Throughout this course, we have examined western civilization’s tendency to broaden individual rights.  This trend has produced modern western societies with more robust political and economic freedom when compared to Europe in 1200 A.D. 

However, commentators like David Brooks of the NYT express concern that western society’s focus on expanding individual freedom has yielded unintended consequences that manifest in a deterioration of social cohesion.  For example, Brooks notes that western society increasingly suffers from: sharp increases in people reporting loneliness, depression, and in rising suicide rates.  Moreover, Brooks laments that many western nations are experiencing a decline in marriage rates and falling trust in institutions.

Is Brooks right to attribute these statistics to the excesses of western individualism?  Why or why not?

Here is a link to a talk Brooks gave at Davidson College where he made some of the arguments I’m referencing:

https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156123122347052&_rdr (Links to an external site.)