Autonomy and belonging

I found an interesting paragraph in a chapter by Sharon Daloz Parks, in the book Can Ethics be Taught?. She indicates that individuality and freedom are the greatests achievements of modern culture, but we have fallen into a trap of individualism, which defends values of autonomy, personal competence, achievement and freedom to a point that now frightens rather than empowers us. "We have lost sight of the relationships between the individual and the social system, between freedom and responsibility". Yet, she observes, the individual fulfillment for most is still connected to finding a personal, meaningful place in a community.

Her reflections point to the submerged value of being connected to others, establishing relationships that enrich our lives through giving and receiving. Interesting, that we strive so much for autonomy and freedom, and yet gain our deeper satisfaction when being valued, appreciated or needed by others, when we experience belonging...