Actually, one can make the argument that a culture is an independent thing that happens to repose in individuals to perpetuate itself. Even the way that we think of ourselves as individuals, or members of a clan, or subjects of a sovereign, or citizens of a republic, is determined by the culture into which we were born. Of course there are various cultural currents, depending upon class, ethnicity, religion, region, and so forth, that may serve to differentiate us, and of course there is a narrow element of choice for us as individuals in contemplating our options as to belief or action, but mostly we are the product of a culture, represent its facets and possibilities, and transmit it. This, of course, is the "relativistic" viewpoint, and it is not wholly false.
On the other hand, there is an element of rationality in the progress of culture, and in our selection of what things to adhere to, which permits us to search for improvement and try to discover a sounder basis for our views and actions than what has happened to be transmitted by tradition. This is the assertion of a "universalist" or "absolutist" aspect to culture, beliefs, and values, that transcends the mere "givenness" of culture. A lot of people who think they are relativists are not, precisely because they believe that there is rational improvement, that there are better and worse ways to live. Even Nietzsche was not a pure relativist, because he constantly invoked cultural health and vitality as normative ideas, decried decadence, and eventually decided that the "will to power" was behind everything, and therefore that what exemplified the creative urge the best was the most authentic form of culture.
Anyway, rationality reflects that it is the individual, after all, who suffers and enjoys the actual operation of culture, and who is the motor driving both its perpetuation and improvement, and therefore, a rational ethic makes room for individuality, and seeks to liberate us from the complete suppression of personality in clan or race or cult or nation. However, even after exalting the importance of the individual, we are all a product of our cultures, and of the society which carries it on. Government mediates between the individual and society, and tries to determine their proper relationship, as well as the rules governing other corporate enterprises, like churches, businesses, charities, universities, and so forth. It is the only way that we can deal rationally with the collective aspect of social life, and, at the same time, create a stable environment to secure the circumstances in which individuals pursue their ends. |
