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individualism_articles.docIndividualism
Individualism is generally understood to be a social context or environment in which individuals are the focal operating units as opposed to states or social groups; the social context has to be sustained by the beliefs of the people within it. The term individualism has also been used to describe individual initiative and freedom of the individual in general.
Societies and groups can differ in the extent to which they are based upon predominantly "self-regarding" (individualistic and arguably self-interested) rather than "other-regarding" (group-orientated and group or society minded) behaviour. There is also a distinction relevant in this context between guilt societies (internal reference standard) and shame societies (e.g. Japan) with an external reference standard and where people look to their peers for feedback as to whether an action is acceptable.
The extent to which society or groups are individualistic can vary from time to time and from country to country. For example, Japanese society is more group orientated (e.g. decisions tend to be taken by groups rather than individuals) and it has been argued that "personalities are less developed" (than is usual in the West). The USA is usually thought of as being at the individualistic (it's detractors would say atomistic) end of the spectrum, whereas European societies are more inclined to believe in public-spiritedness, state spending, and public initiatives.
J.K. Galbraith made a classic distinction between private affluence and public squalor in the USA and private squalor and public affluence in e.g. Europe and there is a correlation between individualism and degrees of public sector intervention and taxation. Such issues tie in with the theory of free markets as set out e.g. by Adam Smith; they also tie in with theories of liberty and development where it is generally argued that excessive state intervention tends to reduce liberty and slow development (see pluralism).
Individualism is often contrasted with totalitarianism and collectivism, but in fact there is a spectrum of behaviours ranging at the societal level from highly individualistic societies (e.g. the USA) through mixed societies (a term the UK has used in the post-WW2 period) to totalitarian.
Individualism, closely associated with some variants of the ideals of capitalism, libertarianism and classical liberalism, typically takes it for granted that individuals know best and that public authority or society has the right to interfere in the person's decision-making process only when a very compelling need to do so arises (and maybe not even in those circumstances). This type of argument is often observed in relation to policy debates regarding regulation of industries.
At the time of the formation of the United States, many of its citizens had fled from state or religious oppression in Europe and were influenced by the egalitarian and fraternal ideals that later found expression in the French revolution. Such ideas influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution (the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republicans) who believed that the government should seek to protect individual rights in the constitution itself; this idea later led to the Bill of Rights.
Individualism has negative connotations in certain societies and environments where it is associated with selfishness. For example, individualism is highly frowned upon in Japan where self-interested behaviour is traditionally regarded as a kind of betrayal of those to whom one has obligations e.g. family and firm. The absence of universal health care in the United States, which traces back to a belief in individual (rather than societal) responsibility, is widely criticised in Europe where universal health care (usually funded in Europe through general taxation) is seen as protecting individuals from the vagaries of health problems; health care is seen in Europe as a classic case where insurance at a societal level is right and sensible.
Capitalism and Individualism
Karl Marx argued that the structure of production (structure of the economy) determined the structure of society, and there is little doubt that evolving trends in society, many to do with the evolution of industry and trade, influence society and the way people interact. For example, the emergence of automobile and air transportation, together with the speed of economic change, has tended to fracture families in the West and to erode the influence of the extended family. The opening of the Japanese economy to international free markets has tended to erode its ability to have consensus decision-making at a societal level.
It can be argued that capitalism is not based on individuals but largely on firms and institutions, and that individuals' roles are largely determined by institutions. However, compared to socialist states, many of which have either collapsed or started to convert to capitalism during the late 1980s and early 1990s, capitalism is considered still individualistic. In capitalism, individuals have choices with regard to institutional affiliation (for which institution s/he works), whereas in many socialist economies workplaces, as well as place of residence, spending, and artistic and political expression, are heavily regulated or determined by the state.
See: self purpose, tragedy of the commons,
References
· The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith
· The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl Popper
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The Importance of Individuality
· Mar 29, 2009
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All humans have a basic need to express themselves, to show others who we are, what we believe in, and how we are different. This is what make us individual, special and unique. We choose to express ourselves differently based on our personality. Some people express their creativity and personality through creating art or music, others have special hobbies that show off their skills and abilities. Choosing not to make bold statements is also a way of expressing your personality.
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Most common perhaps, is the way we present ourselves to the world through clothing and appearance. This is why almost all subcultures can be identified and recognised by their chosen way of dressing or why teenagers seem to change fashion ideals all the time in a period of their lives when personality is being formed. Individuality is what makes life and people interesting and exiting! It is also what makes people trust you. When we express our individuality, we show people that we have nothing to hide and that what you see is what you get. Most people though, do not have the opportunity to express themselves as freely as they may like to because they have certain obligations. Generally this means work responsibilities. After all some jobs do not lend themselves to outrageous dressing or bold statements of individuality. Customers would be somewhat concerned if their accountant or bank representative decided to show up for work in flip flops and shorts even if they were passionate surfers in their free time. In many ways society 'pigeon holes', or attempts to, in order to enable us to not only conform but be instantly recognisable to others. But conforming to certain ideals and stereotypes in order to be taken seriously doesn't have to imply curbing all expressing of individuality. In businesses there are many leaders whose personalities often play a big part in the publics perception of a company such as Donald Trump or Richard Branson.
Small things such as your businesses card can say a lot about you. What font is your name written in? What colour paper have you chosen? How big are the letters and where are they placed on the card?
Classy, hand written fonts show style and sophistication. Big, bold letters show a healthy ego and drive. Rounded and soft letters show creativity and an easy going personality. Font is important!
Colours are important. Simple white paper with black letters, shows unpretentiousness and seriousness. Bright colours and coloured text shows something else entirely. Is the letters written in all capitals? Is the company logo big and dominant or subtle?
There are many ways of expressing you own or your companies individuality on your businesses card. As such, it is a good idea to think about what you are trying to communicate to your target audience. After all, when your clients or people you meet look at your business card they are going to associate that with you and your company. Therefore you need to ensure that it makes a good impression and portrays the correct façade.
Custom businesses card printing is available many places online. Many online business printing services offer customised solutions that you can choose from or work from your own design. The quality of is usually high, delivery times fast and prices very competitive.
About the Author
If you are looking for custom business card printing, come to Solopress.
This article is from TOS Vol. 7, No. 1. The full contents of the issue are listed here.
Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice
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The fundamental political conflict in America today is, as it has been for a century, individualism vs. collectivism. Does the individual’s life belong to him—or does it belong to the group, the community, society, or the state? With government expanding ever more rapidly—seizing and spending more and more of our money on “entitlement” programs and corporate bailouts, and intruding on our businesses and lives in increasingly onerous ways—the need for clarity on this issue has never been greater. Let us begin by defining the terms at hand.
Individualism is the idea that the individual’s life belongs to him and that he has an inalienable right to live it as he sees fit, to act on his own judgment, to keep and use the product of his effort, and to pursue the values of his choosing. It’s the idea that the individual is sovereign, an end in himself, and the fundamental unit of moral concern. This is the ideal that the American Founders set forth and sought to establish when they drafted the Declaration and the Constitution and created a country in which the individual’s rights to life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness were to be recognized and protected.
Collectivism is the idea that the individual’s life belongs not to him but to the group or society of which he is merely a part, that he has no rights, and that he must sacrifice his values and goals for the group’s “greater good.” According to collectivism, the group or society is the basic unit of moral concern, and the individual is of value only insofar as he serves the group. As one advocate of this idea puts it: “Man has no rights except those which society permits him to enjoy. From the day of his birth until the day of his death society allows him to enjoy certain so-called rights and deprives him of others; not . . . because society desires especially to favor or oppress the individual, but because its own preservation, welfare, and happiness are the prime considerations.”1
Individualism or collectivism—which of these ideas is correct? Which has the facts on its side?
Individualism does, and we can see this at every level of philosophic inquiry: from metaphysics, the branch of philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality; to epistemology, the branch concerned with the nature and means of knowledge; to ethics, the branch concerned with the nature of value and proper human action; to politics, the branch concerned with a proper social system.
We’ll take them in turn.
Metaphysics, Individualism, and Collectivism
When we look out at the world and see people, we see separate, distinct individuals. The individuals may be in groups (say, on a soccer team or in a business venture), but the indivisible beings we see are individual people. Each has his own body, his own mind, his own life. Groups, insofar as they exist, are nothing more than individuals who have come together to interact for some purpose. This is an observable fact about the way the world is. It is not a matter of personal opinion or social convention, and it is not rationally debatable. It is a perceptual-level, metaphysically given fact. Things are what they are; human beings are individuals.
A beautiful statement of the metaphysical fact of individualism was provided by former slave Frederick Douglass in a letter he wrote to his ex-“master” Thomas Auld after escaping bondage in Maryland and fleeing to New York. “I have often thought I should like to explain to you the grounds upon which I have justified myself in running away from you,” wrote Douglass. “I am almost ashamed to do so now, for by this time you may have discovered them yourself. I will, however, glance at them.” You see, said Douglass, . . .
