When we start talking about society and how it should be, perhaps the first word that comes to our minds is “freedom”. We tend to think that we are free to choose and do whatever we please; but, is this completely true?
Durkheim defines “social facts” as the manners of acting, thinking and feeling external to the individual, which are invested with a coercive power of virtue of which they exercise control over him (Durkheim, 52) It is also mentioned how conventions and attitudes that we have as human beings, are sort of imposed to us, in a way that we do not even realize this coercive force. A similar idea is found in Twain’s text, “Corn-pone Opinions”. He also mentions that human beings build themselves by imitating others. We, as citizens, conform to rules in order to not be judged by our peers.
If we analyze these views, we have to accept the fact now that we are not “completely free”. When we are children, we learn how to “act” in the society, but we do not realize this “education” as an imposed one. Of course, we have the option to go out naked if we want to, but we don’t. The first thought that crosses our mind is public embarrassment and social disapproval. Then, it is worth to think to what extend we are free. I personally believe that we have a “range of actions” which we can play with, but we are not free. Our mind is so loaded with customary actions, that it is impossible for us to separate ourselves from them. Everything in our daily life has been an “imposition”; the use of cutlery, the use of clothes, the way in which we buy and sell things, etc. Moreover, our actions are determined by the tendencies found in a certain period of times. For example, when woman started using two pieces swimsuits it was completely audacious. Nowadays, it is extremely normal. Here we see how powerful society can be, and how our mind can change depending on how society evolves.
Finally, I want to exemplify what has been mentioned before using the letter from the Hale family. In the first letter, we see a strong religious tendency. Enoch Hale trusts everything to God, without questioning His decisions or actions. In the last letter we have Lucretia Hale, who is completely disassociated from spiritual things, and closer to earthly things. Again we see how society changes, and how social facts are external to the individual. They force you to change, and you do change, without realizing that maybe it was not your intention to do so.
It is sad to think that everything that goes around us is just customary actions, imposed by our society and parents. But it is true; the so-called freedom depends on what the others think or believe. We just have to live with it, and try to make the best that we can with our “palette” of possibilities.
ourchoiceyourchoice 