A Defence of Hyper-Individualism

Looking out for oneself and your own interests is not always bad. How often have you been told to "take care of yourself" or "be a better friend to yourself"? How can you help others if you can't even help yourself? The most important thing to remember about individualism is that, even while it can benefit you personally, you should constantly bear in mind that it does not include ignoring, harming, or disadvantageing others in the process. You can be an individualist, but it does not make it okay to act immorally or selfishly.

I would contend that because people were acting in their own interests without thinking about how their actions would affect others, hyper-individualism has become more and more prevalent in our society and has resulted in people being taken advantage of, scammed, lied to, or treated unfairly. If I had to define what differentiates hyper-individualism from individualism, I would say that in the former, you are only concerned with yourself without regard for others, or you are concerned with yourself even if it may have a negative impact on other people.

I would contend that because people were acting in their own interests without thinking about how their actions would affect others, hyper-individualism has become more and more prevalent in our society and has resulted in people being taken advantage of, scammed, lied to, or treated unfairly. If I had to define what differentiates hyper-individualism from individualism, I would say that in the former, you are only concerned with yourself without regard for others, or you are concerned with yourself even if it may have a negative impact on other people.

I would contend that because people were acting in their own interests without thinking about how their actions would affect others, hyper-individualism has become more and more prevalent in our society and has resulted in people being taken advantage of, scammed, lied to, or treated unfairly. If I had to define what differentiates hyper-individualism from individualism, I would say that in the former, you are only concerned with yourself without regard for others, or you are concerned with yourself even if it may have a negative impact on other people.

The same might be said about cleaning, caring for livestock, cooking, creating shelter, etc.

Individualism is a powerful force, frequently working for the better, when we express ourselves through what we do best and how we can meaningfully contribute to a broader group, community, or society. When you only think about yourself and don't share with anybody else or offer a helping hand with your skills and talents, that is where hyper-individualism goes awry. Hyper individualistic behaviour is built on hoarding and greed, which is bad, but the unsettling thing to keep in mind is that our current culture seems to be encouraging it more and more.

Do the marketing and advertising messages you frequently encounter serve your needs or the requirements of a larger audience? This kind of behaviour frequently results in hyper-individualism when society is basically pushing you to continuously be pursuing the money, the vehicles, the clothes, and the opulent mansions. Sadly, we rarely hear about how we might volunteer to utilise our resources for a common good or endeavour or how we can use our expertise to help others. It is our responsibility to thwart too individualistic behaviour as much as we can.

Although hyper-individualism may initially make a person feel wonderful, it soon wears off, especially if they are not making any significant contributions to society as a whole. Yes, you were able to get a wonderful automobile, a fancy television, and a pricey home, but is it all there is to your life? While it's certainly fantastic for you and your own skills and abilities. Maybe that's good enough for some of us, but in my opinion, we feel the happiest and most pleased when we not only use our talents to benefit others but also the world in some way.

Individualistic civilizations and more communally oriented societies can both be prosperous, content, and creative; yet, if individualism or communism are taken to extremes, societies frequently crater in on themselves and lose their ability to operate well. I like to believe that the best societies in the world are those that value, foster, and encourage individual talent while also using that talent to improve society. These societies also make sure that success, in addition to being rewarded financially or in other ways, is meant to give others a hand up so they can achieve success and pursue their own unique dreams and goals.

I like to think of hyper-individualism as being like being in a rowboat with six other people and having to row as a group to get to shore. When five people are rowing in unison and the boat is starting to approach the beach more quickly, issues may start to appear. However, if that sixth person decides to row back out to sea or does not row at all because they do not want to, all six people will suffer as a result of that one person's hyper-individualism.

Imagine that six-person rowboat as a society of a million or a billion people. The issues even a few people can create would badly impact everyone in that boat or in the society if one or a few people were to "row" against the others and hurt the entire society as a result. Let's keep in mind that while achieving individual success, fortune, and status is admirable, it is not everything in life, and that we are evaluated not only on the basis of our personal merits but also on the basis of our character and our values in society.