Pluralism vs. Monism

Pluralism holds that the universe consists of diverse, distinct entities that exist independently. In contrast, monism asserts that all seemingly separate elements are interconnected parts of a unified whole, bound by something fundamental and consistent. While pluralism celebrates the diversity of the world, monism emphasizes its unity. The former reflects the atomistic and analytical thinking of the West; the latter embodies the holistic and integrative philosophy of the East.

Pluralism is often used by capitalists to justify and promote individuality, freedom, independence, and self-determination. It champions personal liberty, individual rights, private ownership, competition, and free-market economics. Monism, on the other hand, sees individuals as interdependent members of a larger, cohesive society, prioritizing the collective good, cooperation, equality, fraternity, social responsibility, and communal well-being. These philosophical paradigms have shaped distinct economic and political systems. Yet the question remains: which better serves the long-term interests of humanity and guides us toward a brighter, more sustainable future?

Aristotle stated, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Historically, monism was the predominant philosophy, as early humans understood that unity and cooperation were vital for their survival and success. However, the rise of modern science and technology empowered the individual and encouraged self-reliance, fostering individualism and pluralism. These ideologies extolled personal liberty, choice, and diversity, leading to multiculturalism that embraces nonconformity, LGBTQIAPK rights, same-sex marriage, and other iconoclastic values; relativism that blurs distinctions between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, beauty and ugliness; anti-intellectualism that resists reason and science; affirmative action that protects marginalized groups and alternative lifestyles; and reverse discrimination against mainstream culture, traditions, and conventional wisdom. This cultural shift has exacerbated polarization, dissension, societal fragmentation, and disunity (see Tango and Individualism).

Individualism and pluralism, rooted in the "law of the jungle" mindset, lack respect for equality, morality, and the common good. This has created social instability not only within societies that champion these ideologies but also across the globe, as evidenced by the growing moral decay, societal fragmentation, political dysfunction, and widespread lawlessness in the United States, the lack of moral integrity among its political elites, and the destructive impact of their self-serving, hegemonic, and coercive foreign policies on the world (see Darwinism and Confucianism).

What these ideologies overlook is a fundamental truth: human beings are inherently interconnected and interdependent. The survival and advancement of our species depend on cooperation and unity. A thriving society must be grounded in philosophies that bind people together, reinforced by shared moral codes, social order, and good governance. Turning people into rivals in pursuit of personal gain, the result is conflict, animosity, and chaos, as evidenced by the unrest resulted from U.S.-led efforts to "liberate" people, and the ensuing humanitarian disasters and refugee crises, which are further aggravated by the open-border policies and multiculturalism at home. If we persist in promoting radical liberalism—asserting absolute personal freedom, placing the individual above society, opposing any order that we consider authoritarian, branding democracy as “tyranny of the majority,” framing gender conflicts, radicalize education, media and law, and dividing society into increasingly fragmented identity groups—the social fabric will continue to unravel.

While liberalism once played a positive role in unlocking human potential and fueling capitalism’s rise in the West, its excessive emphasis on individualism has proven counterproductive. As a reader insightfully commented, "Freedom and human rights movements led people to put a lot of emphasis on individuality and as a result, the inflated self-image lessens our ability to view the world as a connected whole. This inflated self-image is also probably the root cause to many modern psychological ailments and problems: loneliness, depression, and mental disorder. If we can zoom out and see ourselves as a tiny one, rather than the one, in this big universe, a fact that has not changed a bit since the big bang, we may again find the beauty in the ancient natural law and adopt the right perspective towards the self and the rest of the world (see A Wise Voice)." The result is, unfortunately, a re-concentration of wealth, resources, and political power in the hands of a few, only this time it is done not under monarchies or aristocracies, but the guise of free competition.

Observing the success of capitalism in the West, the East, while adhering to its holistic philosophy and Confucian values, began to encourage people's initiative and creativity, which has also brought positive changes to the East in recent decades. While the East seeks to integrate the strengths of the West, the West remains stagnant, refusing to learn from the East. It believes that, based on its past success, its way is the only right way. Instead of addressing its deep-seated ideological and structural flaws, it becomes increasingly neoliberal. The West spends vast resources on media propogandas, NGOs, military, cognitive, trade, technological and financial warfares to defend its system and impose its ideologies on the rest of the world, which is not surprising given that capitalism has a vested interest in these ideologies, without them plutocracy loses legitimacy (see Democracy vs. Plutocracy).

However, the balance of power has shifted. Initially, the pluralistic West may have certain advantages over the monistic East, but the monistic East, incorporated with Western strengths, is catching up with and in many ways surpassing the pluralistic West. Individuality and sociality are two facets of human nature that must be balanced for the well-being of mankind and society as a whole. Neither authoritarianism, which suppresses individual freedom, nor individualism, which denies humanity's shared destiny, coexistence, and interdependence, can create a cohesive society. Successful society thrives on fraternity, solidarity, cooperation, and the willingness of its people to prioritize collective interests over personal ones and work together as a team. This is how families function (see Tango and Family Values). This is how tango is danced. This is how China is growing strong. And this is how America can regain its strength.

Despite the pervasive influence of individualism, tango offers an alternative lens. It teaches us to recognize ourselves as part of an interconnected human family. Through its principles of love, cooperation, and mutual accommodation, tango demonstrates that collaboration, not competition, is the true path to a better world (see Philosophies that Separate Two Worlds).