Tim Connolly at Aeon:
In the modern West, individualism takes on many forms. Perhaps the most readily apparent is in a political philosophy that puts the freedom and the rights of individuals as its highest values. The social contract theory of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke treats society as originating from an agreement of free, self-interested persons, in which government exists for the purpose of securing individual rights. These views are also reflected in an economic system that encourages individual innovation in the pursuit of wealth, and treats private property as sacrosanct.
But individualism runs deeper than politics and economics, pervading our very notion of who we are. In the United States, the view that every individual is unique is held by Christians who believe each person is created in the image and likeness of God, as well as by secularists who believe that people should be free to determine their own identities, regardless of traditional norms. From an early age, children raised in individualistic societies are encouraged to follow their passions, make their own choices, and express who they are. They are instilled with values like self-reliance, ambition and personal responsibility.
Even when we criticise individualism, we remain entrenched in individualist modes of thinking.
More here.
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