| Chapter Intro: | Introduction |
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The individualistic attitude toward care isolates us in ways that de Tocqueville did not foresee. Through the inward turn to the self, we not only separate ourselves from society, we reject the legitimacy of those engaging in caring practices, devaluing those practices in the eyes of our society.
Not only has individualism served as a catalyst that contributes to the devaluation of caring, our technologically oriented culture shifts our focus of attention from relationships to the advances of technology, which has contributed to the eclipse of care in our culture. A focus of attention on technology serves to continue the devaluation of caring in our society. Many times, we create and adopt new technological advances without any regard for how they fit into our interpersonal lives. Benner and Wrubel (1989) argued that unless the adoption of technological advancements are considered in the context of human relationships, they become dangerous:
This passage highlights the virtually invisible, fragile position caring holds in a society that values individual autonomy and technological advancement. Without considering the place of human interaction in the use of technology, technology becomes dangerous. When the focus of a culture's attention is primarily the advancement of the individual and the advancement of technology, caring practices, already confined to the private sphere, seem even less important, less necessary.
The focus of attention in our society tends to be on advancement—advancement of the self. We seek a better quality of life. We seek to