Conformity

Conformity: Death of the Individual

In reference to the third suggestion for critical writing in A World of Ideas, edited by Lee A. Jacobus (pg 337-338), Fromm discusses the value in the concept of the “organization man” (p. 332, paragraph 9) circa 1962; however, Jacobus inspires the reader to evaluate that ideal that Fromm believes in, and to assess whether it holds true today or has become passé. Fromm believes that the “organizational man” is “not aware that he obeys; he believes that he only conforms to what is rational and practical” (paragraph 9, Line 4). This is self-evident today, as it was back in the 1960’s. Businesses, corporations, government, and the military endorse individualism, the ability to speak up, and the bringing of new perspectives to the table, all while secretly condemning these things. Once the individual passes under the arch and is accepted into the arms of the modern day “cult of employment”, they become as Fromm describes as a “. . . cog in this machine. He lives under the illusion of being an individual . . .” (paragraph 8, line 7-8). The expectations of today’s society have impacted me personally to the point that I have seen both the pros and cons of this concept.

Jacobus inquires, “Are you concerned that you might, when you leave college and go to work, become a complete “organization man. . .” (Page 337, question 3)? I have already sipped and tasted the Kool-Aid given to me by the “cult of employment”, so I need not wait until after I leave college to answer his question. At the early age of 19 I decided that I wanted to go to work instead of going to college. I applied myself in a given career field in which the only starting prerequisite was being SCUBA certified. I began my career as a survival instructor. From 2002 to 2012, I learned and developed who I had to be in order to remain employed, thus sacrificing my individualistic spark for the purposes of “playing along to get along”. Throughout my time with...