A world Full of challenges - Essay Example

Solving Social Problems There many challenges in the world which include; unemployment, poverty, violence, ecological disasters, most times people respond with frustration, retreat, cynicism and apathy, this challenges are caused by failure of the institution and the responses that individuals give. People’s lives are shaped by the performance of the institutions and the degree at which the society shape them. What makes the problems in the society continue to increase is the abiding allegiance to individualism, believe that the individuals should be left to pursue what satisfies them independently of others for self-fulfilment (Robert, 2011).

The individualism can be traced back to the 18th century. The ideologies of individual freedom, a chance to compete for ones material well-being and the government not interfering with individuals’ initiative. The assumption of those ideologies is that if individuals pursued their own goals it would be interfered with by the public spirit, which would hinder the common goal of shaping the social institutions. The ideal of an autonomous individual was embedded in moral ecology like family and the church (Robert, 2011).

The economic initiative which is in the public sphere was hoped to grow together with public spirit.Public spirit is crucial to the institution of democracy, individualism is primarily expressed through market mentality, it has affected every part of individuals’ lives, it undermines institutions like family and community, in general, that have in the past worked for collective purpose. Lack of common concern or purpose for a common good is ill for people claiming to be democratic.To restore the institutions in a way that transform and revitalize the democracy, in a culture of individualism is not easy.

The people have to shed their individualistic blinders and pay attention to things that they are dependent on and their collective responsibility for the institutions to shape their common life. Create space for collective responsibilities starting with the family, where the parent should share their responsibilities equitably, places of work where people should embrace teamwork. Religious and educational institutions bear peoples moral and hence plays a vital role in intelligent and active participation in public work (Robert, 2011).

Underlying this proposal, people should participate in public projects hence broadening their perspectives and concerns. From the focus of self to viewing individuals as members of the larger community, concerned with fellow citizens, people from other countries, future generations and other non-human organisms (Robert, 2011).The result would be moral and informed public debates and discussions raging from international financing to day to day activities, share ideas and visions of a good society and reforms to be instituted in political and economic institutions.

The economic life entails dynamics of the world market that cannot be run or controlled by single state, the problems of the pollution of the environment affects national boundaries, the nuclear weapon put threat on security of all people. Global power and wealth lead to conflict that endangers political and economic health around the world (Robert, 2011).The social problems are complex in nature, and they are unlikely to be solved individually also they are global in nature and hence local solution would not entirely resolve them.

The world becomes more complex every day, this calls for peoples and countries’ interdependence. This would create a better capacity to develop institutions. Viewing the interconnections that different people or countries have and how they can help each other to achieve a common goal for a better society for everyone. Reference Robert N. Belle. 2011. The good society. New York: Alfred A. Knopf