Can the Society Survive without People Depending on one Another? (Essay Sample)

Interdependence
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Interdependence
The society today is built predominantly upon the ideals of independence and self-reliance. The fact that one of the biggest national holidays in America is Independence Day, a day celebrated with cookouts, fireworks, and grand celebration, goes a long way into proving that statement. While independence is a good trait, it should not lead us to forgetting how much we need other people. A renowned British poet John Donne famously asserted "No Man is an Island." I believe that the society today places too much emphasis on self-reliance and independence that we forget that other people have a role to play in our lives, no matter how minute. Excessive dependence on others is not a sign of maturity, but neither is total independence of others. As human beings, we need to be mature and unselfish enough to recognize our interdependence. Total independence and self-reliance is neither attainable nor desirable, and this paper aims at proving that.
Personal development can be construed as a linear progression where we always strive to become better people in the society. When one is born, they are vulnerable and absolutely dependent on their parents and caregivers. As one matures, they progress to become independent with the feeling that they can take the world on their own. The latter stages of maturation bring the realization that we cannot take the world on our own, and we hence learn to become interdependent and to work in harmony with the people around us (Cvetkovich, 2012). This level of maturity comes with the appreciation that we are not only strong enough to stand on our own, but also wise enough to understand that there is even greater strength in numbers and in building a team or a community that eases the processes of decision making and problem solving.
The world’s resources are unevenly distributed, which makes it impossible for one to function independent of everyone else. My society needs me, and I need them to climb the ladder of success. The goods I use on a day to day basis have to be produced by someone else, who get raw materials from other people in the society. This cycle is fundamental to a fully-functional society. We are limited in our expertise and physical abilities. Our greatest strength, therefore, is our ability to work with others (Cvetkovich, 2012). Nobody, by being self-reliant, can achieve as much as they could through collaboration with others. One cannot be a good person without having knowledge and respect for those around them. Interdependence provides support to individuals, which gives them the strength to support others without losing focus on their personal growth.
The society today has placed a high value on the need to be independent, but this has come at a cost. Independence leads to isolation from one’s peers, which consequently leads to depression. Many successful and independent people have been reported to have suffered from depression at a point in t...