英语论文网

Abstract The paper represents a different recognition between Chinese and American people towards individualism. American people regard individualism as “individuality”, while Chinese people think individualism is equivalent to “selfishness”. Different culture backgrounds between China and America result in the different recognitions toward individualism. As a social product and a phenomenon of the culture, right or wrong should not be branded with individualism and as a Marxist, an objective and dialectical method should be used to judge individualism. Only when Chinese people acknowledge individualism in a right, can they remove their misunderstanding towards individualism and the wrong exercise of it. Then after they realize individualism in a right way, they could take advantage of it in the construction of Chinese society and the development of themselves. 摘　要论文阐释了个人主义在中美两国人民的认识中存在的差异，美国人认为个人主义是一种“个性”，而中国人则认为它代表的就是“自私”。产生这种差异的根本原因就在于中美两国拥有不同的文化背景。作为一个社会发展的产物和一种文化现象，个人主义不应该用对或是错来衡量，而作为马克思主义者，就更加应该客观、公正的看待从不同文化当中衍生出来的东西。中国人要正确认识个人主义必须从美国文化当中理解个人主义。只有真正认识、理解了个人主义，才能从根本上消除中国人对个人主义产生的误读以及对个人主义错误的运用。在此之后，也就可以将个人主义中积极合理的一面应用到中国社会的发展中，并以此来完善和发展自己。 Introduction This paper discusses the different recognitions towards individualism between Chinese and American people based on the different cultural background. American people think that individualism stands for personality; it is also an alternative, which shows a person who has self-reliance and self-struggle. It emphasizes on the independence, value, status, and personal right. All of them are sacred and inviolable. America is a multi-culture country, after Columbus discovered this land, people from different places of the world flowed to the new land. Americans have been called rootless nationality, for most people live in America are from other places. During the reign of James I, the Presbyterian majority unsuccessfully attempted to impose their ideas on the established English church at the Hampton Court Conference. The result was mutual disaffection and a persecution of the Puritans, particularly by Archbishop William Laud, that brought about Puritan migration to Europe and America. They hoped to look for freedom and a new world. So when the Europeans on the May Flower stepped on this land, which had no national sentiment that should formed during a long time, the personal interests have been considered much important than anything else. It is a rule to protect one’s own interests in a strange place. However, in China, which has a long history of more than 5,000 years, the cultural origins could date back to the primitive society, when Shanding cave people lived and worked together the interests of the collective were sure to be much higher than personal interests were. Therefore, under the influence of the collective the personal interests, which could be considered as individualism, are much looked down upon. The vice influence of individualism is certainly exists, but it’s positive and reasonable side make America develop to be a powerful country in only 200 years. Though collective interest is above everything, extremely denying the individualism is also not an objective and just way. In China, the positive side of individualism could still play a favorable role. Recently as so many people ignored the good aspect of individualism, right recognitions should be emphasized again. Individualism is a phenomenon with great cultural characteristics, and it cannot be justi