A Critique of Social Values

Most people are wholeheartedly half-hearted.

Individuals approach their commitments, beliefs, and pursuits with a semblance of enthusiasm or dedication, yet beneath this veneer, there exists a lack of genuine engagement or total commitment.

This paradoxical state, pervasive in society irrespective of the time and place so concerned, is hypocritically counterpoised in most cases by a sense of ‘the truth,’ ‘morals,’ and ‘common knowledge.’

Material value is thrust under the latter in the form of said societies and their socio-cultural customs, erroneously –though, en masse, successfully — reifying (‘making real’) the former.

Authenticity vs. Societal Conformity: The Eternal Human Struggle

The condition that obtains here, wherein atomized individuals oscillate between semblance and substance, is deeply embedded in the fabric of human existence.

It is, at bottom, the conflict of the political and the philosophical –the public and the private. Thus, we read Socrates say in Plato’s inscription of his Apology that political life is impossible for the philosopher –the philosopher values truth above all else, while the politically engaged values doctrine and party above all else.

In this context, the political is identical to the social domain in terms of its fundamental mode of operation.

This discord between individual authenticity and societal norms has remained constant throughout history, although often perceived as unique to specific eras and locales.

This contradiction emerges from a complex amalgamation of factors rooted in the inherent clash between personal authenticity and the collective ethos.

A universal aspect of human existence exists where one’s deep-seated values and those upheld by one's social environment are seldom perfectly aligned. The journey of life appears as a quest for this elusive symmetry, which paradoxically finds resolution only at life’s denouement.

Authenticity demands a steadfast adherence to one’s personal values and beliefs, regardless of external societal pressures. Yet, in the practical realm — where ideals often falter — societal norms frequently overshadow individual predilections, leading to a superficial engagement with life’s pursuits.

This pursuit is often cloaked in the belief of living one’s best life. The divergence from what could be termed one’s ‘true self’ — a self unencumbered by such societal pressures and yet challenging to pinpoint — is not a failure of the individual.

Instead, it is an unfixed construction born from a confluence of perceptual, social, cognitive, cultural, and intentional factors. The notion of effortlessly achieving one’s ‘true self’ has itself become a societal pressure, further complicating the pursuit of authenticity.

The Materialistic Mirage

The usage of fundamental concepts like ‘truth’, ‘morals’, and ‘common knowledge’ in this discourse is highly indicative.

Although these terms are basic, these concepts' personal interpretation and definition significantly influence one’s actions and thought processes. If individuals do not critically define these terms for themselves, they often uncritically adopt their common societal definitions.

These constructs, typically regarded as the foundations of society, are frequently utilized to rationalize the prevalent half-hearted engagement in everyday life. Assuming they possess the answers, people often forego further contemplation or inquiry.

These terms are often employed as instruments of conformity to enforce societal norms subtly, sometimes even wielding them against others to induce guilt or create a sense of exclusion.

This practice coerces individuals to conform to societal expectations, even when such expectations are at odds with their personal beliefs and values.

The ensuing conflict between one’s individual identity and the identity prescribed by society is profound, leading to a significant rift within the self. This internal conflict manifests as wholehearted half-heartedness, a paradoxical situation where individuals exert maximum effort to maintain a facade of engagement that is, in reality, only half-hearted.

Furthermore, the focus on material value adds another layer of complexity to this dynamic. While widespread wholehearted half-heartedness is not unique to any particular era, its manifestation differs across time. In contemporary society, the scale of human connection has expanded dramatically, fueled by industrial and population growth since the 19th century.

As these connections have proliferated, so too have the material resources supporting them. Consequently, in today’s world, material success and tangible achievements are frequently viewed as the primary measures of commitment and engagement.

This materialistic orientation amplifies the already prevalent superficial engagement with life’s pursuits, driving individuals to chase after success metrics that are externally imposed. This chase often comes at the expense of their true interests and passions. At its core, this approach displaces individual values, not only through practical disincentives but also via societal pressures.

The combined forces of materialism and social conformity act insidiously to undermine personal authenticity, creating a vacuum where once there was genuine passion and individuality.

Towards a Valuing of Authenticity

On an individual plane, this dichotomy fosters alienation and a profound sense of disconnection as people grapple with reconciling their authentic selves against the backdrop of societal roles and expectations.

At the societal level, this pervasive attitude of wholehearted half-heartedness is a barrier to creativity, innovation, and actual headway.

When individual commitment is superficial, the collective potential of society remains unfulfilled. This emphasis on conformity and material achievement often leads to a uniformity in thinking and action, diminishing the vibrancy and diversity of human experience.

A fundamental revaluation of the values that underpin our communities is essential to address this entrenched societal challenge. This entails a paradigm shift from externally focused success metrics to a more comprehensive understanding of well-being and personal fulfillment.

Our societies must forge environments that permit and actively encourage individuals to follow their authentic interests and passions, liberated from the shackles of conformist demands.

In the interim — being unnaive concerning the ability of humans to improve en masse quickly — individuals must avoid succumbing to external social pressures insofar as they are deleterious to one’s personal-existential genesis.