Path: utzoo!hoptoad!uunet!husc6!mailrus!umix!rutgers!princeton!phoenix!pucc!Q2816
From: Q2816@pucc.Princeton.EDU (Creative Business Decisions)
Newsgroups: alt.individualism
Subject: Re: Individualism - Reality or Myth?
Message-ID: <4912@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
Date: 11 Apr 88 03:27:14 GMT
References: <5646@well.UUCP> <779@udccvax1.acs.udel.EDU> <1081@PT.CS.CMU.EDU> <7705@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <4344@chinet.UUCP> <5539@spool.cs.wisc.edu>
Reply-To: Q2816@pucc.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University, NJ
Lines: 22
Disclaimer: Author bears full responsibility for contents of this article

>In article <5539@spool.cs.wisc.edu> gautier@ai.cs.wisc.edu (Jorge Gautier) writes:
>>..."groups" ...are merely convenient abstractions
>>devised to help us in thinking about the complexities of existence.  To claim
>>that the "groups we belong to" define our selves is ridiculous.  At most
>>these "groups" will influence our selves, but never completely determine
>>them.
 
>>Groups do not exist.  Individuals exist.
 
So what? People act AS THOUGH the groups exist.  You do.  I do.  I try
not to, in many cases; in some cases, acting in awareness of "groupness"
is considered sensitive; in other cases, it is considered bigotry.  In
most cases, nobody cares much.
 
Also, why the ironclad dichotomy between group and individual?  (Does a
jellyfish exist?)  In some cases, knowledge of group membership allows
you to individualize your conduct, especially if the object of your
action likes to be thought of as a member of some group, or whatever.
Roger Lustig (Q2816@PUCC.BITNET Q2816@pucc.princeton.edu)
 
Die Gedanken sind frei!  Wer kann sie erraten?