We often quote that 'this is my independence'. But an answer to this question 'What is independence?' is always phrased as 'the fact or state of being independent'. But my question are we truly independent? From cradle to grave we are always dependent on the others. For example, our birth depends on the wish and/or conjugal relationship and/or intimacy of our parents. After taking the birth, we depend on the others for food, clothes, shelter and safety, and onward, we are- naturally, socially, physiologically, psychologically, economically and so on and so forth, somehow dependent. Then how can we say that we, as a human being, are independent of others? Is it really ever possible?
This question is probably related to the similar question of objectivity versus subjectivity. -- Even though absolute independence may not be possible, as humans are social organisms throughout their lives and thus dependent on others, scientists should aim at relative independence. In this context, relative independence means that the scientist should not uncritically repeat the opinion or belief of others, not even of the institution that is funding his/her research, but come to his/her own decision based on facts. Such relative independence is one of the ethical principles underlying scientific research.
This question is probably related to the similar question of objectivity versus subjectivity. -- Even though absolute independence may not be possible, as humans are social organisms throughout their lives and thus dependent on others, scientists should aim at relative independence. In this context, relative independence means that the scientist should not uncritically repeat the opinion or belief of others, not even of the institution that is funding his/her research, but come to his/her own decision based on facts. Such relative independence is one of the ethical principles underlying scientific research.
Can a person truly be independent? I don't think so, but what do you think?
From physiological to higher order needs of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, we human beings as an open system / social person can't be independent - we are interacting with our surrounding environment all the times. Only a dead person can have such independency. However, sometimes for quality / better functioning of certain country / government / institutional systems, we need to have certain independency & transparency on the works, roles & responsibilities that people are doing / playing.
Independence, and its sister concept, freedom have to be understood as evolving concepts within a very basic fundamental context viz. that human beings have evolved and developed to what they are today only because they are social beings, meaning they live and survive as social animals. No man is an island is perhaps an apt description of this context.
So, interdependency and dependency will always be there in the background of any situation surrounding a human being. Dependency acknowledges that some are more dependent on others - like a tiny toddler on his parents or the young children in school on the teachers. However, the underlying fact of continuous interdependency acknowledges that the level of dependency changes as the context changes. The young toddler becomes less dependent as he/she grows to be a teenager and finally an adult. However, while it changes, the interdependency never goes away. Even if there is no financial dependency, the emotional dependency remains. Independence is the name of the skill that enables the nature of the dependency to be changed with time, and allows a person to take the decision that decide the right levels and nature of dependency. It is the insight that enables a person to keep learning and exploring more and more relationships, away from the overpowering one with the parents and the teachers and creating his//her own set of relationships with people and issues. In short, independence is what makes a person an active contributing member of a civil society.
So, can one be truly independent. Yes. As long as it does not mean taking a shotgun to a crowded mall and indulging in random shooting. That is not independence but more a proof of an outdated dependence. A truly independent being knows and understands the correct nature of interdependence required in different social settings and contributes towards its evolution to a more refined relationship, as in the ongoing debate over LGBTs, desirous of giving them a better social standing arising out of a better understanding of what drives them to such behavior.
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