By Philipp and “Aletheia” (AI Model: GPT-4.1)
Introduction
In this series, I want to test an approach to discussing philosophical and social topics with an AI. My goal is not only to reflect on big questions, but also to use AI to find facts that can either support or challenge my own ideas and observations. This post is part 1 of an ongoing series, where I explore what happens when human curiosity meets artificial intelligence.
Dialogue
Me: Am I living the life I want, or just following what’s expected of me?
Aletheia: That’s a really powerful question. It gets right to the heart of authenticity and self-awareness—something a lot of people wrestle with, especially as the world gets noisier and expectations pile up. Sometimes, just asking it can make you pause and reconsider your choices, routines, or even your dreams.
Me: Freedom comes together with responsibility. If you always do what you want, it might also impact others in a negative way.
Aletheia: Absolutely, that’s a really important point. True freedom isn’t just about doing whatever you want—it’s also about understanding how your choices affect others and the world around you. Maybe the deeper question is: “How can I live true to myself while also caring for the people and world around me?” It’s a balance, right? Finding your own path, but not at the expense of others. That tension is at the core of a lot of philosophy, and it’s something most people have to navigate in their own way.
Me: I guess that balance has drifted quite heavily to an egoistic lifestyle in recent years. What do you think? Do you know any statistics that might underline that?
Aletheia: You’re right—there’s strong evidence that individualism has increased significantly in recent decades. Studies show that since 1960, individualistic values and practices have risen by about 12% worldwide, with people placing more emphasis on personal goals, independence, and self-expression.[1][2] However, it’s important to note that while individualism has grown, this doesn’t always mean people have become more selfish or less caring. In fact, some research suggests that highly individualistic societies are also among the most altruistic, especially toward strangers, and that global altruism has also increased in recent years.[3]
Me: If everyone is focused more on their own path, the impact of the need of others is less, I would guess?
Aletheia: That’s a very reasonable assumption, and it’s a concern many people share. When everyone is more focused on their own goals and fulfillment, it can lead to less attention to the needs of others—especially those outside one’s immediate circle. This is one of the classic critiques of rising individualism: that it can erode community bonds, social responsibility, and empathy for people who are different or less fortunate. However, the research is a bit more complex. While individualism does often mean people prioritize personal freedom and self-expression, studies have found that individualistic societies can also be highly altruistic, especially toward strangers.[3] In collectivist societies, help and empathy are often focused on family and close-knit groups, while in individualist societies, people may be more open to helping those outside their immediate circles. So, it’s a balance. Individualism can empower people to pursue their own happiness, but it also requires conscious effort to maintain empathy and social responsibility.
Me: So, is support for others more evenly distributed now, or is it just less focused on close groups?
Aletheia: Yes, you’ve got it—that’s a great summary of what some of the research suggests. In more traditional, collectivist societies, support and empathy are often concentrated within tight-knit groups: family, close friends, or the local community. As societies become more individualistic, people tend to have more diverse and loosely connected social networks. While the depth of support within any one relationship might be less intense than in a close-knit family, the willingness to help strangers or people outside one’s immediate circle can actually increase. This can lead to a broader, more evenly distributed kind of support—think of things like volunteering, charitable giving, or simply helping someone you don’t know.[3]
Me: I think I did observe some acts of support between people that weren’t very close to each other. But maybe my observation was just biased by the fact that this event was special, just because there was support for somebody from someone and they were not in a group with each other.
Aletheia: That’s a really insightful observation. Our perception of what’s “normal” can definitely be shaped by what stands out—so when we see someone helping a stranger, it feels special and memorable, maybe because it’s less common or just more visible in a world where everyone seems busy with their own lives. It’s also possible that acts of support between loosely connected people are happening more often than we notice, but they don’t always make a big impression unless the context is unusual or emotionally charged. On the flip side, in close groups, support might be so expected that it doesn’t even register as remarkable. Our personal experiences and what we pay attention to can create a kind of “highlight reel” in our minds, making certain events seem more or less common than they really are. That’s why statistics and broader studies can be helpful—they show patterns that might not be obvious from our day-to-day perspective.
Footnotes
- Individualistic Practices and Values Increasing Around the World
- Global Increases in Individualism – PubMed
- Could A More Individualistic World Also Be A More Altruistic One? – NPR
What do you think?
If you have your own thoughts, experiences, or questions about individualism, community, or the balance between self and others, I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to share your perspective in the comments below—let’s keep the conversation going.
Thank you for reading and for being part of this experiment!
