Chapter 2: ideologies of individualism and collectivism

the renaissance and individuality: 2

• individuality became more important

• human potential focused on strength, beauty, and reason of individual humans

how did the protestant reformation contribute to growing individualistic ideals?

it challenged the authority of the roman catholic church

rule of law as a principle of individualism (classic liberalism): 4

• defined rules that make up the law

• separation of branches to prevent manipulation (john locke)

• individual rights express to what degree individualism can be maintained

• strong individual rights protect a persons ability to conduct themselves but the rights of others cannot be trampled

individual rights and freedoms as a principle of individualism: 3

• include freedom of religion, association, right to life, liberty, and security

• right to vote

• charter ensyres rights and greedoms are protected, but can be limited by prohibiting certain things

economic freedom:

freedom to buy what you want, and sell labor, ideas, and products to whoever you wish

why is welfare capitalism the economy in canada?

modifications made after the great depression

self interest and competition as a principle of individualism:

decisions should be made free from government control

laissez-fail economics: 3

• government should adopt a hands-off policy when it comes to economic decisions

• competition and profit motive find the most efficient and innovative methods of productions

• individuals can best achieve their goals if they're allowed to have private ownership

adam smith…what did he believe? 3

• the economy would regulate itself if left alone

• those who fail to compete fail to survive

• invisible hand will solve all basic economic questions

if people work to benefit themselves…

…competition will ensure the best product at the lowest prices due to supply and demand

if consumers are sovereign…

…supply and demand will dictate the natural flow of the market

private property as a principle of individualism:

no one can be denied the right to accumulate or trade valued items that are not in the property of others

what rights does private property include? 3

• right of use: allows any owner to utilize their property in any preferred manner as long as it doesn't violate the rights of others

• right of disposal: discard property/transer the ownership to another

• right to income: right to use your property as a source of profit

early development of collectivism: 4

• medieval period had a rigid heirarchial structure under which individual worth was lost

• man was a collective under god

• focus of society was the afterlife rather than beauty

• stressed human interdependence

economic equality as a principle of collectivism:

all people have the exact same of everythung and access to basic necessities, all people have a reasonable standard of living

examples of economic equality: 6

• larger incomes have more taxes

• earning equal wages for work of similar value

• guaranteed annual income (GAI)

• all people share in the wealth of a country/world

• people own the means of production collectively

• no privagte property (all things should be free and government owned)

cooperation as a principle of collectivism: 2

• ensures members achieve better results more effectivey (means through which members achieve goals), achieves goals more quickly and easily

• not always consensual and it was necessary for mere survival in early society

public property as a principle of collectivism:

land, capital, industries, etc are state owned and managed according to the best interest of the collective, and are managed by the government in the interests of collectives (maintained with public money accumulated through taxes)

what did Kal Marx believe in?

he believed in revolution and believed that proletariats (workers) must replace the bourgeoise (ruling class) through this

what were the bourgeouis doing?

they were exploiting proletariats by forcing them to make goods and services with a greater value than the wages recieved

what did karl marx propose? 2

• it was necessary to abolish private property and profit motive (individual differences would still exis but nobody could amass enormous wealth)

• with the existence of surplus goods, crime and greed would not exist (classless society)

collective interest as a principle of collectivism:

set of interests a group as in common, and can become an issue in democratic societies that experience exploitation and try to right the wrongs of the system

collective responsibility as a principle of collectivism:

holding the whole group responsible for the actions of the individuals withint he group (makes for group accountability)

collective responsibility is made in response to…and can be used as….

• deep rootes social problems that can't be addressed by targeting the individual

• punitive measure by an authoritarian government to ensure that citizens obey the government (one member does a bad, entire family ded)

Adherence to collective norms as a factor of collectivism:

Imposed in collective societies as a condition of membership in society (relate to values, conditions, conduct/appearance)

What are collective norms usually and what may be used to impose these norms: 2

• Usually binding

• Censorship may be used

Can collectivism and individualism coexist since they’re opposites and what do each of them believe? 2

• Yes they can

• They each believe that their ideology best serves the common good