happiness

The paradox of individualism: capitalism and the self at odds

The paradox of individualism: capitalism and the self at odds

As far back as our history extends, we can identify the insatiable human desire to belong. A sense of belonging is fundamental for human wellbeing and happiness; our ability to survive the inevitable setbacks and heartaches life brings depends on our ability to both give and receive help, support and love. Belonging depends on interconnected communities and societies which intrinsically value individuals and their values, interests and contributions. Capitalism, by its very nature, judges an individual’s worth on the basis of their economic output; by default anyone who cannot fulfil this expectation is less able to belong. Given this paradox, are we able to curate inclusive, connected communities within capitalist societies? What might this look like?