# Preservation of the Individual or the Advancement of Society?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preservation-of-the-individual-or-the-advancement-of-society/572871>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [February 28, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preservation-of-the-individual-or-the-advancement-of-society/572871 "2011-02-28T02:18:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preservation-of-the-individual-or-the-advancement-of-society/572871/21 "2011-03-01T08:55:53Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Is it? A well-functioning society provides you with a **lot** more than protection of your rights.

No, the difference usually lies in different definitions of “rights.”

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**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preservation-of-the-individual-or-the-advancement-of-society/572871/22 "2011-03-01T10:44:18Z")

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> [@panache45](#):
>
> [QUOTE=BrainGlutton]  
> Is it? A well-functioning society provides you with a lot more than protection of your rights.

No, the difference usually lies in different definitions of “rights.”  
[/QUOTE]  
Not true at all. A society is needed for everything beyond the most harsh and primitive existence. A _well functioning society_ is needed for anything better than, say, Somalia. The Internet we are speaking on isn’t a “right”, but without a well functioning society it would be neither created, built nor maintained. Neither would the monetary system, roads, property beyond what you can personally guard 24/7, and pretty much everything else a post-Neolithic person might desire.

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