Towards the Freedom from the Self: Between Social Sensitivity and Pragmatic Attitudes

Magdalena SZPUNAR

Abstract

The social and economic processes characteristic of modern culture not infrequently trigger excessive focus on one’s own needs, thus weakening the social ties, degrading altruistic attitudes and eliminating mutual concern for and sensibility to the other. The aim of the article is to discuss two contrasting stances an individual may take in the aspect of social sensitivity: the pragmatic attitude and that of compassion, pointing to their cultural and social implications. The author underscores the socializing role of culture as a provider of key meanings and values for the individual, pointing to the those typical of, respectively, individualist and collectivist-oriented cultures and to their social consequences.

Keywords:

social sensitivity, pragmatism, sociocentrism, allocentrism, egocentrism, self-centredness