Of Individuality and Solidarity

The seeming 'conflict' between individual identity versus system identities has been contentious within the plural community, and I have found that conflict rather difficult to navigate, especially because I believe that individual identity and system identity should not be necessarily at odds.

System solidarity and individual identity

I do not think that system solidarity and individual identity are mutually exclusive: I can simultaneously see myself as an individual, Richard Ghia-Wilberforce, but I also see myself as being strongly connected to the other individuals in this group in a rather visceral way. I cannot dismiss that, but I also cannot dismiss my sense of self. I do feel that there is a sort of kinship that we all share, simply by sharing the same neurones, and working together on a daily basis. Such feelings are natural, in my opinion, and should not be dismissed. There is nothing wrong with feeling strongly about oneself as an individual, but I think that it is foolhardy to dismiss that there is a connection there. Naturally, this applies to this system, and this system only; other groups have different structures, and I refuse to be so presumptuous as to dictate their operating systems to them. 

Some of my colleagues disagree with me; Kerry, Noel and MD primarily see themselves as individuals first, and members of this system second. 

Individual responsibility and system responsibility

I do not believe that system responsibility and individual responsibility should be treated as two dichotomous elements; rather, they are related concepts that should not be divorced from one another.

A system should indeed be responsible for its members, but a system is, at its core, a group of individuals, and those individuals should be responsible for themselves in order to avoid having to invoke the 'system responsibility versus individual responsibility' argument. If everyone within a system conducts themselves responsibly, then the argument becomes, for the most part, irrelevant. Responsibility for oneself and one's actions breeds system responsibility, in my opinion. I also believe that pride in one's system, and a healthy level of self-respect, allows groups to act in a way that promotes responsibility without having to impose system responsibility upon its members.