Portal:Capitalism/Selected quote/31

“ With American and French Revolutions and the opening of vast pioneer countries, a substantial reversal of the trend developed, as to important sections of the world population, especially in political aspects, especially in political respects, also evidenced in the movement for universal education. But many new things of nineteenth century reversed this temporary change in attitude. Of these, the theory of evolution, the emphasis upon the biological background of the individual, and the study of sociology and social anthropology profoundly affected the importance of the individual in our habits of thought. And to these, the study of economics and economic speculation, especially of French, German and English socialists, gradually contributed enormously. Then finally flowered the modern corporation and the organized labor movement, all emphasizing interdependence, cooperation, regimentation, as the essential aspects of life, as the constructive forces of civilization, until the subservience of individual to state, society, economic machinery, is the habitual attitude of mind. It has become exceedingly difficult to consider the individual. Chiefly the psychologist, the psychiatrist, the physician, the clergyman, and (to some extent) the teacher, recognize "man" as an individual, rather than as a statistical unit, in the major aspects of their work.

I am not making a plea for "individualism" as opposed to "collectivism." The extreme emphasis upon the individual in doctrinarie argument against various aspects of collective interest and action seems to me even less realistic than the reverse emphasis upon organization and collectivism. Not only socially and politically but also economically, men are more interdependent, at least in western civilization, than ever before. By reason of organized cooperation in innumerable ways, both population and the standard of living, and perhaps even the quality of living, have been greatly increased. Without such organization in society, retrogression is inevitable. Recognition of these facts, however, does not require a denial of the coexistence of the individual. It is individuals who are being organized, and the effectiveness of the group depends not only upon the scheme of grouping and function, but upon the quality of the elementary units. It is impossible in practice to disregard either aspect very far; but in general our condition of mind, our attention and interest in the problems of organization, dispose us constantly to a one-sided approach.

” — Chester Barnard (1886 – 1961)
Organization and Management: Selected Papers , 1947