What is Individualism?

Individualism is a popular thought in Europe and America; Japan is also getting the thought of individualism although there is still groupthink there. Everyone should have their own ideas, so mentioning or telling other people the idea is very important. Whether good or bad, individualism is necessary to making a proper society.

An individual sparkles because he/she is in the group. An individual can not exist without the group. To establish individualism, an individualist needs the group. Individualism differs from egocentrism which is vain idea. That is to say, it is the thought which is formed with communicating with other people because it presumes the self-assertion and self-actualization. To observe or express something, listener should be there because people share their opinion. While they respect their opinion, they have their opinion each. Without a society, self-assertion and self-actualization cannot exist. Identity is not the difference between others, but when he does the same things as other, his identity would come out. As people communicate with each other, they can build self-control and moral. Individualism is a necessary idea to make a society. It is the thought which is formed by communicating with others actively. By the way, Japanese thought is a little different. In Japan there has been the concept of “Wa” (meaning: harmony) for a long time. Wa (harmony) emphasizes the aspiration to be one. To feel, see, think and live together rather than apart. Of course, although people are different individuals, it is best when they want the same thing. The unity and harmony of the group takes priority over individual responsibility, authority, or initiative. So, it is said that individualism brings the destruction of harmony (group) for Japanese.

Secondly, individualism’s purpose is the pursuit of happiness. Only he knows his own happiness; in other words, nobody knows what makes another’s happiness. For him, it is free to think what his own happiness is; therefore, in the individualism society, it is necessary to declare what happiness you want to pursue. However, in the pursuit of happiness, there are some lights and shadows because the pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of desire in other words. The individualism society brought the development of science and industry as a part of lights; on the contrary, it brought the cultures’ decadence and environmental destruction as a part of shadows. Individualism is based on the energy that each person has. The essence of the energy is a desire, so there are various desires in individualism society. The money standards or material standards have replaced internal nobility or honorability as the standards of people’s sense of value. As a result, self-profit and self-desire would destroy the world. In order not to break down the world, a base of individualism should be established as a thought, and then people have to protect their everlasting peace and prosperity. Individualists have to treasure personal will and faith.

Individualism is a responsibility and a freedom. Most people imagine that there is a higher level of freedom in the U.S. because individualism exists there. In United States, it is natural that people have to decide what to do; on the contrary, in Japan, the culture or the custom dictate people’s decision. For example, in the wedding party, it is free that whether people in the U.S. invite their boss or not; on the other hand, people in Japan should invite their boss. Usually, underneath individualism society emphasizes freedom; individual freedom is our own responsibility. In Japan, there has been the joint responsibility instead of own responsibility. There are some proverbs which represent joint responsibility in Japan. For example, “To be in the same boat.” This means to join forces with somebody and act together. Likewise, there are also some sayings which represent individual responsibility in the U.S. For example, “Every man for himself.” This means that you take care of yourself first. Compared to Japanese, Americans have more “Every man for himself” attitude. Because individualists have our own responsibility each, they have a strong mind and self-sufficiency.

Mainly speaking, although individualism seems to be selfish, it is made up of the group, the pursuit of happiness, and the responsibility. Individualism makes a society and life active more and more. One can not exist without the other, and any good society needs to implement both.