explain Concept of 'Individualism' to a person of yester year generation?

Answer 1

One definition is: "the concept that an individual is an end in himself", which makes more sense when contrasting with the idea of collectivism " a person deriving her/his behavior from roles obligations and expectations of the group".

Yesteryear generations are generally more collectivist, some say given the need to share resources thanks to an overall higher level of resource scarcity. This has been suggested in the positive correlation between collectivism and poverty.

A strong individualist resents the idea of not maintaining a distinct boundary between ones own goals and that of a larger group like family, nation, community or nation. The idea of "subordinating" ones goals for a family is viewed as a form of weakness. Making your life priority to keep your wife, husband, father or mother satisfied is suspect in an individualist culture (US, Australia, UK, Canada), but standard in a collectivist culture (China, India, Vietnam). There are some mild examples of collectivism in the US- mother child relationships are forgiven, somewhat, on the job and at home.

Answer 2

Individualism is a term used to describe a moral, political, or social outlook, that stresses human independence and the importance of individual self-reliance and liberty. Individualists promote the unrestricted exercise of individual goals and desires. They oppose any external interference with an individual's choices - whether by society, the state, or any other group or institution. Individualism is therefore opposed to collectivism, which stresses community and societal goals over individual goals.

Individualism has a controversial relationship with egoism (selfishness). While many individualists are egoists, they usually do not argue that selfishness is inherently good. Rather, they argue that individuals should not be constrained by any socially-imposed morality; they believe that individuals should be free to choose to be selfish (or to choose any other lifestyle) if they so desire.

Answer 3

You'd have to go back to the 17th century to find someone without this knowledge.