Annotation 4 (revised)

When mentioning the relationship between individuals and public, people may associate public with government. A method of government which influences public and individuals very much is public policy. It is created to achieve public interests. Meanwhile, it will bring great influence to individuals. Public policy is in the practical level. However, there are still many investigations about its theory. The following paragraphs will discuss the concept of public policy and the possible situation when it works.

From the word “public” policy, we can know that this conduct relates to common people in a society, not just specific people. Public policy is often considered to possess positive effect to public interest. However, here is a problem shows up. There are countless experts and scholars debate the so-called “public interest” from then till now. British scholar Bentham considered public interest is the maximal accumulation of individuals’ interests and happiness. However, this argument has been overthrown by later scholars. Because of different backgrounds, customs, and personal values, every person may have different way of looking at interest. For example, a person likes object A, but other person doesn’t like it. In fact, public interest is a blur concept and hard to define what it is exactly. It can be various for idea, culture, and time. Therefore, some people even think that public interest doesn’t exist (Wang, n.d.) However, most of people still believe its existence and it needs every person’s attention and care. Making every person in a society has a common consensus about ideal interest is an important way to keep the stability of a society. With this, people can work for a common public interest together. To achieve public interest, public policy is a direct and effective way. It is usually established and executed by lead-class, such as government. Every government in the world highly cares about the public policy issue. It can influence from individuals, society, and even to nation.

 When public policy is executed, some people may think it brings them inconvenience and even harm. They certainly think it’s the violation to their individual interest and try to resist the “public” force. The reason that people resist may be that people can’t adapt to it and feel different from their old custom (Tsai, C.C. & Huang, C.Y. 2002.) Actually, it is a common phenomenon when a new public policy is executed. However, there is no accomplishment without sacrifice. For the public interest, individuals must have to sacrifice and devote themselves to some degree. Because of the “public”, a person has to limit his or her freedom and gives up individual interest. The reason for this is the limitation of resource. It’s sometimes hard to take individuals and society into consideration at the same time. Besides, public policy is not just the issue of government. There is no completely perfect policy. Every people in a society should take participation into the operation of a policy. People can supervise the formulation and execution of it and help it work toward right direction. In conclusion, public interest is an important concept for present people. Maybe it relates to you or not. After all, people should care society not just themselves. Meanwhile, the society’s interest should develop with the base of maximal unharmed individual interest.

Reference:

1. Wang, Y.S. (n.d. ). The Theory of Environmental Scheme. Retrieved December 22, 2013, from http://140.134.4.2/~up/term%20paper/952/9666.pdf

2. Tsai, C.C. & Huang, C.Y. (2002). Agenda-Setting Research on Public Policy : A Cast     Study In Taipei. Retrieved December 22, 2013, from  http://ccs.nccu.edu.tw/UPLOA       D_FILES/HISTORY_PAPER_FILES/366_1.pdf

Annotation 3 (revised)

On Liberty is a book written by John S. Mill. The main idea of this book is to elaborate and approve the value of human freedom and rights. There is a chapter which called "Of the Limits to the Authority of Society over the Individual". In this chapter, the author talked about the relationship between individual and society. Actually, there is a connection between the former chapter and the chapter I will focus on. The former one argued the importance of individuality. However, the author foresaw that it would cause friction and even conflict with the public side. Therefore, he elaborated the ways which individuals and society should get along with each other.

First, he admitted that some parts of individual in life belong to society, and others belong to him or herself in this chapter. A person absolutely has individual rights and interests. As they don’t hurt the interests of other people, an individual’s rights and interests can have an inviolable space to work. Many people want to get maximal benefit. However, this sometimes may bring harm to other people. For example, a person wants to play karaoke at night. Unfortunately, this act breaks the silence of others. His or her neighbors won’t appreciate it and that is not correct. Before exercising right, a person has to make sure that people around him or she won’t suffer any inconvenience or harm.

  Even though the individual rights and interests are important for a person, it doesn't mean that people can be an egocentric who only cares about him or herself. The selfless contribution from individual is needed by society. Every public matter or development needs many individuals’ participation. In this way, the society can gain maximal interests. Besides, an individual who lives in society has the obligation to return the favor to it in any ways. Actually, everyone in society gets much benefit from it. A person may be protected by society or enjoy the use of the contribution from other people, such as public facilities. A person doesn’t have to pay and also can make use of them. Therefore, returning to the society is an individual’s obligation.

   In the modern world, there are many things that are different from those in the era which John S. Mill lived in. In the past, public interest is always superior to individual interest. However, as the raise of concept of human right, more and more people fight against the priority of public interest. This brings many conflicts. Therefore, solving the conflict between individual and society becomes a crucial issue in modern world. As I have said in the past paragraphs, like the victims in urban renewal, they wanted to maintain their living right, and this finally brings tragedy. Urban renewal is designed for the habitants’ good at beginning. However, it becomes the nightmare of Wang family. In short, as keeping pursuing interest, people must face this kind of problems because of the limitation of resource. Thus, sacrifice is existent certainly and necessarily. Without doubt, individuals’ interest can be considered a part of public interest. Therefore, how to gain public interest with the least loss of individuals’ interest is an important issue for people and leading class.

Reference:

Mill, J.S. (1869). Of the Limits to the Authority of Society over the Individual. On Liberty. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://www.utilitarianism.com/ol/four.html

Annotation 4

I have talked some conceptions about the conflict between society and individual. This time I want to talk about a concept which possesses close and direct relationship with two sides. It is public policy. Public policy is created to achieve public interests. Meanwhile, it will bring great influence to individuals. Public policy is in the practical level. However, there are still many investigations about its theory. The following paragraphs will discuss the concept of public policy and the possible situation when it works.

From the word “public” policy, we can know that this conduct relates to common people in a society, not just specific people. Public policy is often considered to possess positive effect to public interest. However, here is a problem shows up. There are countless experts and scholars debate the so-called “public interest” from then till now. British scholar Bentham considered public interest is the maximal accumulation of individuals’ interests and happiness. However, this argument has been overthrown by later scholars. Because of different backgrounds, customs, and personal values, every person may have different way of looking at interest. For example, a person likes object A, but other person doesn’t like it. In fact, public interest is a blur concept and hard to define what it is exactly. It can be various for idea, culture, and time. Therefore, some people even think that public interest doesn’t exist. However, most of people still believe its existence and it needs every person’s attention and care. Making every person in a society has a common consensus about ideal interest is an important way to keep the stability of a society. With this, people can work for a common public interest together. To achieve public interest, public policy is a direct and effective way. It is usually established and executed by lead-class, such as government. Every government in the world highly cares about the public policy issue. It can influence from individuals, society, and even to nation.

 When public policy is executed, some people may think it brings them inconvenience and even harm. They certainly think it’s the violation to their individual interest and try to resist the “public” force. The reason that people resist may be that people can’t adapt to it and feel different from their old custom. Actually, it is a common phenomenon when a new public policy is executed. However, there is no accomplishment without sacrifice. For the public interest, individuals must have to sacrifice and devote themselves to some degree. Because of the “publicity”, a person has to limit his or her freedom and gives up individual interest. However, public interest sometimes involves individual interest. The public interest with individuals’ sacrifice also can gain individuals’ interest. After all, there is a close connection between public interest and public policy. Let every individual understand the importance of public interest and adapt to public policy is the way to make policy succeed and raise the quality of human life.



Reference:

1. Wang, Y.S. (n.d. ). The Theory of Environmental Scheme. Retrieved        December 22, 2013, from http://140.134.4.2/~up/term%20paper/9
   52/9666.pdf
2. Tsai, C.C. & Huang, C.Y. (2002). Agenda-Setting Research on Public Policy : A Cast Study In Taipei. Retrieved December 22, 2013, from http://ccs.nccu.edu.tw/UPLOAD_FILES/HISTORY_PAPER_FILES/366_1.pdf

Annotation 3 Transcription

       Hi everyone I’m Tim today I want to present my topic is on relationship between society and individual. Now I want to introduce you a man and his name is John Stuart Mill. He is an Britain in 19^th century, He was a liberalism and utilitarianism this mean 功利主義. He wrote a famous book and it’s On Liberty. Today I want to focus on the chapter 4 “Of The Limits To The Authority Of Society Over The Individual”. Actually there is a connection between the last chapter and this chapter. In last chapter, he argued the importance of the individuality and he also knew there would be a potential conflict between individual and society. So, in this chapter, he wanted to explain the way how the two sides get along with each other. One principle is…he said everyone who receives the protection of society owes the return of benefit and it may means there is no such thing as a free lunch. In our daily life, we get many help from others. We can have good classroom and we have good roads to walk. Some people built them and they spend their time and energy and our responsibility is maintaining them and others can also use them. Next is…well, there are two conducts to constraint individual and one is doing not hurt the interests of other people. Well, it’s very important that…everyone wants maximal interest and freedom. But, they shouldn’t hurt others’ interests. For example, a person wants to play karaoke at night. However, other people don’t appreciate it because it will be annoying very much. So, it is banned. It is not right. Next is…everyone in society has to bear a part of labor and sacrifice for it or its members. Well, it’s just like mandatory education or the tax or a man has to be a soldier when reaching the appropriate age. Please tell me do you like them I just mention, mandatory education or paying the tax to the government…Well, I feel you don’t like them. But, it’s not just for self-it’s for the whole good. And if you are educated and you have knowledge, you can contribute to the society. If a man be a soldier, he can protect his nation. It is necessary. Although you may waste your time, your energy, and you can’t do what you really want to do. Hum…but if you don’t want to have any connection with the society and you may live like a hermit. You don’t have any responsibility to the society and you just take care of yourself. And next…although John Stuart Mill approves the value of human right and freedom. He also said that selfless individuals’ contribution is needed. It is like volunteer and a person shouldn’t be too selfish and just cares him or herself and don’t care other people. 

    In my conclusion, there is something that is not easy to solve because…in my annotation 1 and 2 I take Wen-Lin Yuan case for example, and it really shows the hurt on the basic right of inhabitation. It is a problem that what the real society interest is. Well, I know some private interests with cover of the pubic and we know it’s not right and we have to look clearly. But, in my opinion, the genuine matter relates to the public really needs individuals’ participation and devotion and those can make our world better.