主义强调个人奋斗和独立自主,追求个人成就和成功。
个人主义价值观在美国社会中占据重要地位,人们普遍认为成功是个人能力、努力和选 择的必然结果。
美国社会提供了广泛的机遇和自由,鼓励个人发挥自己的潜力和创造力,实现自己的价 值和目标。
个人成就和成功在美国文化中备受推崇,成为衡量一个人价值的重要标准。
美国人的个人主义价值观[权威资料]
美国人的个人主义价值观【摘要】个人主义是美国价值观的核心所在,它是制约着其他价值观的中心思想。
本文着重介绍了价值观的定义和特点,并探讨美国的个人主义价值观的根源、发展及其表现。
【关键词】价值观美国个人主义个人英雄主义一、价值观在跨文化交际中,价值观是一个很重要的问题,许多的学者认为价值观是跨文化交际的核心。
Talcott Parsons认为,价值观是“社会中人们一直接受的象征系统(文化系统)中的一个因素。
它是社会里各种选择和行动目标的标准。
”价值观并不是行动的目的,而是存在于人脑中的一种判断是非、鉴赏审美、选择行动的标准。
概括来讲,价值观是决定人们所持看法和所采取行动的根本出发点。
在不同的社会文化中,价值观是最深层的部分,价值观一旦形成,就很难改变,具有很强的稳定性。
对于代表西方文化的美国,有一种价值观在美国人的生活中根深蒂固,即个人主义。
二、个人主义(一)个人主义的定义个人主义符合人的天性。
人性中最基本的一方面总是先利己,再利他,先爱己,再爱人。
个人主义有利于调动个体的积极性,去创造更多的产品,既改善个人生活,也推进社会进步。
美国的个人主义正是如此,强调每个人都是自己前途的主人,鼓励人们不断地去探索和冒险,自我完善,实现自己的价值。
最终达到个人成功并实现社会进步。
(二)个人主义的根源关于个人主义的根源问题, John Dewey有这样的观点,“个人主义的根基可以追溯到中世纪的信仰。
它阐明了个人灵魂的本质,使生活的起伏围绕着个人的命运而旋转。
”中世纪的教派纷争,但各种宗教都强调灵魂说,个人主义是同灵魂说有关。
了解个人主义的起源也要从宗教的角度考虑。
17世纪的清教对美国文化的影响是尤为深远的。
清教徒相信,人人生来有罪,同时人性决定人会不断地犯新罪,怎样从罪孽中解放出来,是清教徒个人灵魂深处不断思索反省的重要内容。
至于如何赎罪,就应该靠自己的能力。
辛勤工作、积累财富,做到事业上的成功就是通往天堂解放自己的途径。
浅析美国文化中的个人主义
浅析美国文化中的个人主义摘要:个人主义是美国价值观念的核心,它的产生有其思想和现实来源,其渗透到美国生活的方方面面。
对个人主义的推崇和奉行,对美国社会有利有弊。
关键词:美国个人主义独立基督精神,自由主义与个人主义共同构成美国文化的三大支柱。
但代表美国文化模式基本特征的个人主义却是直接、真实地涵盖了美国思想。
个人主义是美国价值观的核心,在美国的文化思想中占有举足轻重的地位。
它对美国历史的发展道路起着决定性的作用。
对个人主义的分析有利于加深对当代美国社会的了解。
一个人主义的内涵个人主义在西方文化特别是在美国文化中起着举足轻重的作用。
“个人主义”这个术语最早的用法是法语形式的“individualism”,个人主义作为一种个人主义思想体系及其理论,也即是西方的一种政治哲学和社会哲学。
其主要内容是:尊重个人空间,强调个人利益和个人奋斗,尊重人权。
强调人是价值的主体,相信每个人都具有价值,高度重视个人的自我支配,自我控制,自我发展。
个人主义是以个人为本位的人生哲学。
个人进步,全在于自己的艰辛努力和不息奋斗;个人进步,也是自我价值实现的主要标志。
反对权威,反对任何形式“不合法的”对个人的强制,尤其反对国家对个人不必要的控制。
二个人主义产生的原因:(1)历史渊源。
在美国,“个人主义”最早从法国启蒙运动得到启发,最初是唱着对资本主义和自由主义民主的颂歌而出现的。
它成了一种具有巨大意义形态的象征性口号。
最早的一批移民包括了来自欧洲的清教徒,他们认为上帝判断其选民的标准时个人在世俗世界中取得的成就,不希望遭到上帝的遗弃就应该通过个人努力获得成功。
随后,伴随着西进运动和二战,个人主义实用性的优越性不断被证实,这一传统也被新一代和新移民不断得继承了下来。
(2)长久以来的独立意识传统。
首先,这源于东西方家庭观念的不同。
东方人——尤其是中国人受伦理思想和传统的影响,家庭成员之间的纽带更为紧密。
代系之间教育和赡养义务往往持续终生。
美国文化论文
美国文化美国文化的主要内容就是强调个人价值,追求民主自由,崇尚开拓与竞争,讲求理性与实用,其核心就是个人中心主义:个人至上、私欲至上、追求个人利益与个人享受,强调通过个人奋斗、个人自我设计,追求个人价值的最终实现。
这种刻意塑造自我,追求个性化的个人主义有其积极的一面,也有消极的一面。
它调动了个人的积极性,使许多人的智慧与潜力得以充分发挥,从而促进整个民族与国家的振兴与发展。
然而,人人以自我为中心,人际关系就难以融洽,整个社会也会缺乏凝聚力。
个性自由起源于美国祖先追求宗教信仰自由的传统。
包括自主动机,自主抉择,自力更生,尊重她人,个性自由,尊重隐私等层面。
美国的自由观"不仅指免除对肉体的约束,而且指个人有权签订契约;有权从事任何一种普通谋生职业;有权获取有用的知识;有权结婚、建立家庭与抚养孩子;受自己良心的支配崇拜上帝,以及普遍地享有历来被认为就是自由与平等地追求幸福所必不可少的那些特权。
美国公众注重成就,仰慕英雄,有深厚的成就崇拜与英雄崇拜的心理积淀。
个人成就就是所有美国人价值观中评价最高的价值之一。
美国人有很强的成就(或成功)意识。
成功就是所有美国人的追求,就是诱人的前景,前进的动力。
她们坚信,一个人的价值就等于她在事业上的成就。
一些事业有成的企业家、科学家、艺术家与各类明星,成了新时代的英雄。
她们个人奋斗的过程与结果,成了社会文化价值取向的参照系,父母教育子女的活教材。
美国就是流动性很大的社会。
这种流动体现在两个方面:地域性流动与社会性流动。
美国相对的开放自由、发达的交通与冒险好动的传统使许多美国人从乡村流到城市,又从市中心流向郊区;从北方流到南方阳光地带,从一个城市流到另一个城市。
美国社会阶级不像欧洲国家那样固定,加上公共教育的普及,使沿着社会阶梯向上流动成为可能。
许多生活在美国的人,无论就是土生土长的美国人,还就是漂洋过海来到美国的外国移民,都有一个梦,即通过自己的努力,改变自己的社会地位,实现自己的人生梦想,这就就是人们常津津乐道的“美国梦”。
美国文化论文
浅谈美国文化中的个人主义摘要:美国文化的特点很多,集中体现在文学、绘画、建筑、电影等方面,其核心的便是个人主义,个人主义体现在人们的日常行为、文化语言、教育婚姻、竞技电影等方面。
美国文化有精华,亦存在糟粕,那么我们在面对美国文化的时候应该批判的吸收,从而使我们国家的传统文化得以继承与发展。
关键词:美国文化、个人主义、批判的吸收美国文化的特点体现在各个方面,如:文学、绘画、建筑、雕塑、舞蹈、电影……我在这里就美国文化中的个人主义进行浅析。
所谓个人主义,一般来说有广义和狭义之分。
广义的个人主义,是泛指西方从文艺复兴以来,随着资本主义生产关系的发展,随着反封建压迫和神权统治的斗争而形成的以个人为中心的思想。
狭义的个人主义,主要是指个人主义这一概念出现以后的个人主义思想体系及其理论,它是一种典型的西方资本主义政治和社会哲学,其主要内容是相信每个人都具有价值,高度重视个人自由,强调个人的自我支配、自我控制、自我发展,是以个人为本位的人生哲学美国文化的主要内容是强调个人价值,追求民主自由,崇尚开拓和竞争,讲求理性和实用,其核心是个人中心主义。
美国公众注重成就,仰慕英雄,有深厚的成就崇拜和英雄崇拜的心理积淀。
个人成就是所有美国人价值观中评价最高的价值之一。
美国人有很强的成就(或成功)意识。
成功是所有美国人的追求,是诱人的前景,前进的动力。
他们坚信,一个人的价值就等于他在事业上的成就。
一些事业有成的企业家、科学家、艺术家和各类明星,成了新时代的英雄。
他们个人奋斗的过程和结果,成了社会文化价值取向的参照系,父母教育子女的活教材。
个人主义体现在美国人的口常行为中。
强调每个人作为个体,每个人都有他的自然权利,平等和自由。
在美国,个人的隐私权是受到尊重和保护的。
而那些对年龄、婚恋、宗教信仰、经济状况等有关方面的问题,美国人认为是隐私性问题,通常采取回避的态度。
个人主义强调对个人私生活的保护和尊重,不允许对之进行刺探、干涉和侵扰。
个人主义在美国的胜利
摘要:个人主义是美国文化中的核心和精髓内容。
从第一批殖民者的到来开始,就影响着一代又一代的美国人。
不管是在经济、文化还是教育,都印有个人主义深深的烙印。
可以这样说,如果没有个人主义,就没有独特的美国文化。
但值得注意的是:个人主义并不是美国独有的文化现象,甚至个人主义也不是在美国开始的。
但相比其它存在个人主义的国家,它却对美国文化影响最大。
也许这正是美国文化独特的地方。
关键词:个人主义、独特、美国文化Success of Individualism in AmericaAbstract:Individualism is core of American culture. From the first settlement, it has affected many generation of American people including economy, culture education and education. We can say that where there is no individualism, there is no special American culture. But something we have to focus on it, which is individualism, is not particular phenomena, also doesn’t begin from America. However, compared with another country, individualism is the essential part of American culture. This is the particular part in American culture.Key words:Individualism Particular American Culture引言:个人主义并不是美国独有的文化现象,而且个人主义最初也不是在美国产生的。
浅析美国的个人主义价值观
浅析美国的个人主义价值观[摘要]个人主义作为美国文化的核心,在不同历史时期有不同的内涵,它随着时代的发展而不断发展。
美国人虽然强调个人主义,但他们并不是不讲组织纪律和集体主义观念的。
[关键词]美国个人主义社团精神“个人主义”一词在不同国家、不同历史时期具有不同的含义,在美国,个人主义是其文化的核心,它包括广泛的思想内容,主要是自主动机、自主选择和自负其责。
随着时代的发展和社会的进步,个人主义的内涵不断地得到充实和调适,至今它仍主导着美国人的价值观念。
一、个人主义在美国的发展演变美国的个人主义可以追溯到它的早期历史阶段。
美国是一个移民国家,早期的移民大多都是为了摆脱本国的政治和宗教迫害,为追求一种独立自由的幸福生活,漂洋过海历经艰辛来到北美大陆。
他们具有强烈的个人意识和反权威的传统。
也正是由于他们对自身自由独立的珍重,使他们最终拿起武器与英国殖民统治者进行了不屈不挠的英勇斗争,从而建立了独立的国家,维护了自身的独立自由。
这一精神在美国的《独立宣言》中得到了明确的阐释:“所有的人生而平等,上帝赋予他们不可剥夺的权利,其中包括生命、自由和对幸福的追求。
”美国的个人主义在西进运动和边疆生活中得到了重大发展。
西进运动中,来自东部和欧洲的移民以他们的独立和竞争精神披荆斩棘、艰苦劳作。
西部的艰苦生活和创造性劳动,锻炼了他们勤劳勇敢和不断进取的性格。
西部广袤的土地为西进的人们提供了大展身手的舞台,人们相信只要奋斗就能成功。
充分发挥个人的主动性和首创精神追求物质利益和政治利益的平等权利是这一时期个人主义的表现。
19世纪末20世纪初,在实现工业化的过程中,崇尚个人独立自主竞争促使美国的资本家巧取豪夺,残酷剥削,造成了生产的盲目性和无序性,不受干预的自由竞争堕落到了无视他人和社会利益,只顾追求个人利润的疯狂剥削,像洛克菲勒、卡内基等工业垄断巨头因对工人的残忍和腐败独裁统治而臭名昭著。
在1893年钢铁大罢工中,卡内基命令他的手下开枪。
美国个人主义英文论文
A Study on American IndividualismI IntroductionIndividualism is the very core of American culture and the main value in America.We can say that individualism has been influencing all the fields of politics,economics and society,even the character of the nation. The self--reliance, Individual freedom, equal competition which are emphasized is different from the concept of individualism in China. Individualism is a western concept, and the origin can be traced back to the period of Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation. In the period of immigration and Westward movement, Individualism was intensified. Although over self--centered canbring negative effect, from the whole historical point of view, there is no big social events which violate the stable situation, thisis because the concept of commitment has been in the heart of Americans for a long time.Individualism supplied the nation with a rationalization of its characteristic attitudes,behavior patterns and aspirations. It endowed the past, the present and the future with the perspective of unity and progress. It explained the peculiar social and political organization of the nation—unity in spite of heterogeneity and it pointed toward an ideal social organization in harmony with American experience. Above all, individualism expressed as the universalism and idealism most characteristic of the national consciousness. This concept evolved in contradistinction to socialism, the universal and messianic character of which it shared.Individualism, the love of enterprise, and the pride in personal freedom have been deemed by Americans not only their choicest, but their peculiar and exclusive possession. Individualism, the love of enterprise, and the pride in personal freedom have been deemed by Americans not only their choicest, but their peculiar and exclusive possession.Individualism is perhaps the primary concept that, transcending such categories as race, gender, class, age and region, unites Americans across time and space to give coherence to the national experience. From the earliest beginnings of the republic to the post-modernist present, the rights of the individual citizen and his or her place in the scheme of things has been of primary importance to American philosophers, artists, political theorists, theologians and others concerned with articulating national values and principles. Communitarian ideas rise from time to time to challenge individualism, but none have yet been successful in seriously weakening its hold on American culture. Incorporated into American "common-sense thinking," the philosophy ofindividualism becomes in the popular mind the very essence of what being an American means. In this course we will examine with a critical eye the philosophical basis and social consequences of the primacy of the individual in American intellectual, legal, and political traditions.There are five parts of this paper. The first part is the brief introduction of the paper, mainly introduce the important position of American Individualism in American. The second part summarize the Individualism, including origin, development, evolvement and the development fundemental. The third part is the most vital one, in this chapter, this paper talk about the performance of American Individualism in various areas. The fourth part is the evaluation of Individualism and the conclusion of the whole paper.II On the Term——American Individualism2.1Concept of the IndividualismBelief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence.Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses "the moral worth of the individual". Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one's own interests, whether by society, or any other group or institution.Individualism makes the individual its focus and so it starts "with the fundamental premise that the human individual is of primary importance in the struggle for liberation." Natural rights and freedom are the substance of these theories. Classical liberalism (including libertarianism), existentialism and individualist anarchism are examples of movements that take the human individual as a central unit of analysis.It has also been used as a term denoting "The quality of being an individual; individuality" related to possessing "An individual characteristic; a quirk." Individualism is thus also associated with artistic and bohemian interests and lifestyles where there is a tendency towards self creation and experimentation as opposed to tradition or popular mass opinions and behaviors as so also with humanist philosophical positions and ethics.Individualism encompasses a value system, a theory of human nature, and a belief in certain political, economic, social, and religious arrangements. According to the individualist, all values are human-centred, the individual is of supreme importance, and all individuals are morally equal. Individualism places great value on self-reliance, on privacy, and on mutual respect. Negatively, itembraces opposition to authority and to all manner of controls over the individual, especially when exercised by the state. As a theory of human nature, individualism holds that the interests of the normal adult are best served by allowing him maximum freedom and responsibility for choosing his objectives and the means for obtaining them. The institutional embodiment of individualism follows from these principles.2.1.1 The Misconception of IndividualismIsolationThe first misconception is that individualism means isolation---being alone, being outside society. This misconception is reflected in the popular images of ―individualism‖, images that stress being isolated, such as those of the lone cowboy, the fearless gumshoe, and the isolated prairie family. Such images can be exciting and heroic, but isolation is not the essence of individualism.In fact, the concept of individualism does not make sense in the absence of other human beings. Individualism is called ―individualism‖ not because it exhorts the individual to seek a life apart from others, but because it asserts that the individual, and not the group, is the primary constituent of society. The belief that individualism means being alone leads people to say that individualism is incompatible with cooperat ion. If one is too much of an ―individualist‖, people say, one cannot ―get along with groups‖, one is not a good ―team player‖. Actually, a person who doesn't listen to others, the person who would rather do things an inefficient way as long as it's ―my way‖, is not being an ―individualist‖---he's being closed minded. A true individualist wants the best for himself, so he seeks out the best, no mater who is the source. To the individualist, the truth is more important than any authority, including himself. Living in society, cooperating with other people---these are tremendous benefits. Individualism does not deny this. But not all arrangements of living and working with other men are beneficial to the individual; the arrangement faced by American slaves is one example. Individualism is a theory of the conditions under which living and working with others is, in fact, beneficial.BalanceAnother widespread misconception about individualism is that it can somehow be mixed with or tempered by collectivism. In this view, neither ―extreme‖ individualism nor ―extreme‖collectivism are correct. Rather, wisdom and truth lie somewhere in the middle. Individualism andcollectivism are contradictory positions---there is no middle ground between them. Collectivism maintains that the group is an entity in its own right, a thing that can act upon people. Individualism denies this. Collectivism sees us being influenced by the group; individualism sees us being influenced by other individuals. Collectivism sees us cooperating with the team; individualism, with other people. Collectivism sees us building on the ideas and achievements of society; individualism, on the ideas and achievements of individuals. These are contradictory positions; it's either-or. To accept the ―balance‖point of view is to accept collectivism. No collectivist has ever said that every single need of every individual must be frustrated for the sake of the society---if so, there wouldn't be any society left to serve. Collectivism is the balance point of view; it is a matter of fine-tuning here and there, constraining individuals when their interests get out of line with the ―good of society‖. Indeed, the main debate between the ―left‖and the ―right‖ today is not a debate over collectivism and individualism---its a debate over two forms of collectivism. The ―left‖ holds that the needs of society lie in the materialistic realm, so they are into regulating that aspect of individual affai rs. The ―right‖ holds that the needs of society lie in the spiritual realm, so they are into regulating the spiritual aspect of individual affairs.2.1.2 The Conception of American IndividualismThe embodiment of American Individualism can be depicted in four aspects, from which we put emphasis on there of them.Self-relianceOne of the most attractive characters of most American people is their self-reliance, which is generally considered as the basic of individual freedom, another essential character of individualism of America. Children in the United States, as long as they are18-year old, have to earn their daily bread by themselves, while senior citizens are also quite used to living alone instead of sharing the same ceiling with their children. No wonder that we may hear people always s ay ‗Thanks, but I can manage it throughout the country in the America.Individual FreedomMuch unlike the Europeans‘ thoughts on ‗freedom‘—just as what Tocqueville went after, an entire free without any strings attached [3]—the equivalent in America seems to be more reasonable, not meaning that one can do anything at will, but entitling people the right ‗to education‘, ‗to work‘, ‗to freedom of thought, conscience and religion‘, ‗to freedom of peacefulassembly and associ ation‘, etc. [4] The basis of all of these rights are ―Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness‖, declared by The Declaration of Independence . Of course, all of these freedoms and rights should be under the control of the States‘ legal system.Personal selectionAmerican people‘s personal selection is particularly embodied in the Presidential Election. Every voter feels absolutely free to vote the prospective President without a single string attached. In a book named The People’s Choice: How the Voter M akes Up His Mind in a Presidential Election, written by Paul F. Lazarsfeld, we found no special factor having a critical influence on which candidate they will vote for but socio-economic status, religious faith, occupation, and age. When educating their children, most American parents encourage their kids to make their own decisions, and this helps greatly during the formation one‘s character especially to self-reliance and confidence.Individual equalityIn general, most Americans are fairly indifferent to the identity of social rank and belong themselves to the middle class. ―We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.‖And we can‘t get a more valuable heritage from Thomas Jefferson and Martin Luther King. Quite different from Europe, the idea of equality in the United States assumed that everyone has equal opportunities rather than social positions. That is to say, each person has equal chance to achieve his success; however, the results of their work vary greatly from person to person. Based on personal equality, individual competition then has evolved into a life attitude throughout the daily life of the American people. In the United States, a fair social competition is protected by both political principles and organizational structures, ensuring an advantageous environment for personal equally competition.2.2 The Origin of American IndividualismThe origin of American individualism can be traced back to the beginning years of its history, when first American immigrants came to the North American continent looking for better life and shaking off the yoke of European feudal tradition and the oppression from all kinds of powerful classes. It is determined that elements of anti-yoke and searching for freedom should be the Ameri can people‘s character. This was the original explanation of American individualism. Concerning this, what American people are always proud of is the Declaration of Independence:―we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.‖2.3 The Development of American IndividualismThis has not always been the state of affairs in America, and we are reminded of just this fact by much of the best scholarship in colonial and early national history in recent years. The crucial role of Protestant Christianity in making the early American social and political ethos has been repeatedly emphasized. For example, the political scientist Barry Alan Shain has made the case that it was not Enlightenment liberalism but a very constrained form of communitarian Reformed Protestantism that best represented the dominant social and political outlook of early America. The political theorist Michael Sandel has argued that, until the twentieth century, America's public philosophy was based largely on the "republican" assumption that the polity had a formative, prescriptive, "soulcraft" function to perform in matters of the economy, the family, church-state relations, personal morality, free speech, constitutional law, privacy, productive labor, and consumption.In retrospect, however, it is hard not to see those earlier perspectives as fatally fragile. Certainly by the middle of the nineteenth century, figures such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman—romantic American nationalists and prophets of the unconstrained self—were already trumpeting the note that would have the most lasting resonance in the American imagination. It was Emerson who declared famously that a society is a "conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members," and that "nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." And it was Whitman who declared that "the Great Idea" is "the idea of perfect and free individuals," and that "nothing, not God, is greater to one than one's-self is." One could hardly deny that such driving, self-interested ambition was itself a logical corollary to the spirit of unrestrained self-development, although both men would live long enough to be disappointed in the crass materialism that seemed to take hold of American society in the post–Civil War years. So, too, there is the irresistible story of Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, the semi-noble, semi-savage boy who lit out for the territory rather than enduring the phony rigors of civilization. Indeed, one sure index of the hold that individualism has had on American thought and expression is the culture'srichness in figures of heroic individuality—and its relative poverty in providing convincing representations of community or social obligation.There have always been a few important countercurrents, however, to this pervasive celebration of individuality. One such current emerged from women writers, both inside and outside the nascent feminist movement. Individualism being a game still reserved largely for males, the fiction and "domestic economy" literature produced by such nineteenth-century writers as the sisters Catharine Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe often had a very different tone, emphasizing the satisfactions of settlement, family life, nurture, and human connectedness—all the things that Henry David Thoreau and Huck Finn sought to escape. Such arguments were carried to a high pitch by the southern anti-suffragist Louisa McCord, who urged women to stand at a critical distance from the coarse individualism of the male public world. To be sure, the works of northern feminists such as Margaret Fuller and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were nothing if not individualistic in tone, testifying to the fact that some women were eager to get in on the game. Various forms of that same tension between equality and difference have persisted into the twenty-first century and continue to color our discussions of individualism and gender.The immense human suffering and social dislocation wrought by industrialization was another stimulus to anti-individualistic thinking. One can see some elements of this critique emerging idiosyncratically in the antebellum years—for example, in the fascinating career of the anti-capitalist Catholic convert Orestes Brownson, who railed against individualism for destroying the grounds of human solidarity; or in the works of pro-slavery apologist George Fitzhugh, who presented slavery as an organic and patriarchal institution, far preferable to the inhumane and predatory institution of "wage slavery." But the best example could be found in one of the most widely read books of the nineteenth century, Edward Bellamy's 1888 fantasy Looking Backward, an effort to imagine a perfected postindustrial Boston, reconstituted as a socialist cooperative commonwealth in the year 2000. Bellamy openly reviled individualism, proposing in its place a post-Christian "religion of solidarity," which would radically de-emphasize the self, and instead emphasize social bonds over individual liberty (and traditional Christian doctrine).The popularity of Bellamy's book showed that there was a market hungry for such ideas, and many of the most "progressive" forces of the day—ranging from the cooperation-minded Knights of Labor, the theological advocates of a modernist "social gospel," to Progressive reformers suchas Herbert Croly, Jane Addams, and John Dewey—unreservedly admired and emulated its spirit. Indeed, the Progressive movement itself, at least in some of its manifestations, advanced a new corporate ideal that sought to downplay individualism and instead to defend and preserve "the public interest" in the face of industrial capital's power. In the hands of a sophisticated thinker like Dewey, a case was made that the values of community and individuality, far from being in opposition, are mutually supporting and mutually sustaining, particularly in an age dominated by large industrial combinations, immense asymmetries of wealth and power, and vast impersonal networks of communication. It was pointless, in their view, to restore the small-scale community of days past. Economic and social forces had rendered such community, with its personal bonds and face-to-face business transactions, impossible. The task ahead was the creation of something new, which Dewey called "The Great Community," a systematically reconstituted social order that, it was hoped, would adapt the best features of the old community forms to the inexorable realities of the new economy and society, and thereby preserve the possibility of a healthy form of individuality as well.2.3.1 The Evolvement of American IndividualismThe cultural changes of the 1990s (including multiculturalism, the advances of feminism, a growing rejection of moral relativism, new forms of spiritual self-expressiveness and greater attentiveness to children and childcare) can only be understood in the context of how the revolution in social values that took the nation by storm in the 1960s and 1970s has subsequently evolved.The transformation in values from the mid-sixties to the late-seventies confronts Americans with one of the sharpest discontinuities in Americans‘history as a culture. Observers have attached a variety of names to the changes. Journalist Tom Wolfe famously labeled the period as the "me generation". More academically, Ron Inglehart referred to the new values as "post-materialist" and documented their spread from the United States to the other industrialized democracies. A label for the new ethos that I and others prefer is "expressive individualism."It is not a crisp sound-bite, but it has the virtue of precision: the value changes revolve around the twin issues of the roles that "expressiveness" and "individualism" are to play in people‘s lives. The new ethos gave priority to the expressive side of life even at the expense of economic benefits. By the end of the 1970s, the majority of Americans had decided that self-expressiveness was tooimportant for artists and writers to monopolize: everyone should have the opportunity to develop their own inner potential for self-expression.A belief in individualism is, of course, as old as the nation itself. But prior to the 1960s, American individualism focused mainly on the political domain -- freedom to speak their minds, to pursue their own religious beliefs, to live where we chose to live. In the 1950s we were a nation of political individualists but social conformists. The 1960s ushered in a radical extension of individualism, broadening it from the political domain to personal life styles.By the 1980s the ethos of expressive individualism had grown into a national preoccupation. Now, in the late 1990s, after more than three decades of radical experimentation, Americans find a new conception of individualism evolving.2.3.2 The Understanding of Individualism Development Fundamentalwe have to admit that basic to any understanding of the development of the American individualism is the process of the industrialization, urbanization and modernization.Generally considering, the Industrial Revolution started in the late 1800‘s, which appeared to be a gradually accelerating procedure for mass production instead of a dramatic transformation. In the first half of the seventeenth century or even earlier in Europe, the idea of a market-orientated production had already sunk deep into people‘s minds. In the order the newly established industrial system, the manufacturing process had been decomposed into several tiny sections without much manual labor as before. This great transformation, according to Karl Max, finally made the industrial worker be severely alienated in Germany, Max used the word ―entaeusser‖ instead—which he thought was based both on wage labor and industrialism, causing by the products and themselves in the acts of production.The second trend providing fertile soils to individualism is urbanization. Roughly speaking, the definition of urbanization is a process in which the proportion of popularity in cities has been constantly incr easing. As an immigrant country, the United States‘ procedure of urbanization appeared to be more complex but manifest. People from Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as from Asia and Africa, have been voluntarily poured into the Big Melting Po t. The final product was ―a multitude of separate corporations‖. During the progression, social differentiation then arose and people were not so liable to be connected together by loyal,trusts, or somewhat of this kind as before. A new era has come, in which contracts replacing handshakes have become so general to keep the relationship between people.Another factor helping to accelerate the development of individualism is modernization, which is characterized as hundreds, even thousands of technologies and inventions having been putted into service. So we draw the conclusion that the Industrial Revolution liberated people from their farmland, enabled them to seek their fortune in cities, and provided them with a grate deal of newly invented articles which met their self-needs varying from one person to another. Here we pay little attention to academic theories, though some of which actually had great influence on the trend of individualism in America, such as Social Darwinism sponsored by Herbert Spencer, Corporative Individualism by Herbert Croly. And also, Religious Individualism, Christian Individualism, Atom Individualism, etc. had all played remarkably prominent roles in shaping the whole concept of Individualism as well.III The Performance of American Individualism in Various Areas3.1 The Performance in PoliticsPolitical individualism in its most common, though not its only meaning—is a fundamental belief in the protection of the rights of the individual against the incursions of the state and of political power. However, there are many dimensions of individualism and it is possible to be an ‗individualist‘ in several different fields. In general usage, an ‗individualist‘ denotes a person with a distinctive or unusual personal style, who stands out from the mass. In metaphysics or ontology individualism is a belief that the universe consists fundamentally of individual particulars, separable entities. The opponents of individualism in this sense are holists or monists. The typical holist belief is that the relations (usually systematic relations in some sense) between entities have a more fundamental existence than the entities themselves.Within the Christian religion individualism is closely associated with Protestantism and the belief in the human capacity for personal contact with God rather than the necessity of instruction through a hierarchy. ‗Economic individualism‘ is usually taken to refer to a faith in the capacity of individual action and ambition, working through the market, to create wealth and to bring about progress. Political individualism, as defined above, is a more ambiguous idea.The central question about individualism per se concerns the connections between these different dimensions. To what extent are they associated and what is the form of the association?Margaret Thatcher is often quoted as saying, ‗There is no such thing as society, but only individuals‘, an overtly ontological statement which is ethically and politically suggestive. She actually added the words ‗and families‘, which two words can be taken as the thin end of a more collectivist philosophical wedge. The connections between many of these dimensions is not logical entailment: there is no contradiction in being a philosophical monist, yet believing that individual initiative is the chief engine of economic progress or that persons possess rights which should be protected from the power of the state. But a desire for ideological consistency creates an association between the different dimensions of individualism.There is also an important paradox at the heart of individualism. John Stuart Mill offers one of the most morally appealing images of the individualist society, in which people are unconstrained by conformity and are able to advance civilization by the freest possible development of their own ideas and forms of expression. But how is this individualist society to be achieved? The society which most clearly embodies a belief in economic individualism in its norms and institutions, and the protection of individual rights in its constitution, is the United States. But the United States has often been criticized for its tendency to homogenize people, products, and places, and to require conformity from individuals. In the field of education, it has often been remarked that the withdrawal of authoritarian requirements for conformity in schools is often replaced by a more effective pressure for social conformity which arises from the pupils themselves. Many people believe that the ‗totalitarian‘ Soviet Union produced greater individual artists and political thinkers than many more free societies. In extremis, the paradox implies that an element of despotism is required to produce the full flowering of the individual, that authoritarian political structures can serve to protect individuals from social and economic pressures to conform.3.2 The Performance in EconomicThe doctrine of economic individualism holds that each individual should be allowed autonomy in making his or her own economic decisions as opposed to those decisions being made by the state, or the community, for him or her.Classical liberalismClassical liberalism is a political ideology that developed in the 19th century in England, Western Europe, and the Americas. It followed earlier forms of liberalism in its commitment to。
美国个人主义评述
美国个人主义评述□仲恺农业工程学院外语系熊学军摘要:美国是世界上最具个人主义色彩的国家,个人主义更是美国文化的核心价值观,决定着美国人行为的方方面面。
文章先探讨个人主义的概念及内涵,接着详细阐述了美国个人主义的来源、个人主义在美国的继承、发展及现状,最后对个人主义对美国社会的影响进行了简要的历时性评价。
关键词:美国个人主义价值观极端个人主义一、引言个人主义是美国文化的核心,是美国人最主要的价值观,不了解美国个人主义就不可能理解美国人的行为(胡文仲,1992)。
显然,深入研究个人主义对了解美国人的价值观举足轻重。
文章将探讨美国个人主义的定义、历史渊源、其发展与现状,并简要评价美国个人主义价值观。
二、美国个人主义基本内涵“American Heritage Dictionary”对“individualism”的定义包括:(1)Belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues of self-reliance and personal independence;(2)A doctrine of freedom from government regulation of personal economic or social goals;(3)The doctrine that the interests of the individual should take precedence over the interests of the group.美国学者萨姆瓦指出广义的个人主义认为:个人利益是或应是至高无上的;一切价值、权利和义务都来源于个人;作为一个人应具有独立性、责任心和自尊心(王锦瑭,1997)。
可见,美国个人主义有一些“自私”的地方,如强调个人利益高于群体的等,但它更强调个人独立性,不依赖他人;尊重他人;强调个性自由,并尊重他人自由;强调个人隐私权应受到尊重和保护(袁永和,2005)。
美国梦中的个人主义
美国梦中的个人主义摘要】个人主义在美国社会文化中起着至关重要的作用。
个人主义强调人是价值的主体,相信每个人都具有价值,高度重视个人的自我支配,自我控制,自我发展。
在美国梦中处处渗透着个人主义,激励着美国人民前进。
然而个人主义也有一定的消极意义。
【关键词】个人主义;美国梦;自我控制;自我发展;个人价值;消极意义300年前,当英格兰移民乘坐着五月花号横穿大西洋来到马里兰,寻找一块清教徒能居住的“净土”时,“美国梦”已开始悄然萌芽——美国给了全世界每一个人均等的机会,只要努力奋斗,都可以实现自己的梦想。
美国作家朗·梅勒指出“美国梦”包含几个要素:美国提供了人人都能成功的机会;成功取决于自己的才能和努力,而不是家世和背景;人人都拥有平等的权利;人人都有信仰的自由。
“当奥巴马以第一位黑人美国总统的身份站上世界舞台的时候,“美国梦”这个词再一次引起了广泛的关注。
奥巴马被认为是美国梦最好的演绎。
身为一位黑人,在美国没有背景,没有家世,甚至没有钱,单单凭借着个人的奋斗与努力一步一步站在了世界之巅。
我认为在他成功的过程中,处处渗透着美国个人主义。
个人主义的内涵,一般来说有广义和狭义之分。
广义的个人主义,是泛指西方从文艺复兴以来,随着资本主义生产关系的发展,随着反封建压迫和神权统治的斗争而形成的以个人为中心的思想。
狭义的个人主义,主要是指"个人主义"这一概念出现以后的个人主义思想体系及其理论,也即是西方的一种政治哲学和社会哲学。
其主要内容是:强调人是价值的主体,相信每个人都具有价值,高度重视个人的自我支配,自我控制,自我发展。
一句话,个人主义是以个人为本位的人生哲学。
在这里,我主要想阐述的是以人为本的狭义的个人主义。
关于美国文化中个人主义价值观的内容,美国学者萨姆瓦认为,其应当包括自主动机、自主抉择、自力更生、尊重他人、个性自由以及尊重隐私等层面。
下面通过几部电影阐述一下笔者对于美国梦中的个人主义的认识。
American Individualism(美国的个人主义)
American IndividualismThe United States is an emerging country with more than 230 years history , and without too long history culture nor too many glorious historical sites . Perhaps because it is such a special country, in my impression, I always feel that the United States is a nation of character, the Americans are a group of organisms who have distinct personality, although I have never been there . The multiculture, pattern of consumption , racism,and so on, all have their own personality and characteristic.In the United States, every one is convinced that: everybody has an equal value and a chance of success, not a born noble than others. In contemporary society , the pursuit for equality and liberty has become a way of Americans’ life. The declaration of independence which was drafted by President Jefferson declared that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that they are among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.Once remote times, American Continent incited the American imagination and rushed the struggle of ambition , because of its rich resource. In the United States Sinhan Pioneer Period , the individuality of pioneers was not be depressed; In the period of capitalism or free competition, there were some ragged and poor boys who changed their status and fate depending on their personal efforts. up to this day, theAmericans are still admired "Success by individual struggle". A famous movie "the pursuit of happyness" is a model of the main Values for Americans.However, the concept of the American individualism also has disadvantages. Due to much freedom, Addiction rates,crime rate and divorce rate of the United States are Staying at a high level, and more and more campus shootings in recent years. on this account, the hedonism is gradually becoming an unhealthy phenomenon in the society. These negative effects should be noticed and improved as soon as possible If the United States intend to keep the world power status.。
- 1、下载文档前请自行甄别文档内容的完整性,平台不提供额外的编辑、内容补充、找答案等附加服务。
- 2、"仅部分预览"的文档,不可在线预览部分如存在完整性等问题,可反馈申请退款(可完整预览的文档不适用该条件!)。
- 3、如文档侵犯您的权益,请联系客服反馈,我们会尽快为您处理(人工客服工作时间:9:00-18:30)。
浅析美国文化中的个人主义及其社会影响
摘要:在美国文化中,有一种早已形成的文化现象,那就是个人主义,个人主义构成了美国文化模式的基本特性和主要内容,是美国文化的核心。
本文将从个人主义的含义、个人主义的本质以及个人主义对美国社会的影响三方面进行分析论述,从而有助于客观地了解美国文化中的个人主义传统。
关键词:个人主义;美国文化;含义;本质;积极影响;消极影响
一、个人主义的含义
英语中的个人主义与汉语中的个人主义不同。
从汉语的角度来看,个人主义带有浓厚的贬义色彩,即一切从个人的所得利益出发,是赤裸裸的个人物质利益与个人权利的追求。
然而英语中的个人主义的内涵却是积极的,肯定的,即认为个人价值至高无上,强调自我支配和自我控制,反对权威、宗教、国家、社会及其他任何干涉和阻挠个人发展的外在因素。
同时,个人主义又是一种价值体系,一种人性理论,甚至成了对某种政治、经济、社会和宗教行为的一种态度和倾向。
二、个人主义的本质
美国文化中的个人主义,能真正表述美国思想。
它源自清教主义的理性原则,源自清教主义对个人自主的追求,是一种典型的西方资本主义政治和社会哲学。
在英语世界里首先使用“个人主义”一词的是美国哲学家爱默生,他对个人主义大加渲染和推崇,认为它有益于个性的发展和社会的进步,其“没有政治者的政府才是牢不可破的政府”的观点,早已渗透到美国民众的思想意识之中。
如今,美国成了个人主义价值观的典型代表,这种植根于早期殖民时期及在开拓边疆时期得到发扬光大的自立精神一直延续至今,成为美国精神的重要组成部分。
基督精神,自由主义与个人主义共同构成美国文化的三大支柱。
但代表美国文化模式基本特征的个人主义却是直接、真实地涵盖了美国思想。
个人主义成了美国人的最高理想及社会理想和世界观。
对美国人来说,个人主义等于其生命攸关的身份认同。
在美国文化的发展过程中,它成了美国思想的起点和归宿,构成美国文化的精髓。
三、个人主义对美国社会的积极影响
个人主义的独立奋斗、开拓进取精神成为美国人的生命基调,是美国社会发展的内在驱动力,对美国物质文明和精神文明有巨大的推动力。
美国社会突飞猛进的发展,其个人主义的价值取向和主体精神起到了主要的促进作用。
首先,个人主义对美国社会政治方面的影响,表现在它促进了美国近代民主制度的形成和发展。
1776年通过的《独立宣言》确立了美国建国的思想基础,即个人主义的政治和哲学。
三权分立的模式是个人主义在美国政治中的直接表现。
从历史根源上来说,三权分立学说是新兴的资产阶级为了保护自身利益、谋求国家权力的斗争武器,其理论基础是天赋人权、个人中心的个人主义思想。
而《宪法》则进一步明确规定了公民基本自由和权利、代议制、两院制、联邦和地方权力划分等一系列重要原则的内容。
个人主义思想的发展和演变最终促成了美国“民主”的形成:个人权利至高无上,政府的目的在于保护个人权利、实现个人的利益,政府的建立必须基于社会成员的同意,政府权威的合法性来自公民的同意。
随着美国资本主义的发展,个人主义一直是鼓舞人们、教育人们、动员人们的巨大精神力量,同样也不断督促着美国民主政治制度的不断完善。
其次,个人主义对美国社会经济方面的影响,表现在它促进了美国社会经济的极大繁荣。
美国个人主义的一个核心内容就是注重机会平等。
从美国建国开始,人们就开始了对物质条件改善的不懈追求。
亚当斯密把个人主义运用到经济领域,主张人在现实经济领域尽力追求私利,在道德领域关心他人,利己又利他。
于是,人人都自由追求个人利益,整个社会在经济规律指引下走向繁荣。
政府实行的旨在保证经济自由的一系列制度激发了个人追求物质财富的巨大动力,也使美国的资本主义经济充满了活力:发明创造层出不穷,科学
技术日新月异,工业化发展突飞猛进,外来移民纷纷涌入。
在轰轰烈烈的西进运动中,个人主义精神焕发出前所未有的感召力,帮助千千万万的美国人实现了发家致富的梦想,也极大地促进了美国经济的发展。
到1890年,美国国民生产总值跃居全球第一位,成为世界头号资本主义工业大国。
个人主义价值观促成了美国人的主动精神,使他们具有了较强的奋斗精神、竞争意识和创新精神,对美国社会经济发展起到了正面的推动作用。
最后,个人主义对美国社会文化方面的影响,表现在它促进了美国文化的多元与繁盛。
美国文化是围绕着“美国梦”而发展起来的,以不同种族和民族关系为基础,用个人主义思想贯穿起来的文化,其最鲜明的特征就是它的多元性。
宗教信仰、人种、种族、性别要求、阶级、教育以及语言等方面的多元性既反映了美国文化的丰富内涵,也体现了统一的价值和精神。
美国文化繁盛的标志就是大众文化的蓬勃发展,其中以大众传播媒介的影响为最大。
美国的大众传播媒介绝大多数为私人所有,不受政府干预,因此成为公民了解国家事务的重要途径,同时也是代表大众声音的主要角色。
四、个人主义对美国社会的消极影响
随着社会的发展,个人主义也越来越暴露出其严重的局限性,甚至成了加剧社会矛盾和冲突的重要根源。
首先,个人主义导致了社会生活中的自由放纵、享乐主义盛行、极端利己主义膨胀。
一方面,个人主义对个性自由的过分张扬,迫使人只相信自己、依靠自己,甚至是唯我独尊,在现实中必然导致人与人之间疏远隔膜,缺乏融洽和心理的沟通;另一方面,个人主义和个体本位的极端发展,使得美国社会甚至出现了享乐主义、拜金主义、利己主义等异常形态,这样就把个人利益凌驾于一切之上,人与人之间只是一种赤裸裸的金钱关系,除了冷漠没有丝毫温情。
并且时至今日,享乐主义仍然是美国人的生活观。
其次,个人主义导致了严重的贫富分化现象。
个人主义给美国经济的发展也造成了相当的危害。
外表上的平等竞争造成了美国个人之间的财富分配事实上的极不平等,无条件的颂扬自由竞争造成美国社会财富的巨大悬殊,美国社会两极分化比以往更加激烈。
同时,由于市场经济本身的自发性、盲目性,个人主义追逐一己之利能达到市场经济完善发展的说法在经济危机中宣布破产,以自由竞争为特征的原有资本主义秩序在经济危机中受到了猛烈冲击,美国的经济发展面临着巨大的考验。
现在,美国已经成为西方国家中两极分化最严重的国家。
通过对美国文化中的个人主义的分析,我们了解到作为美国文化核心价值的个人主义具有双重性。
追求个人发展,依靠个人奋斗去实现个人利益,倡导平等、自由、民主及尊重个人合法权利等积极内涵为整个美国社会的发展提供了强大的精神动力和文化导向,但极端的利己主义、享乐主义、放任的经济个人主义等消极内涵却给美国带来了严重的社会问题。
在世界日趋一体化的今天,我们需辨证看待美国个人主义,在此基础上,去其糟粕,取其精华,为构建社会主义和谐社会创造良好的条件。
参考文献:
[1] 董小川;美国文化概论[M];北京人民出版社;2006
[2] 来安方;英美概况[M];河南人民出版社;2010
[3] 魏晓红;美国个人主义价值观的双重性研究[D];重庆文理学院学报(社会科学版);2010.9
[4] 陈曦;美国文化的精髓---个人主义[J];读与写杂志;2008.4。