Individualism

• What does individualism emphasise?

  That the needs and rights of each person are more important than those of any group.
• The principle of individualism is not merely a preference for individual over group needs but a deeper philosophical stance that every person possesses inherent value and the right to self determination
• Liberals believe that society and politics should be structured to promote the autonomy, freedom and well being of each individual, rather than primarily serving the interests of groups, whether these are defined by class, religion or any other collective identity
• Empowering individuals is also seen as the most effective route to progress and justice in society, with the belief that when individuals are free to pursue their own paths, society as a whole benefits
• Society with its natural rights and laws, along with the inherent nature of humans, naturally promotes individualism. It is an interfering state that can threaten this.
• The individual is therefore the primary unit of analysis in society, fundamentally shaping liberal views of society the state, the economy and human nature