Military Essay

Does Society shape individuals character, or does individuals character shape society?

The question of whether man is a product of society or is society a product of man is a concept that cannot be answered without making factors that make cases for both parties. Firstly, in my opinion the two concepts share one common denominator, which is MAN. Man cannot exist apart from society because man is a reflection of society and the social setting in which he/she was raised. Every person on this planet is a product of not only the current social system but also all of history that proceeds them, such as; customs and practice, religious affiliations, economic status, geographic location and genetic and biological factors, all of which has been handed down for generations.

People who share similar social background have a higher probability of reflecting values and beliefs instilled in them by their respective communities. However there is one major factor that must be taken into consideration, which is free will. Free will is the ability of one to act at one’s own discretion. Every individual has the option to either be a sponge or fully absorb ion whatever the environment and culture has to offer. They also have the capability to focus and think, then determine their own values independently or cultural norms. That takes someone of a higher intellectual capacity to be able to rise above circumstances to create their own reality based upon their own ideas. Society has an influence on its people, but it is entirely for the people in their individual capacities to decide to either be conformist or be the exception. If more people are unable to conform, the collective will of people becomes binding and the society cannot but change accordingly.

In today’s age, society is viewed and judged by factors such as social media (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) which makes it a huge problem to . One thing can happen in this world today and society itself is...