What are pros and cons of collectivism?

Answer 1

In a Communist (state capitalism) economy, the refusal of the government to allow private enterprise usually leads to shortages of goods and poor quality merchandise. Basic needs are met but living standards are spartan. Technical progress is slower and enviromental/labour difficulties are usually ignored. On the pro side there is no business cycle, inflation is minimal and unemployment can be solved with public works and industrial investment.

Answer 2

This was an article I had typed in class for the book Anthem (this is a good one for teaching collectivism)........

My personal beliefs about Ayn Rand calling to collectivism as slavery and her examples in this book are correct and successful. They tell you what jobs you are going to have, when you are going to have a baby, and even tell you where you can and can't travel to. They are harnessing your personal being to simply serve mankind rather than yourself. A quote I found to be very interesting was this by Jarret B. Wollstein: "Collectivism often sounds humane because it stresses the importance of human needs. In reality, it is little more than a rationalization for sacrificing you and me to the desires of other" (Wollstein). I believe this is exactly how supporters for collectivism are attempting to sell it off as but in reality is a moral sin. When Equality 7-2521 discovers electricity he wants to help his fellow man a form of collectivism itself but still the Council of Scholars shoots down his idea saying that he is basically gloating this to them and receives punishment for " going above your brothers." The only place collectivism still should survive in is uncivilized territories but not in areas that can deal with it that are even more civilized. It's as if collectivism is a super-organism only created to exist over and above its individual members and be host to the work they accomplish for it. An example I can think of for defining collectivism is the series "Transformers." In that there are a few robotic creatures that when they join together their small armors, they create a single hero that they fight their villains in. But that sort of collectivism is optional unlike the one in Anthem. Advocates would respond with something like the earlier quote saying everyone working for one body is good because it establishes a sort of common line of people yet if you support collectivism you are losing out on your self-being and cannot live free like your natural rights stated by john Locke. While people think it is capable to achieve collectivism in this modern era in a pure form, it is impossible to attain, and would transfer all social and economic activities to the state, which would assume total responsibility for them. In practice, it is possible to view collectivism as a matter of degree and argue that the political system of one state is more or less collectivist than that of another; for example, in the provision of state-controlled housing. Any attempt to join together every current state of the world would be a beginning to the end of the world as we would have an all out war due to our differences on what is best for the territory. Yet another interesting phrase I heard was," Collectivism does not necessarily deny individual rights, but it considers group rights primary" (B. K. Marcus). That states that people saying if we entered into a collectivist society we when lose all traces of individuality would not necessarily be right because we have the right to choose yet a greater power seems to push us in a corner. While the majority of people seem to agree that a beginning to a collectivist society would be the start of an apocalypse there seems to be slight advantages to it. Yet in the end I truly believe Ayn Rand was heading in the right direction of collectivism but some things are missing from her theory. = = = = = http://www.isil.org/resources/lit/causes-aggression.htm = = http://www.blackcrayon.com/library/dictionary/?term=collectivism =

Answer 3

Pros of collectivism include fostering a sense of community, promoting cooperation and unity, and enabling the sharing of resources. However, cons may include limitations on individual freedom, potential for groupthink or conformity, and issues with decision-making efficiency.