Individualism

Individualism is the <a href="/facts/Ethics/wNVNgL5q">moral</a> stance, <a href="/facts/Political_philosophy/JuLBNdAX">political philosophy</a>, <a href="/facts/Ideology/BWooMbq7">ideology</a>, and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the <a href="/facts/Individual/hJbTjS2x">individual</a>. Individualists promote realizing one's goals and desires, valuing <a href="/facts/Self-sustainability/7PUdUSwC">independence</a> and self-reliance, and advocating that the interests of the individual should gain precedence over the <a href="/facts/State_(polity)/7ggBzTSk">state</a> or a social group, while opposing external interference upon one's own interests by <a href="/facts/Society/PulvrYfa">society</a> or <a href="/facts/Institution/kGkhGcMN">institutions</a> such as the government. Individualism makes the individual its focus, and so starts "with the fundamental premise that the human individual is of primary importance in the struggle for liberation". 
Individualism represents one kind of <a href="/facts/Sociocultural_perspective/kqBRkLBC">sociocultural perspective</a> and is often defined in contrast to other perspectives, such as <a href="/facts/Communitarianism/cKCosCM5">communitarianism</a>, <a href="/facts/Collectivism_and_individualism/EDpvow0U">collectivism</a> and <a href="/facts/Corporatism/rWbTRgK0">corporatism</a>.
Individualism is also associated with <a href="/facts/Artistic/ILbnQHHb">artistic</a> and <a href="/facts/Bohemianism/A1KqQTxA">bohemian</a> interests and lifestyles, where there is a tendency towards self-creation and experimentation as opposed to tradition or popular mass opinions and behaviors, and it is associated with <a href="/facts/Humanist/lM8R0wLs">humanist</a> philosophical positions and ethics. "Individualism" has also been used as a term denoting "[t]he quality of being an individual; individuality", related to possessing "[a]n individual characteristic; a <a href="/facts/Idiosyncrasy/6qXUIscc">quirk</a>".

Individualism open-in-new

Individualism