▶ Your Answer :
Throughout the history, many individuals’
identifications have been derived from their social groups. I disagree with the
statement because there is a plethora of examples of people who are independent
from the society they belong.
Granted, many people are strongly influenced
by their social groups in terms of behaviors and philosophy. Take Mormons an
example. Mormons are people who are related to a religion, Mormonism. The religion has a doctrine that prohibit
people from addictive behaviors such as drinking alcohol and coffee and smoking cigarettes. Moreover, it bans sexual relationship before marriage and
homosexuality. Mormons are highly influenced by the doctrine that Mormon
businesses refuse to sell alcoholic drinks and tobaccos. Furthermore, the
Mormon politicians in the State of Utah adamantly ban gay marriages. The
Mormons behave and think based on the instructions of the social group.
Therefore, individuals’ behaviors could be based on what the society defines.
However, not all people define themselves
based their society. Galileo Galilei was a distinguishable Italian scientist
and astronomer. In the Fifteenth Century, geocentric model was prevalent in the
European society. Geocentrism is a theory that the earth is the center of the
universe. However, Galileo claimed Heliocentrism; the sun is the center of the
universe and other planets revolve around the sun. Galileo was disparaged and
prosecuted by the court for his subversive behavior against the society.
Because Galileo did not limit his research to what the society defined, he was
able to disabuse the misleading scientific fact. Hence, there have been people
whose behavior is not defined by the society.
In addition, a myriad of innovative leaders do
not identify themselves with the society. For example, Nelson Mandela was a
civil rights activist and the first Black president of South Africa. Before
1995, apartheid, racial segregation was prevalent in the South African society.
Under the law, any ethnic minorities were prohibited from economic and
political activities. However, Mandela opposed apartheid and fought for abolish
of the racial segregation and multiracial election. Finally, he successfully
negotiated with the National government to abolish apartheid and later, became
a President. Unless Mandela questioned and refused the social norm, racial
segregation, South Africa would have not progressed to true democracy. Thus,
effective leaders often behave differently from the norm the society creates.
In conclusion, there are paragons who have
courage to question the status quo the society set. Therefore, all people in
the current society sometimes need to think and behave differently from most
people to progress the society.
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