Lacey PilgrimHumanities 30-1

October 20, 2009

Perspectives on Ideology

Source I

In the first source, the ideological perspective would be collectivism. Collectivism is the

mentality that values the goals of the group and the common good over the goals of any one

individual. It explains how people in the earlier days were more co-operative and even if they

had little or none to spare, they would all get equal amounts. People are helping each other

through their hardships, even if they are going through their own hardships. The author is

contrasting this to the present day and how it is more of an individualist community, with some

people having very much, and how some people have little or nothing at all. The Inuit people in

the earlier times would be considered a more contemporary example of liberalism because it

allows for the idea of welfare capitalism. The Inuit created a social safety net to ensure that the

people were being fed, the people who had extra food gave to the people who had little or

none, one person could not gain more wealth and decide whether or not to share it with their

community. The author is supporting co-operation by stating how the Inuit people were close

and helped each other through hard times. Although she is supporting the earlier times of the

Inuit, she is also criticizing the way people are today, more individualist and more competitive.

The ideological perspective is collectivism because the author is clearly supporting co-

operation, and group interests rather than personal interests.

Lacey PilgrimHumanities 30-1

October 20, 2009

Source II

The second source is depicting an example of individualism. Individualism is a mentality

that values the freedom and worth of the individual, sometimes over the security and harmony

of the group. This cartoon is elaborating Adam Smith’s idea that in order for the economy to

grow, we must work on our individual growth. The man saying, in his day, bears worked for

their honey, gives a clear example of his idea of individualism. The man does not want to just

give the bear money, he believes the bear should be working for his own food. Although the

cartoon is illustrating more of an individualist idea, however, because the bear is holding the

cup, it shows some ideas of collectivism. This is because the bear has hope that someone will

give him some money for food. This example of individualism would connect to classical

liberalism because there would be no welfare state at this point if the bear is begging for

money. The basic principle it demonstrates would be self-interest and competition. Having the

man only think about his own interests and not giving money to the bear, saying that he has to

find his own way to afford food, shows an obvious individualist idea. The illustrator is noticeably

portraying an individualist man explaining to a bear you have to be competitive and only think

of advancing yourself rather than helping others.

Lacey PilgrimHumanities 30-1

October 20, 2009

Relationships

In the two sources showing collectivism and individualism there are some relationships

that exist among them both. The first relationship is welfare capital and welfare state. In the

first source, it shows welfare capitalism by indicating the social safety net the Inuit people

created for themselves so the group could not fail. In the cartoon showing the begging bear, it

is giving the idea of how welfare states help people get off the streets and enabling them to

survive, giving people charities and shelter homes in order for them to receive food and

clothing from. They both show ideas of collectivism and this is because you cannot be a fully

individualist because government in modern society does not allow that. A percentage of taxes

are taken from the society and given to organizations and charities to help the people who

need it, resulting in a collectivist idea. The first source is product of welfare capitalism, while

the second source is the reason why there are welfare states. This is why they both relate to

the idea of welfare capitalism and welfare state.