Individualism is what a concept is? What are the principles of individualism?

In pre-capitalist society, people had no idea what individualism was. It was one of those words that were forbidden by censorship and religion, all people submitted to the system, and the opinion of an individual person was never taken into account. Express their thoughts, each of the people was able only with the advent of the Renaissance, when exactly a person became the center of the worldview. Then people realized that individualism is the path to self-improvement, the possibility to exist independently, in complete harmony with oneself. Today, this philosophical position is more than widespread throughout the world, therefore, we are starting to study it right now.

What does this term mean?

In the "dry" understanding, individualism is a kind of outlook that emphasizes the freedom of the individual from society and from a system that enables one to bring personal interests to the forefront and to carry out his own, rather than public desires, directly. In order to understand what it is, consider the main features of individualism:

• The primacy of personal goals and desires. Typically, these are in conflict with the public or group. And the individualist will always give preference to his own needs.
• Independence in actions and deeds. Even if a person is an integral part of a team (a group in a university, a team of employees, etc.), he can act independently, proceed from his own convictions, and the likelihood that his activities will be successful is very high.

What does this worldview hold onto?

Now let us pay attention to what is the main principle of individualism, without which this philosophical current could not exist. So, individualism is based on the fact that everyone can, and more - must, live in full accordance with their desires - physical and mental. Each of his actions should be based on his dream, need, passion and so on. This applies to both leisure and work. In other words, an individualist will always choose a profession that will bring him only pleasure and income, and not irritation, he will use his free time with maximum benefit and bestowal, all his endeavors will be somewhat selfish. However, there is another very important rule - all this should not interfere with the manifestation of individualism in others, by a number of people.

Ideals and idols

During the history of mankind various values of individualism were formed, which progressed and changed, but have survived to the present day. It can be said that compared to the society of the 19th century, today this system of world outlook is much more widespread from the social point of view - people have more freedoms and rights. On the basis of what our society has become so, why have we reached this point of development? For this it is enough to look at the retrospective and pay attention to the famous ancestors. In the ancient world, the individualist was the mythical Achilles of the Iliad. Despite the fact that he fought for the power, he had all his own judgment and acted as he saw fit. In the Middle Ages, individualists were called rebels and considered the main danger of society - it is enough to remember Jeanne D'Arc. Since the Renaissance we see that individualism is basically literature. Daniel Defoe, Jack London, Dostoevsky, all the poets of the Silver Age and many others. The main value in the life of the above-mentioned individuals was the ability to make independent decisions and make their lives different from others.

Cultural aspect

A very important role is played by the culture of individualism, which, in fact, keeps this outlook afloat. Thanks to the fact that for centuries our society has become similar not to a herd controlled by a shepherd, it is being improved.

This manifests itself both in everyday life (improving living conditions, inventions in the field of technology), and in traditions (for example, modern man will not be laughed at because he did not celebrate the spring equinox, or his front door will not be smeared with tar if he Changed his wife). The development of a culture of individualism makes it possible to "break through" many artists and writers. Our cultural society begins to evolve from full-fledged thinking individuals who can find a compromise with each other without leaving their personal principles.

In comparison with the opposite term

For contrast, let's try to compare collectivism and individualism and determine why some people have one thing, and another - another. Collectivism is the tendency of the individual to function and think in a large society. As a rule, in such cases people depend on each other or from the head of such a group. The very first collective into which a person gets is a family. If it is large (many children, or grandparents, aunts, uncles), then the child grows with a collective worldview. In the future, for him the opinion of others is important, he seeks to get a job in a company with a large staff of employees, is looking for a lot of friends. If the child is one in the family, an individualistic worldview develops about him, of which we spoke above.

Methodological Individualism

This term is called the theoretical position. It is assumed that for an adequate sociological evaluation of a particular phenomenon or object it is necessary to refer to the individual, that is, to the person. Here we have in mind precisely the human factor, impermanence and non-standard. In other words, if in the past centuries prisoners were judged by prisoners on the basis of written laws, sometimes very cruel, without the right to amnesty, today any crime is viewed through various prisms, while finding a reasonable and humane compromise. The principle of methodological individualism lies in the fact that resorting to some "humane mind" (it is not important whether it is a living person who is asked for advice or a certain deity) can be exercised by both a common citizen of the world and a representative of state power. Each of them should seek the most reasonable solution to any question, weighing all the circumstances.