ABSTRACT
Even the most egocentric individual, unless mentally incapacitated, has a desire to socialize and find comfort in group activities. This desire varies rather widely, but we may safely say that there is a natural tendency for people to seek community, to be a part of a group. The current concept of communitarianism, then, is nothing new. In ancient China, as we have seen, Confucius advocated it, as did his disciple, Mencius. The family, the group, and loyalty to leadershipthis concept permeated Chinese society and still does. In classical Greece, Socrates and Plato promoted community, although in somewhat different ways. All through history, strong voices have spoken out in favor of some type of collectivistic society that would avoid the problems of individualism and social contention.
