Societal Preconditions for the Satisfaction of Basic Needs

Abstract

Has our emphasis on personal autonomy smuggled in a strong form of individualism which denies the role of the social and its place in meeting needs? The answer we give in this chapter is no — we can only acquire the ability to act from the positive actions of others and they from others and so on. Any conception of agency or autonomy which ignores this fact will be an impoverished abstraction, irrelevant to understanding why humans act and choose as they do. This argument explores the societal preconditions which must be met by all collectivities if they are to survive over long periods of time thus ensuring an environment within which individuality can evolve.