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Re: Fischer
(#53110)
by Sheldon Richman on February 10, 2005 at 12:22 PM
by Sheldon Richman on February 10, 2005 at 12:22 PM
In 1998 I briefly tried to counter the straw man of "atomistic individualism" with "Molecular Individualism."
Re: Fischer
(#53061)
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on February 9, 2005 at 7:02 PM
by Chris Matthew Sciabarra on February 9, 2005 at 7:02 PM
Hi Ken,
There is a more "collectivist" reading of that line---and given today's political vernacular, it is a likely reading. I don't think I'd ever refer to the "rights" of collective belonging in any event.
However, the larger point I was suggesting is that there is a very important aspect of the classical liberal tradition that understands the genuinely social character of human beings. Genuine liberalism and individualism are not "atomistic." They recognize that a variety of voluntary social relations are the lifeblood of civil society.
There is a more "collectivist" reading of that line---and given today's political vernacular, it is a likely reading. I don't think I'd ever refer to the "rights" of collective belonging in any event.
However, the larger point I was suggesting is that there is a very important aspect of the classical liberal tradition that understands the genuinely social character of human beings. Genuine liberalism and individualism are not "atomistic." They recognize that a variety of voluntary social relations are the lifeblood of civil society.
Associated Individualism
(#53113)
by Kenneth R Gregg on February 10, 2005 at 12:31 PM
by Kenneth R Gregg on February 10, 2005 at 12:31 PM
I'm not always a big fan of neologisms, but my favorite is one that Spencer MacCallum used in an essay in Reason magazine in the early 1970's, "Associated Individualism." This captured a lot of the sense of being in social settings which respect individuals.
Just a thought.
Just Ken
Just a thought.
Just Ken
Return to Liberty and Freedom
by Kenneth R Gregg on February 9, 2005 at 4:33 PM