The ideology of individualism presupposes an “ownership” of the self. But of all the things we can own, the one thing that is excluded is our own self. We cannot own our selves because we cannot seize control of our origins. Each of us is called into being through an act of love, and called into the ready-made community of the family. We receive our being, our name, our language, our culture as pure gifts. And being called into being, we are also called into radical dependency; none of us could have lasted a day without the help of others.

From Front Porch Republic.