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20 Examples of Individualism

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Individualism is any philosophy or approach that values the agency, moral worth, freedom, self-reliance and independence of the individual. This can be viewed in opposition to collectivism, that values the group over the self. The following are common types of individualism.

Agency

The belief that people have the power to define their life such that they aren't victims of circumstance, society, history or culture.

Self-Reliance

Reliance on your own powers and resources.

Independence

Freedom from the control of others.

Entitlement

The idea that society owes you something without you owing anything in return.

Freedom

The power and right to do what you want without hindrance or restraint.

Rights

Principles of freedom or entitlement that are due an individual. For example, freedom of speech and the right to an education.

Self-Fulfillment

The idea that it is up to the individual to decide what makes their life meaningful and pursue that without restraint.

Anarchism

The belief in a stateless society such that authority is widely distributed.

Existentialism

A philosophy or approach that emphasizes the individual pursuit of self-fulfillment in the face of an apparently absurd and meaningless universe.

Meritocracy

A competitive system that evaluates each individual according to their demonstrated merits and potential without regard to their identity, beliefs or group membership.

Liberalism

A political and moral philosophy that values the freedom and equality of the individual.

Hedonism

The belief that pleasure is the only good and pain the only bad.

Libertinism

The belief that the individual is free to act without moral restraint.

Ethical Egoism

The belief that people can be moral by acting exclusively in their own interests.

Freethought

The view that the individual should be fearless in questioning authority, accepted facts and belief.

Humanism

The view that meaning should be explained in human terms as opposed to the divine or supernatural.

Objectivism

The view that there are facts and meaning to be found in the universe that can be discovered with human perception, thought, inquiry, experimentation and measurement.

Relativism

The belief that there is no objective reality such as facts but that reality is defined exclusively in terms of each individual's experience.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism has a strange relationship to individualism. It embraces relativism such that all reality is defined by every individual but also tends to depreciate personal agency such that individuals are viewed as helpless victims of society, systems, history, culture, competition and psychological problems.

Anomie

A sense of culturelessness and complete disconnection from society, community and others in general.

Summary

The following are common examples of individualism.

Overview

The philosophy that values personal agency, freedom and autonomy.
Definition: Individualism
Type
Definition
A philosophy or approach that values the agency, moral worth, freedom, self-reliance and independence of the individual.
Related Concepts
Next: Collectivism
More about individualism:
Agency
Anomie
Authority
Be Yourself
Freedom
Identity Crisis
Individualism
Individuality
Meritocracy
Nihilism
Objectivity
Personal Identity
Philosophy
Postmodernism
Self-Concept
Society
Winning
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Society

The definition of society with examples.

Social Status

The common types of social status.

Norms

The definition of norms with examples.

Anomie

An overview of anomie, also known as normlessness.

Traditions

The definition of tradition with examples.

Power Distance

An overview of power distance with examples.

Decorum

The definition of decorum with examples.

Rules

The definition of rule with examples.

Intangible Things

The definition of intangible with examples.

Reverse Culture Shock

An overview of reverse culture shock with examples.

Political Ideology

An overview of common political ideologies.

Anarchism

A list of the basic characteristics of anarchism.

Political Participation

An overview of political participation with examples.

Political Influence

An overview of political influence with examples.

Social Ideology

An overview of social ideology with examples.
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