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Socialism has traditionally been thought as an opposition to capitalism and provides a humane and socially worthwhile alternative. At the core of this ideology comes the prospect of all humans being united by their common humanity and highlights the extent of which people develop their individual personalities by their social interactions. The defining value of socialism is equality. Socialists believe that communal equivalence is vital in social solidity and unity. It promotes freedom, in a materialistic and personal sense. Saint Simon of France Core themes: no individual is an island
Even though as an ideology socialism is divided into many subsectors at the core it should have the following attributes: Community Cooperation Equality Common ownership Community: At its heart socialism offers a unifying vision Of humans as social beings, whom are capable of solving social and economic mishaps by harnessing powers of the community as opposed to individual effort. It stresses the capacity of collective action and pursuing goals by working together, as opposed to striving for self-interest. To embody this you can refer to a the following metaphysical poem by John Donne (1571-1631 No man is an Island of itself;
Every man is a piece of a Continent, a part of the main;… Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. Cooperation: In relation to humans being social, it would only be practical if the natural relationship between them cooperative rather than competitive. Socialists believe that competition pit individuals against each other, encouraging them to deny or ignore their social nature rather than embrace it. Thus, competition fosters only a sparse range of social attributes and instead promotes selfishness and aggression.
Contrastingly, cooperation makes moral and economic sense. Cooperation embraces sympathy, caring and affection. Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin suggested that the principal reason humans have survived this long is because of their capacity for ‘mutual aid’. Moral incentives over material ones. Socialist commitment to cooperation has stimulated the growth of cooperative enterprises, replacing the competitive based hierarch businesses proliferated by capitalism. Socialist party of Americalogo of cooperation and equality. The aspect of equality is definitely the defining feature of socialism. Equality is the political value that most distinguishes this ideology from its rivals, namely liberalism and conservatism. Socialism is characterized by the belief of social equality and equality of an outcome. Socialist have created at least three arguments in favour of equality. Firstly, social equality retains justice and fairness. Secondly, social equality underpins community and cooperation. Thirdly, socialists support this value because equality holds the key to one’s satisfaction and fulfillment.
Although equality is the sign ificant virtue of socialism, different sectors have ifferent beliefs towards the extent of seriousness towards it. Communists (or Marxists) for example, believe that there should be an absolute classless society, this is achieved by the demolishing Of private property, and the collection of productive wealth. On the other side of the spectrum, there are social democrats, they believe in relative equality, achieved by redistributing wealth through the state. Social democrats believe that it is better to tame capitalism, rather that abolish it, and that satisfaction comes from the eradication of poverty.
Common Ownership Socialists trace the origins of competition and equality to private property (referring to productive wealth, such as money, rather than personal belongings such as clothes, furniture or housing). Criticizes include: Property is unjust, wealth is produced by collective effort and labor, thus should be earned by the community. The second argument states that property is morally corrupting. It encourages people to be materialistic, brainwashes them to believe happiness is a matter of wealth. Those with wealth want more, whilst those who have little long for more. Thirdly, it makes people up rise and is divisive.
It divides and creates uncooperative relationships between rich and poor. Socialist point of view Many manners of socialist theory hold that human characterization is principally shaped by social ambiance. Specifically, socialism is based on the facts that social habits, standards, cultural traits and economic practices are creations of the people and not the result of an indisputable natural law. Socialist critiques of other ideologies are not base on human avarice or human consciousness, but the material conditions and man-made social systems (economic structure of society) that gives rise to observed social roblems and inefficiencies.
Socialism seems like a morally acceptable form of political govern due its profound focus on equality. Equality is focused on because it is believed that no human is better than another and they should be seen likewise. All individuals have strengths and weaknesses and no particular strengths or weaknesses should be seen as greater or more valuable. A study from the University of California found that the underlying pattern in those who were socialist ideologists, was as follows, those with family backgrounds of financial instability had fundamentally socialist beliefs.