All social animals organize themselves in some method and arrange themselves by individual in a social ordering - horses in a herd, wolves in a pack, people in a community - so they can live together. The game pits two opposing forces against each other, both equally important to survival: individual autonomy and community welfare. The object is to achieve dynamic equilibrium.

At times and under certain conditions individuals can be nearly autonomous. An individual can live alone and have no worry about rank, but no species can survive without interaction between individuals. The ultimate price would be extinction. On the other hand complete individual subordination to the group is just as devastating. Life is neither static nor unchanging. With no individuality, there can be no change, no adaptation and, in an inherently changing world, any species unable to adapt is doomed.

Humans in a community, whether it is as small as two people or as large as the world, and no matter what form the society takes, will arrange themselves according to some hierarchy. Commonly understood courtesies and taught customs can help to smooth the friction and ease the stress of maintaining a workable balance within this constantly changing system. In some situations most individuals will not have to compromise much of their personal independence for the welfare of the community. 

In others, the needs of the community may demand the utmost personal sacrifice of the individual, even to life itself. Neither is more right then the other, it depends on the circumstances; but neither extreme can be maintained for long, nor can society last if a few people exercise their individuality at the expense of the community.