If a person tries to be a non-conformist, they will do everything in order not to conform. But, doesn't that mean they're just conforming to non-conformity?
2006-07-24 20:38:03 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
We all conform, it is impossible to not conform. Can you prove to me or name me someone who did not conform? Everyone conforms, we are born with a blank slate of mind and we must learn and copy everything in order to survive. We conformed by eating with spoons and forks. We conformed by using toliets as bathrooms. If no one used forks to eat or spoons you would not. If no one used toliets as restrooms, you would not. We are just copycats. If the world ate out of toliets since you were born, then you will too. We are all conformists, its part of being human. Even the search to not conform is conforming. It is impossible to not conform.
2006-07-24 20:44:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
First of all your argument fails to makes sense because you make assumptions before you come to that conclusion. This is not a paradox because ultimately your statement is false. Your first statement that a "person tries to be a non-conformist"; has two implications to it that 1: a person is born a conformist and 2: This person can make a choice to become a non-conformist. That in and of itself is a contradiction if a person is born as a conformist which is absolutley wrong to begin with since we are all born alone then a true conformist has no choice since he conforms to the established princples thereby he cannot choose to be a non-conformist. If you are going to setup a paradox you need two contradictory statements that are true. And your argument has two contradictory statements that are false so it is not a paradox
2006-07-24 20:52:11 · answer #2 · answered by thedecider20 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, I'm gonna start a non-conformists club. Ya wanna join?
All the most entrenched conformities started as a rebellion against conformity.
One day some kid got in the habit of wearing his baseball cap backwards - a couple of years later it was part of the 'teenage uniform'.
The biggest conformists are those who copy their non-conformity from somebody else. Monkey see, monkey do.
2006-07-24 23:29:11 · answer #3 · answered by brucebirdfield 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your confusing anti- conformist with non-conformist.
Unlike an anti-conformist, who chooses not to conform to society simply for the sake of not conforming, a non-conformist chooses to not conform to society because of differences in beliefs.
You may have a different belief for not conforming, and me another. This does not mean that we are conforming to non-conformity. The premises are different. And as long as they remain different sameness is an impossibility.
2006-07-24 21:02:56 · answer #4 · answered by Gray Matter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a person "tries" to be, then the person is conforming to some preset concept of non -conformity. This person is not beingtrue to himself.
If it comes naturally to not conform then the person is a non -conformist, in the eyes of some. Actually the person is just himself just trying to do the right things, being true to himself.
2006-07-24 20:50:28 · answer #5 · answered by LeBlanc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say if a person is trying to not conform they are already conforming to non-conformity, people shouldn't try either way, being your self is the best way to be a non-conformist..Everyone is different and expressing your own individuality is the only way to truly be yourself and being yourself is the only way to truly not conform.
2006-07-24 21:04:19 · answer #6 · answered by Rose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you've described is a person who is just a thoughtless Contrarian, reacting with a knee-jerk contradiction of whatever they see in front of them. A real non-conformist is somebody who Acts, not Re-Acts, who seeks out their own way for their own betterment, or the betterment of others. For example, somebody who makes things instead of buying them, avoids being stuck with what's trendy, and also avoids supporting sweatshops. It's about making choices that suit us and our values. Unless we are a "Kate Moss" supermodel, we can't afford to just snort lines to give up eating so were not like everybody else. But I can choose vegetarianism to feed myself healthily, and therefore also stop needless suffering of people and animals. I don't follow that lifestyle because of someone I admire (conforming), I make an informed choice in order to change situations I find hard to swallow (no pun intended).
I don't go veg to be different (or difficult) in regard to the general public, I take action for personal reasons (health) and political reasons (because I'd like to help world hunger, end cruelty, and see a just, more humane, and better world).
2006-07-24 22:02:30 · answer #7 · answered by Testika Filch Milquetoast 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does if they TRY
But trying means it is behavior that doesn't come naturally...
A real non-conformist would just do whatever felt right and I imagine would not want to be categorized anyway
2006-07-24 21:37:07 · answer #8 · answered by Annalyse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a paradox.
And you just answered your own question.
The only difference is that those that make this choice are unaware of their own folly.
2006-07-24 20:44:10 · answer #9 · answered by trblfor2 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Darn, that means we can't get away from the establishment, can we? :) That is the same reasoning that believers use to prove to atheists that they are really believers.
2006-07-24 20:42:49 · answer #10 · answered by druid 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋