[lbo-talk] Re: Individualism (Pomo Prince)

[Michael Dawson -PSU]

> By definition, personal autonomy is maximizing life chances and increasing
> choices.  Your claim has to be true, by definition: it's like saying
> "I like being a bachelor because I'm unmarried".
>
> Miles

Again, this is untrue.  Those who speak of "the cult of individualism" (and
those, like you, who merely flirt with anti-individualism) imply that
maximum individualism is actually a road to maximum subordination and
destruction and unhappiness.  "Life chances" means an individual's chances
to find a social role that suits his or her self, and to become a happy,
contributing member of a society.  If individualism is a harmful cult, how
can it maximize life chances?  Isn't it better to have eons of tradition
tell you to hunt deer today and gather grubs tomorrow, then drink some beer
and lay around the hut?

I notice you also ignore the social element of what I said -- strong
individualism makes democracy work better and increases the range of choices
we collectively have.

I actually don't believe that any sane person in the modern world is against
strong individualism.  (In fact, I suspect it's among the modern inventions
that members of the world's remaining traditional societies recognize as
being, like matches, modern food storage, and modern clothes, worthy of
quick adoption.)  Heck, look at Mr. Dauth, the proclaimed enemy of "the cult
of individualism."  Not only does he sign all his postings, but he appends a
secondary label advertising himself and his personal perspective.  Look at
me, I'm against individuality!