Individualism

:For other uses, see Egoism (disambiguation).

Individualism in Political Philosophy

In political philosophy, the individualistic theory of government,is "according to which, the good of the state consists in the well-being, and free initiative of its individual members". From this standpoint, as contrasted with that of the various forms of "collectivism", which subordinate the individual to the society, the society, as such is an "artificial unity". The term has also been used to describe "individual initiative" and "freedom of the individual" in general, perhaps best described by the French term "laissez faire", a verb meaning "to let do" .

Related Topics:
Government - Unity

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In practice, individualism is chiefly concerned with opposing the concentration of commercial and industrial enterprise in the hands of the state, and the municipality. The principles upon which this opposition is based are mainly two: that popularly-elected representatives are not likely to have the qualifications, or the sense of responsibility, required for dealing with the multitudinous enterprises, and the large sums of public money involved in civic administration; and that the "health of the state" depends upon the exertions of individuals for their personal benefit (who, "like cells", are the containers of the life of the body).

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Individualism is, however, to be distinguished from egoism. "Egoists" only promote their own advantage, and what aggrandizes their reputations. Individualists want to free every single person from collective control. An individualist may be a conscientious "altruist": he is by no means hostile to, or aloof from society (any more than the collectivist is necessarily hostile to the individual), but he is opposed to interference with individual liberty, wherever it comes from; and as far as it can be avoided.

Related Topics:
Egoism - Altruist - Interference

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The individualist sees society as "a large number of individuals working together" to improve their individual and collective welfare. The single person is not just a member of a greater unity. In fact, the single individual is seen as "the ultimate unity", and society is nothing more than a composition of these "individuals". The "state" is an organized form of society, which "ensures the individual's freedom" by law (under the protections of a republic). Thus, individualist policy tends to approve laws that protect, or otherwise enhance the liberties of the individual citizen, but rejects laws that subordinate the individual to the collective.

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