This paper explores the philosophical tension between entitlement and the belief in self-creation. It argues that the myth of the “self-made man” conceals human interdependence and thus breeds entitlement where gratitude and social awareness should exist. Using moral philosophy, sociology, and psychology, it shows that the denial of collective foundations perpetuates inequality and moral distortion in modern life. 1. Introduction Western culture venerates the “self-made man” as an emblem of a...

This paper explores the philosophical tension between entitlement and the belief in self-creation. It argues that the myth of the “self-made man” conceals human interdependence and thus breeds entitlement where gratitude and social awareness should exist. Using moral philosophy, sociology, and psychology, it shows that the denial of collective foundations perpetuates inequality and moral distortion in modern life. 1. Introduction Western culture venerates the “self-made man” as an emblem of a...