Individualism

Individualism is a way of thinking that puts the person first. It is a moral idea, a political belief, and a way to look at the world that says each person is very important. People who believe in individualism want to follow their own dreams and goals. They value being independent and relying on themselves, and they think what is best for one person should come before what the government or a group wants. They do not like others telling them what to do.

Individualism is one kind of view of the world. It is often talked about in comparison to other views, such as thinking more about the group than the person. People who like individualism often enjoy art and unique ways of living. They like to try new things and be creative, instead of just following what most people do. Individualism is also linked to thinking about what is good for humans and making moral choices. The word "individualism" can also mean being special or having your own particular trait.

Etymology

The word individualism was first used in the English language in the late 1830s. It was originally used in a negative way by some groups called utopian socialists, including the Owenites. Later, a writer named James Elishama Smith began to use the word in a more positive way. He believed that individualism helped people develop their unique talents and improve their lives by owning property. Another writer, William Maccall, also supported these ideas in his 1847 book titled Elements of Individualism.

Individual

Main article: Individual

An individual is a person or any specific thing in a group. Long ago, the word "individual" meant something that cannot be divided, like a single item or a person. Later, it began to mean being separate and unique. Individuality is what makes a person special, with their own needs, goals, and desires that make them different from others.

The principle of individuation explains how we see one thing as different from others. For the psychologist Carl Jung, this was an important part of growing up, helping people understand themselves better. Others have also studied how individuals and groups relate to each other, showing that being part of a group helps shape who we are.

Individualism and society

Individualism is the idea that each person should focus on their own goals and desires. People who believe in individualism value independence and making their own choices. They think that what is best for the individual should be more important than what a group or the government wants.

Different cultures around the world place varying levels of importance on individual freedom versus group harmony. Some cultures, like those in North America and Western Europe, encourage people to think for themselves and be independent. Other cultures focus more on group traditions and respecting authority. Both approaches have their strengths, and no single way is right for everyone. Individualism can also lead to more charitable giving, as people may choose to help others based on their own values and beliefs.

Political individualism

"With the abolition of private property, then, we shall have true, beautiful, healthy Individualism. Nobody will waste his life in accumulating things, and the symbols for things. One will live. To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

— Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man under Socialism, 1891

Individualists focus on protecting a person's freedom from rules made by groups or institutions, like the government or religious rules. They believe each person should be free to make their own choices and live independently. This idea is linked to civil libertarianism, which supports personal freedoms and rights over any authority, whether it's a government, company, or social pressure.

Anarchism, a part of this belief, emphasizes the individual and their choices over groups, traditions, or systems. One early thinker, William Godwin, believed in a minimal state that would become less powerful as knowledge grew. Another important figure, Max Stirner, argued that the only limit to a person's rights should be their ability to achieve what they want, without worrying about rules from gods, the state, or morals. He imagined groups of people who choose to work together freely. Other thinkers like Henry David Thoreau and Benjamin Tucker also added to these ideas, focusing on personal freedom and resistance to unfair rules.

Liberalism, another related idea, stresses the importance of individual freedom and is a common belief in many Western countries. It began during the Age of Enlightenment and opposes ideas like the Divine Right of Kings. John Locke, an early liberal thinker, said that no one should harm another person's life, health, freedom, or property. These liberal ideas helped shape the founding of the United States, where the government gets its power from the people's consent.

Anarchism

Main article: Anarchism

Autarchism

Main article: Autarchism

Liberalism

Main article: Liberalism

Philosophical individualism

Egoist anarchism

Main article: Egoist anarchism

Egoist anarchism is a way of thinking that started with the ideas of Max Stirner, a philosopher from the 1800s. Stirner believed that the only limit on what a person can do is their own ability to get what they want. He thought people should follow their own desires and not worry about rules from governments or religions.

Egoist anarchists believe that when people focus on themselves, they can naturally come together in helpful ways. This idea was later supported by other thinkers like John Henry Mackay.

Ethical egoism

Main article: Ethical egoism

Ethical egoism is the belief that people should do what is best for themselves. This is different from thinking that people only act in their own interest, which is called psychological egoism. Ethical egoism says it’s okay to focus on your own needs, but it doesn’t say you should hurt others to do so. Sometimes doing what’s best for you might help or hurt others, but that’s not always the case.

Existentialism

Main article: Existentialism

Existentialism is about focusing on each person’s own life and choices. Philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard believed that each person must find their own meaning in life, even when faced with hard times and doubts. Later thinkers added their own ideas about how to live a full life and what problems people might face.

Freethought

Main article: Freethought

Freethought means not accepting ideas just because others say they’re true. Freethinkers look for facts and use reason to decide what to believe, instead of relying on traditions, authorities, or popular opinions.

Humanism

Main article: Humanism

Humanism is the idea that humans and their experiences are very important. It supports human rights, fairness, and the separation of religion from government decisions. Humanism values thinking for yourself and caring about people.

Hedonism

Main article: Hedonism

Hedonism is the belief that feeling good is the most important thing. People who follow this idea think that pleasure is good and pain is bad, and they make choices based on what feels best.

Libertinism

Main article: Libertine

A libertine is someone who doesn’t follow many moral rules and values personal freedom and pleasures. This idea was popular in France and Great Britain in the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s among certain writers and thinkers.

Objectivism

Main article: Objectivism

Objectivism is a philosophy created by Ayn Rand. It says that reality exists on its own, and people can understand it through logic. The goal in life, according to this philosophy, is to be happy by looking out for yourself. It also supports full freedom for individuals and values achievement and reason.

Philosophical anarchism

Main article: Philosophical anarchism

Philosophical anarchism is the belief that governments don’t have a right to tell people what to do. Unlike some other anarchists, these thinkers don’t believe in using force to change things. Instead, they think people should work together peacefully without needing a government.

Subjectivism

Main article: Subjectivism

Subjectivism is the idea that what we believe to be true depends on our own experiences and thoughts. Some extreme views say that only what we perceive is real, and there might not be a true reality outside our minds. This can apply to moral beliefs as well, where what is right or wrong can differ from person to person.

Solipsism

Main article: Solipsism

Solipsism is the idea that only your own mind really exists. From this viewpoint, we can’t be sure that anything outside our thoughts is real. This idea is often used to question how we know what’s true.

Economic individualism

The doctrine of economic individualism believes that each person should be allowed to make their own choices about money and work, without the community, company, or government making those choices for them.

Classical liberalism

Main article: Classical liberalism

Classical liberalism is a belief that started in the 1800s in places like the Americas, England, France, and Western Europe. It supports personal freedom and letting people govern themselves, but it also believes in free markets and economic freedom. Important thinkers from this time include Jean-Baptiste Say, Thomas Malthus, and David Ricardo. Later, thinkers like Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, Robert Nozick, Loren Lomasky, and Jan Narveson kept these ideas alive.

Libertarianism

Main article: Libertarianism

Libertarianism values personal liberty very highly. Libertarians want as much freedom as possible, with fewer rules from the government. They believe in making choices freely and having the right to associate with others without force. Libertarians often question whether the government should have a lot of power.

Left-libertarianism

Main article: Left-libertarianism

Left-libertarianism mixes personal freedom with fairness for everyone. These thinkers believe that natural things like land and resources should be shared or owned by everyone, not just one person. They support workers having control over their jobs and like ideas such as workers’ groups making decisions together.

Right-libertarianism

Main article: Right-libertarianism

Right-libertarianism is another kind of libertarian belief that often supports strong private property rights and free markets. In the United States, this view is common and it supports personal freedoms, strong rights to own property, and less government control over the economy.

Mutualism

Main article: Mutualism (economic theory)

Mutualism is an economic idea that comes from anarchist thinking. It started with writings by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. Mutualism imagines a world where people own tools and land, either by themselves or together, and trade fairly based on the work put into products. A key part of this idea is a bank that lends money at low costs to help people produce goods.

Criticisms

Some thinkers have questioned the idea of putting the individual above everything else. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato believed that people should follow laws and duties, even if they don’t always agree with them.

Other philosophers, like Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, thought that people need each other to understand themselves. Fascist leaders also felt that focusing too much on personal freedom could cause problems within a country.

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote about a form of individualism that centers too much on “me.” He warned that this can lead to problems in society, such as people making quick, unwise choices that can affect their families and future, like struggling to own a home or start a family.

Other views

As creative independent lifestyle

The writer Oscar Wilde said that being individual helps people think in new ways and break free from old habits. This can lead to great art and new ideas. Writer Murray Bookchin talked about people who live in their own special way, not following the crowd. They might dress differently or act in unusual ways.

French writer Émile Armand believed people should live by their own rules, not what others tell them to do. He thought this kind of thinking could help create a world without strict rules or bosses.

Philosopher Tzvetan Todorov said that being individual is an important part of modern thinking. He mentioned writers like Michel de Montaigne and Charles Baudelaire as examples of people who valued their own ideas and feelings.

Poet Joseph Brodsky believed that thinking in your own unique way is the best way to stay safe from harmful ideas. Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said that true individuals should not copy others. He thought that following others’ ideas only leads people away from their own true thoughts. He encouraged people to trust themselves and not imitate others.