The Utopian Potential of Humanity
How we can merge our individuality and collectiveness — to create a better future for all.
The individual and the collective were created at the same time.
As soon as one animal came into existence — so did another of the same species. Humans are no different. As soon as there was one of us, there were enough to create all of us. Those first Homo Sapiens had the power in them to end all of humanity — or to create it. They chose the latter, and here we are today.
Due to the decisions of humans past, we are now blessed with relatively low death rates and a world population that grows by hundreds of thousands every day. As of writing this article, there are almost 8 billion humans walking the Earth. Each one of us are individuals — and this is how we perceive the world — yet, each one of us constitutes an equal, indivisible part of the greater whole — all of humanity.
So, what are we? Are we alone or together? Do we think by ourselves, or do we think in groups? In other words, is our decision-making ruled by our individual consciousness or collective consciousness? Is the story of humanity a story of individuals or of groups?
No answer will completely satisfy this question. Ultimatums fail us here: we are not just one or the other. We are neither individual nor collective — neither alone nor together — neither one nor all. We are simultaneously both — without fail. All of us. We are all an individual ‘I’, and we are all a collective ‘We’.
No two perspectives on human life are more diametrically opposed. Whilst individuality and collectiveness have both played their respective roles in the history of humanity — and a case can be made for each when it comes to which has been more beneficial to humans than the other.
Individuality — All for One
The ways in which we perceive the world feel all too uniquely individual most of the time. We forget that the way we perceive the world — our senses and minds — is the standard for most humans, as we like to believe that we are different, and forget that we are all actually the same.
Individual identities and egos can be fragile things — who protect themselves once they feel threatened — and hence it can be increasingly difficult for us to see past individual differences, and make collective decisions. Instead of sacrificing our immediate, short-term future for the potential for long-term, collective action which benefits us all — we often choose the opposite. If this happens too often, too many individuals will begin instead sacrificing our collective long-term future for their individual, short-term needs. (For instance, many individuals make this decision when it comes to 3 of the most polluting things on the planet: Oil, Meat and Conveniency).
This individuality (and protection of the Ego and self) has lead many humans to believe in varying degrees of Solipsism — whereby an individual believes that their own self and consciousness is the only real thing known to exist. The logic for this is rather obvious: our subjective experience and consciousness may be the only things we know for certain to be real — as everything else in the world could be imagined by our brains.
However, despite seeming logical on the surface — this assumption is ludicrous, and dangerous. We must all begin to trust each other — trusting that not only is our own subjective reality real, but so too is the reality of every other human on Earth — and develop empathy for the collective whole of humankind.
Collectiveness — One for All
In order to protect our own identity, ego and subjective reality, many of us choose to believe that we are solely individual in nature. A harder truth to swallow is the fact that we are all incredibly similar — and that there are many more paths that connect us than lines that divide us.
Through interacting and creating connections with others, we form various kinds of collective consciousnesses and collective beings. Most agree that individual people and groups act differently — but all of humanity is one group, one species — and the actions, behaviour and decisions of this Group (with a capital G) are much harder to decipher and study.
Some groups may act differently than others — just as there will be a large degree of variation between the individuals within the same group — but, our human ‘Group’ acts together — as one. For example, it is not incorrect to say that ‘we’ went to the moon — even if you didn’t personally help, humans did. All human achievements can be attributed to the collective Group — and so to do we share the collective responsibilities, consequences and repercussions that stem from Our actions.
Every man-made object, organisation, shape or form you see and experience individually is the result of an invisible collective effort from the past. Our individual present is determined and existent because of our collective past — roads, buildings, cities — even mindsets, lifestyles and ideologies — all were formed, discovered, influenced and developed by real humans. What we see around us everyday is the result of their decisions and actions.
Even now, when you walk in the streets and see other humans — it is rare for people to truly understand their reality — and view others as other versions of themselves. Extended brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, cousins — the wholly extended family that is Homo Sapiens. It can be disconcerting to view the world this way — because it is so dissimilar to how we currently do.
There is much power in this belief and worldview — and it is challenging to accept it, take it in and to prevent it from becoming overwhelming. Every single other person you see is 99% identical to you — and is therefore basically another one of you — another life. You are a part of this — of all the human lives on Earth — and you are a part of each other.
The whole is reflected in the individual — and the individual can be represented in the whole. We are all one — not many versions of the same thing — but all different parts of the same thing — like a body made out of cells. Each cell is different and performs a different function — but all cells belong to one body, one whole.
So, how do we go from being ‘one for one’, to ‘one for all’?
Well, it’s not that simple — it’s not an ultimatum. We’re both, and we’re neither. Sometimes we act like we’re the only people on Planet Earth, and other times we act as if millions of us are all just one entity.
We need to work on our balance between the two— choosing to be individual when we take care of our most basic humans needs, whilst always considering the consequences of our actions to greater society as a whole. We must be collective in our decision-making at all times, placing the collective good above all else — but, especially, above our own immediate or short-term cravings and desires.
Capitalism, financial security and job security have made us competitive individuals — who repeatedly choose the needs and wants of ourselves (and our closest family and friends) over the needs of society, humanity and our planet. We crave social validation of our individual identities from others — and are never fully satisfied with our perception of how we are viewed by others. Yet, we often (intentionally or unintentionally) use those around us to get what we want. Or, worse, we sacrifice the needs of those around us for own personal gain.
For example, choosing convenience and lowest price when choosing products which affect our immediate surroundings (i.e. noise, sound and air pollution); or, voting for a political party which may favour your own race and income class — even though their policies would punish rather than help the society’s most vulnerable to poverty, negligence and oppression.
How do we balance individuality and collectiveness?
In order for us to evolve from this mindset, we need to take a two-pronged strategy, approaching this global issue on two levels: the individual and the collective. To put it simply, we must first help ourselves, before choosing to help each other — to fight for the collective good of humanity.
This involves making immediate sacrifices to our often outlandish personal wants (e.g. a new phone every 6 months; owning 6 pairs of shoes, 6 jackets and taking 6 showers a day; using 6 personal devices, 6 vehicles and eating 6 different types of meat a day) in order to dedicate more effort, time and attention to discovering, creating, developing and implementing actions which lead to Earth’s long-term ability to survive and thrive (e.g. buying, selling, producing and consuming ethically and environmentally produced food, electricity, transport — and all necessary goods and services — which investigate, prove and are transparent and honest about their impact on: individual users, specific groups of individuals, broader society, all living beings and the planet as a whole).
If planned out and implemented effectively, this new system will allow us to finally make decisions which simultaneously benefit ourselves, our fellow humans, and the planet as a whole.
This is far from an easy task. Then again, it’s always difficult to choose others over yourself — or even to acknowledge the choice at all. But, if we all set out to achieve it —and truly balance our own individual needs with the needs of all — we may be on the road to unlocking the utopian potential of humanity.
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