In this blog post, we’ll explore why living by community norms ultimately benefits individuals in the long run, using examples from group activities and everyday life.
Throughout our lives, we find ourselves at a crossroads of choice every moment. Sometimes we make the choice that is most advantageous to ourselves, regardless of others, and other times we make a conscientious choice even if it means we suffer a loss. So, in these various moments of choice, is there a reason to accept a loss and make the right choice? In other words, why should we live righteously?
Of course, there can be no single standard for “rightness.” However, in this article, I will define rightness as adhering to the norms established by society. Conscience is formed through learning; we have been taught from childhood to follow these norms. In other words, acting rightly by adhering to norms can be said to mean following our learned conscience.
If following one’s conscience does not conflict with personal interests, one can naturally act in accordance with it. However, as mentioned earlier, we sometimes find ourselves in situations where we must choose between living righteously by following our conscience and pursuing personal interests. A prime example is group work, which students cannot avoid. In group work, there comes a moment when we must choose between “cooperating” and “free-riding.” The essence of group work is that cooperation in accordance with established norms is the correct course of action, based on the premise that all members must collaborate. However, since group work is generally arduous, doing nothing while reaping the rewards—that is, free-riding—may be more personally beneficial.
Let’s simplify the process of group work into cooperation versus free-riding, and the outcome into good grades versus bad grades. Since group activity grades are usually determined by the group’s final output, even if I free-ride, I will still receive a good grade as long as the group performs well. In this context, choosing to cooperate is following one’s conscience, while free-riding is choosing the option that benefits oneself the most. When considering only personal gain, free-riding can be more tempting than cooperation.
But what about the group as a whole? If some members choose to free-ride, the other members who chose to cooperate out of conscience will have to shoulder the burden. Naturally, it is far more efficient for everyone to cooperate, and the results will be better.
So, is there a reason to give up personal gain and choose the group’s benefit? It is because the group’s success leads directly to my own success. My grade will only be good if the group’s final product is good. Conversely, if I choose to free-ride and other group members also pursue only their own interests by free-riding, the group will collapse, no deliverables will be produced, and my own grades will suffer. While free-riding may seem beneficial to the individual at first glance, maintaining the group actually benefits me in the long run.
This principle applies from a collective and long-term perspective. From a purely individual and short-term perspective, it is easy to think that free-riding is the most beneficial path. Especially in situations where there are no sanctions, people tend to choose immediate benefits. Therefore, institutional mechanisms are needed to prevent free-riding. The current method of grading based solely on the group’s final product often encourages free-riding because it results in cooperative members and free-riders receiving the same grade.
Ultimately, differentiating individual grades based on the level of cooperation within group activities would be an effective way to prevent free-riding. To achieve this, students should be required to write reports detailing their individual contributions, and individual grades should be assigned based on these reports. This way, even if the group’s final product is excellent, those who did not cooperate cannot list their contributions in the report and thus cannot receive a good grade. This method would motivate group members to cooperate, and if everyone cooperates, the group’s performance would improve as well. Consequently, all group members would achieve better results.
Of course, this method may involve a certain degree of coercion, which could conflict somewhat with the spirit of group activities that emphasize voluntary cooperation. However, it is fair to ensure that those who do not participate do not receive good grades. Furthermore, by introducing a certain degree of compulsion, group work can become an opportunity to learn about teamwork and cooperation. Even for those who cooperate reluctantly to avoid receiving a low grade, the outcome will still be better than if everyone had participated diligently.
In summary, group work yields the best results when all members cooperate, and this leads to good grades. The most important factor for optimal group work is everyone’s cooperation. If all members follow the established rules and work together, I can be assured that the group’s final product will be good even if I simply fulfill my own role.
This principle applies directly to society as a whole. We must live righteously for the benefit of the community and for our own personal interests. For example, if I stand in line at a bus stop, others will also line up, and I am guaranteed to board the bus when it is my turn. By doing so, the community is maintained, and we can all live together in harmony.
Of course, it would be ideal if people voluntarily followed rules for the sake of the community, but in reality, without sanctions, many people are prone to pursuing immediate personal gain. Therefore, society ensures that people live correctly, even if it means using force. We are taught morality from a young age, and laws are enacted to punish those who break them. As a result, most people act according to their conscience and live their lives in compliance with the law. We remain quiet in the library, do not litter on the streets, and do not break the law. Furthermore, we refrain from committing crimes and using violence to avoid legal punishment. Society has maintained the community through this education of conscience and the law, and because we have lived by these norms, this community has been able to survive to this day. Thanks to this, we can go to the library to study in peace and do not have to worry about someone stealing our property.
Of course, depending on the situation, cutting in line or freeloading might seem like an immediate benefit. However, if I cut in line or freeload, others will follow suit, and eventually, the community will become difficult to sustain. The next time I take the bus, the people behind me will also try to cut in line, and if freeloading is taken for granted in group projects, I might end up having to handle a group project for an important subject all by myself. Living correctly by following established rules is the way to maintain the community and, in the long run, benefits the individual as well. This is because individuals can lead stable lives only when the community is maintained.
In conclusion, there is a reason why we must live correctly by adhering to established norms while coexisting with others. Only by adhering to norms and living correctly can we maintain the community, and this ultimately benefits the individual as well. In group activities as well, we must choose cooperation over free-riding to ensure the group’s success and achievements. By assigning grades based on individual contributions to prevent free-riding, we can promote the maintenance of the community. The survival of the community and the righteous lives of its members are inseparably linked; we must live righteously for the sake of ourselves and society.
