This theoretical proposition:The individual itself is the purpose, and the society is only the means to achieve the individual purpose;All individuals are morally equal.This is "Individualism" in French, which originates from the Latin "Individuum", meaning "individual" and "indivisible things".fromFrancesociologistTocquevilleFirst used, described as aModerate egoism。
Individualism with the means of productionprivate ownershipAnd developed with the development of private ownership:The capitalist system is the last and most complete social form of private ownership of the means of production, and individualism has reached its peak in the bourgeoisie.The thinkers during the modern bourgeois revolution generalized individualism into an eternal human nature, and made it the basic content of morality and the main standard for judging good and evil, which was used as an ideological weapon against feudal morality and religious asceticism.
Individualism has a wide meaning:As avalue system , which advocates all valuespersonalAs a general attitude towards political, economic, social and religious behaviors, it includes high evaluation of personal confidence, personal private life and respect for individuals, and opposition to authority and various domination of individuals.[1]
《Concise Encyclopedia Britannica 》The explanation of "individualism" is as follows:"A political andSocial philosophy, attach great importance to personal freedom, widely emphasize self controlSelf controlAn individual or self free from external constraintsAs a philosophy, individualism contains a value system, a theory of human nature, and a general attitude towards certain political, economic, social and religious acts. "
According to this understanding, individualism, as an individual's attitude, tendency and belief to participate in social life, has its historical inevitability.In other words, inWestern societyIn the process of civilization, individualism, as a way of life, outlook on life and outlook on the world, has the significance of integrity and universality, and constitutes the basic way and state of existence for Westerners to grasp the relationship between man and the world.
Specifically, the penetration of individualism in all aspects of Western social life can be roughly summarized as follows:PhilosophyOnHumanism、Politicaldemocracy、EconomicallyOfLiberalismas well asCulturallyIndividually independentself-consciousnessAnd other aspects.
