In his book The Homeless Mind, Peter Berger points out that in traditional cultures, personal worth is measured in terms of “honor.” Honor is given to those who fulfill their assigned role in the community, whether it be as citizen, father, mother, teacher, or ruler. Modern society, however, is individualistic, and bases worth on “dignity.” Dignity means the right of every individual to develop his or her own identity and self, free from any socially assigned role or category.57 Modern society, then, puts great pressure on individuals to prove their worth through personal achievement. It is
...more
