What It Means To Be In A Community

ybanezkim26 (68)in #steemit • 7 years ago

"Man by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath or more than human. Society is something that precedes the individual. Anyone who either cannot lead the common life or is so self-sufficient as not to need to, and therefore does not partake of society, is either a beast or a god."

- Aristotle, Politics

Aristotle's philosophy did not sprout out of thin air; it is a result of years of careful study and observation. Since the beginning of the time when humans walked the Earth, it has been characterized that we are social creatures. If not, survival and proliferation of human species would not be possible. It is embedded in our DNA that we should cooperate and compete in order to survive. It is not our choice, but we are hardwired to be that way. In fact, it's not just us; every life on the planet has one mission and that is to procreate and survive. If we look deeper into our social systems, we can see how we interact with each other and interdependence will emerge.

Image Source

We all know that natural resources are not limitless. Scarcity of basic needs leads to the emergence of both cooperation and competition. Cooperation comes with the hope that everyone will get its fair share, while competition comes with the hope that someone better will get a greater share. Both are social actions that are necessary for our survival. Since we aiming for the success of our species, it is difficult to assert that being 'anti-social' is fit for us.

Looking at procreation as a means of survival, it requires teamwork which is again social in nature. Survival does not necessarily mean that you should live as long as you can, but you survive as a collective species. Survival of your species means that you are able to pass your genetic makeup to the next generation. In order to do that, you should seek someone that you should work with to proliferate your species, unless you are a one-celled microorganism.

Image Source

Modern individuals live in states, involve themselves in an organization, work in companies and similar institutions, are members of a family, and seek out for companionship. These systems are social in nature. The more "modern" we are, the more we are able to form groups and teams with the tools that we are using to communicate. With these tools, our ideas are shared across greater number of individuals. With the conceptualization and engagement of social media, teamwork and cooperation, and even competition transcends distance and timezone.

What It Means To Be In A Steemit Community

You can check here as to why the Steemit community is full of amazing people. As what it means to be in this community is a matter of perception, but I guess a greater majority will agree with me that it will be a helpful tool in your holistic growth as an individual. That is, of course, you allow yourself to get involved in discussions, share your ideas, peer reviewed, and learn from others. For me, it means that your ideas are echoed not only in the chambers of your head, but also in others who share the same sentiments with you. Your voice will be louder if it is echoed and repeated by other people across the world. As your community grows, you will also grow.

To be in a community, you will be able to accomplish things greater than if you are alone. You will also be part of something bigger than yourself.

Addendum: