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1、The different Conception towards Individualism between Chinese and American Culture聂娜班级: 指导教师: Abstract The paper represents a different conception between Chinese and American people towards individualism. American people think that individualism is “individuality”, while Chinese people think indiv
2、idualism 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 dialectic
3、al 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
4、义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异。美国人认为个人主义是一种个性，而中国人则认为它代表的就是自私。产生这种差异的根本原因在于中美两国不同的文化背景。作为社会发展的产物和文化现象，个人主义不应该用“对”或是“错”来衡量，而作为马克思主义者，就更加应该客观、公正的看待从不同文化当中衍生出来的东西。中国人要正确认识个人主义必须从美国文化当中理解个人主义。只有真正认识、理解了个人主义的精髓，才能从根本上消除中国人对个人主义产生的误读以及对个人主义错误的运用。在此之后，也就可以将个人主义中积极合理的一面应用到中国社会的发展中，并以此来完善和发展自己。关键词:个人主义 文化现象 积极因素 社会产物Cont
5、ents1. Introduction12. Right Conception of Individualism and Its Positive Aspects22.1 The Characteristics of Individualism22.2 Right Acknowledgements of the Individualism42.3 Advanced Aspects of Individualism53. Individualism in America6 3.1 The Source of Individualism6 3.2 The Affection of Individu
6、alism on American Society7 3.3 Americans Attitude towards Individualism94. Individualism in China10 4.1 The Recognitions of Individualism in China10 4.2 The Influence of Individualism on China11 4.3 Chineses Attitude towards Individualism125. Conclusion13Bibliography14The different Conception toward
7、s Individualism between Chinese and American Culture1. IntroductionThis paper discusses the different conception towards individualism between Chinese and American people based on the different cultural background.American people think that individualism stands for personality; it is also an alterna
8、tive, which shows a person who has self-reliance and self-struggle. It emphasizes on the independence, value, status, and personal right. All of them are sacred and inviolable. America is a multi-culture country, after Columbus discovered this land, people from different places of the world flowed t
9、o the new land. Americans have been called rootless nationality, for most people live in America are from other places. During the reign of James I, the Presbyterian majority unsuccessfully attempted to impose their ideas on the established English church at the Hampton Court Conference. The result
10、was mutual disaffection and a persecution of the Puritans, particularly by Archbishop William Laud, that brought about Puritan migration to Europe and America. They hoped to look for freedom and a new world. So when the Europeans on the May Flower stepped on this land, which had no national sentimen
11、t that should formed during a long time, the personal interests have been considered much important than anything else. It is a rule to protect ones own interests in a strange place.However, in China, which has a long history of more than 5,000 years, the cultural origins could date back to the prim
12、itive society, when Shanding cave people lived and worked together the interests of the collective were sure to be much higher than personal interests were. Therefore, under the influence of the collective the personal interests, which could be considered as individualism, are much looked down upon.
13、 The vice influence of individualism is certainly exists, but its positive and reasonable side make America develop to be a powerful country in only 200 years. Though collective interest is above everything, extremely denying the individualism is also not an objective and just way. In China, the pos
14、itive side of individualism could still play a favorable role. Recently as so many people ignored the good aspect of individualism, right recognitions should be emphasized again. Individualism is a phenomenon with great cultural characteristics, and it cannot be justified only with right or wrong. I
15、t should be justified objectively and justly. Only after right recognitions have been accepted, China could gain a brand-new way to develop it and Chinese people could also build up their confidence and promote the reliance of their self-worth.2. Right Conception towards Individualism and Its Positi
16、ve Aspects2.1 The Characteristics of IndividualismPrimarily, there are two kinds of characteristics of individualism that cannot be denied. Individualism has been existing in western world for a long time, and so many shortcomings appeared gradually. Now it undergoes the crisis that bought by its sh
17、ortcomings and needs to face many new challenges.First, individualism has an ability of developing with human beings together, for it is not a fixed dogma, but a kind of theory that indicates individuals self-confidence, independence and self-conscious. As a product that appeared under a certain sit
18、uation of the history and society, individualism truly has a basis of its establishment. So when the basis changes, there are two ways for individualism to choose. One is to follow the changes; the other is to be knocked out. Even though individualism would be in some changes, it is still in effect.
19、 That is the situation of individualism nowadays. It is in the process of being newly defined.Second is the most important. In democratic country, the spirit of individualism not only be accepted but also be legalized. So an illusion also has been made, that is individualism seems to be out-of-date.
20、 If a modern democratic society were without individualism, how could it go on with its development? Individualism is in every walk of peoples life. Romanticism is the individualism in emotion; Liberalism is the individualism in thoughts; Diversification is the individualism in society; Laisser-fair
21、e is the individualism in economy and democracy is the individualism in politic.All in all, individualism has been expanded and rooted in western world greatly since the time of Tocqueville and Emerson, and it is legislated and has become a kind of living style existing in every walk of life in west
22、ern world. Although the 17th century Britishs traditional thinking is considered to be the origin of the concept of individualism, the founder of the word “individualism” is Tocqueville. He investigated in America for 9 month, and in 1835 he published Democracy in America in which book he used indiv
23、idualism for the first time. He believes that the existence of individualism is much earlier than the social order, and the self-interests is the purpose of the action of individuals, and the social system originated in the interaction among individuals. He indicated that individualism is a new word
24、 created by a new concept. Only know our ancestors is egotism which means a kind of radical and excessive love to ones own, and it makes people only care about themselves. Individualism is a kind of feeling which people feel no qualms about self-concern. With the increasing of equality, a large numb
25、er of Individuals arise. They have enough wealth and power to satisfy their own needs, therefore, they are independent and hold their own fate in their hands. Ralph Waldo Emerson affirmed the individual in his essays self-reliance. He said, “Character teaches above our wills.”(Emerson, 18)He also th
26、ink that, “A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the luster of the firmament of bards and sages.”(Emerson, 6)Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole li
27、fes cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. No man yet knows what it is, nor can, till that person has exhibited it. (Emerson, 42) “It is only as a man puts off all foreign sup
28、port, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and to prevail.”(Emerson, 46) At last he concluded that, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.”(Emerson, 48)Above all, individualism is a product of social development, and it is a cul
29、tural phenomenon. There is no right or wrong should be printed on individualism, on the other hand, its essence should be analyzed objectively.Besides, individualism should not be branded with selfish and egoism since its positive effect on the development of Chinese society. As a new developing soc
30、ialist country, the development in China has beyond the imagination of all over the world and now China plays an important role in the world and it may achieve more in the future.With the ability of start a new way to develop itself, China achieved a great success in construction.2.2 Right Acknowled
31、gements of the IndividualismTo have a right recognition towards individualism, at first, one should realize its essence correctly. There are tow implications in individualism. First is positive, that is one has an ability to struggle for himself; grasp his own fate; depend on himself and uphold his
32、own personality. It emphasizes on self-confidence and believing in uniqueness. The belief of American people is: I am I; you are you; I am not you and you are not I. meanwhile, they also emphasize on independence and self-reliance. What they are proud of is the achievement that gained by oneself but
33、 not through the help that given by other people. Therefore, in American peoples eyes, individualism is worth being proud of and it brands with the characteristic of American culture. Second is negative, refers to one is insatiable of profits; crazily ask for interests and without thinking about oth
34、er people. In short, they only care about themselves and will never give up their absolute selfishness that not belonged to their instinct desire. So seen from the positive and negative side of individualism, the key of dealing with the problem is that how to restrain the radical thoughts but advoca
35、te the positive side of individualism among people.Individualism in America is quite different from it in China. America is a multi-culture country, after Columbus discovered this land, people from different places of the world flowed to it. America has been called rootless nationality, for most peo
36、ple live in America are from other places. So when the Europeans, who have carried on the belief of freedom, independence, and democracy, on the May Flower stepped on this land, which had no national sentiment that should formed during a long time, the personal interests have been considered much im
37、portant than anything else. It is a rule to protect ones own interests in a strange place.However, in China, which has a long history of more than 5,000 years, the cultural origins could date back to the primitive society, when Shanding cave people lived and worked together the interests of the coll
38、ective were sure to be much higher than personal interests were. What individualism in America is different from it in China is that in America all the things that connected with Individual, such as person affair, independence, thinking, expression, freedom and so on and so forth, are greatly respec
39、ted by people. Individualism in America not emphasizes on the individual who is separated from other people and the whole society. It admits the social units bigger than individual, such as country, class, political party, family, company, community, and church and so on.Individual forms all the col
40、lectives, without individual there would be no collective, likewise without collective, individual is worthless. Individual is the smallest social unit, and it cannot be divided any more. Therefore, individualism in America is not as radical and lopsided as Chinese people think; it is only a belief
41、that affirms the existence of individual, and the worth of human beings.Secondly, one should realize the reason why Chinese people have a misunderstanding towards individualism. It has something to do with Chinese culture. Under the influence of feudalism for thousands of years, there is no concept
42、of individual for Chinese people. What they believe in is how to be obedience to the rule of their emperor and show their loyalty to their country. Freedom and individuality has never existed in their daily life. Thus, when individualism appeared in China, they appraised the new ideology only from t
43、heir own traditional culture and ignored the positive side of individualism.2.3 Advanced Aspects of IndividualismThe good aspect of individualism refers to a kind of spirit that one relies on oneself, holds ones own fate and protects ones own individuality. In addition, it emphasizes on confidence a
44、nd independence. Confucianism is greatly esteemed in China, therefore rank order is strictly emphasized and individuals dignity and value is worthless. Influenced by that ideology, Chinese people become lack of individuality and lack of the ability to think over questions. They do not know how to ex
45、press themselves and dare not to speak out their own thoughts. Only when Chinese people realized the importance of self-worth can they show their ability in a better way, and do more construction to their country. For nowadays more and more convergence and public awareness makes them to lose the cou
46、rage and desire to express.Second, the spirit of creativity advocated by individualism is also a good aspect that could be used. It is said that from 1901 to 1984 there are 130 American people achieved Nobel Prize; the others are 10 in Soviet Union and 5 in Japan. However, there are only six Chinese
47、 people gained Nobel Prize and some of them are Chinese descents. That is due to the Chinese people lack of ability to blaze new trails, and overemphasize on collectivism makes they rely more on other people rather than cultivate their own ability of creativity. Receiving passively becomes quite com
48、mon.Furthermore，the individuality that admitted by individualism also can help a lot to the construction and development of Chinese society. Building a socialist country with Chinese characteristics and the principle of one country, two systems are both based on the principle of individuality. The leader of China found a developing way for China itself.3. Individualism in America3.1 The Source of IndividualismAs to the origin of individualism, different s
