1. Individualism

2. Role of the individual
The key issue in determining the degree to which an ideology is individualist or collectivist is the understanding of what the individual’s role is in society
Individualist – self-reliance, freedom from authority
Example: private business (succeed or fail)
Collectivist – interdependence, importance of the group over the individual
Example: universal health care (all pay the same regardless of use)

3. Collectivism Individualism

4. Origins of Individualism
These ideas grew out of the Enlightenment
Time corresponding with the Renaissance
Philsophers began to question the role of government in the economy and the power government should have in people’s lives
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau
Especially Locke – rejection of the Divine Right of Kings

5. Characteristics of Individualism
rule of law
private property
competition
individual rights and freedoms
economic freedom
self-interest
Government control is seen as interfering and counter-productive

6. Individualism
Rule of law – everyone is subject to the law, including the government – each individual is the same
Individual Rights –each individual has the right to vote, freedom of conscience, association…
Difficult to balance individual rights – e.g. freedom of speech
Private Property – real estate, physical property and intellectual property: respecting the individual
Self-interest/economic freedom: laissez-faire and invisible hand
Competition – when we compete with each other, we work harder thus everyone benefits.

7. Wal-Mart workers are part of a group, but how are they individualistic rather than collectivist?

8. Where do you fit in? http://www.politicalcompass.org/test
.html
CBC News in Review Oct 2008

9. What in the world does this word mean?
Liberalism
What in the world does this word mean?

10. Oxford Dictionary Noble, generous Free from prejudice, tolerant
Free from restraint in speech or action
Tending in favor of freedom and democracy
Liberalism favors the values of individualism

11. In a liberal society there is no vision of the “good life” (e. g
In a liberal society there is no vision of the “good life” (e.g. how to live your life according to philosophers, religious leaders)
what is good is whatever each of us individually choose for ourselves. No moral picture of how things should be.
Concern: how do you create a unified society if everyone is focused on themselves?

12. Consider:
If you believe all people are created equal, then should we open our borders and allow anyone to come in and share our resources with them? Despite the UN declaration of equality, our rights stop at the border = civil (us vs them)
Locke established liberal ideas like democracy to stop us from being oppressed by the state and now states give/take those rights.
What do we do with someone who does not come from a society that agrees with our notions of liberalism and rights? How do we allow them the freedom to act as they please if their actions go against our values?