Unit 2.3 Values of Individualism and Liberalism

Big Ideas:

• Appreciate various perspectives regarding identity and ideology.
• Examine individualism as a key value of ideology.
• Examine the relationship between individualism and common good in contemporary societies.

The common good refers to what is beneficial for the majority of the people in a group. In other words, it is putting the needs of the collective group above the self-interest of the individual. Access to the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter are generally considered good for everyone. One could also add concepts such as universal human rights and equality to the definition of common good.

For example, Canada has the Canada Health Act that provides universal health care to all Canadians. No matter how much money one makes in Canada, everyone gets equal access to health care. Explore this Health Canada website to see how Canadians benefit from a universal health care system.

As well, Canada has other social programs that benefit the common good such as Employment Insurance (EI) that helps provide an income for those who lose their jobs because of things such as poor economic conditions. Explore this Services Canada website to understand how EI tries provides for the common good of all Canadians.

However, what is "good" for everybody is open to interpretation.

Who decides what is good for everybody? A person's beliefs and values usually have large roles in deciding what the common good should be. For example, Person A may believe that everyone in society should have cheap and equal access to the basic necessities. Meanwhile, Person B might believe that if you can afford to pay for basic necessities then they're yours—if you can't pay, then they're not for you.

In the end, what the common good is for a society is usually decided by one of the following:

• The Majority–the largest group of like-minded people in a society decide together

• The Minority–a powerful small group that makes decisions for everyone

• The Individual–a powerful individual that makes decisions for everyone

• a belief in the value of the collective, or group, above the individual

• That is, the group is more important than the individual.

• By addressing the needs of the collective good rather than individual needs, the common good is taken care of.

• a belief in the value of the individual above the group

• That is, the individual is more important than the group.

• By addressing the needs of the individual, the common good is taken care of at the same time.

Remember the spectrum illustrating where the ideologies of individualism and collectivism are placed?

Notice that collectivism is on the left side or "wing" of the spectrum and individualism is shown on the right side or "wing".

Collectivism

People who believe in collectivism are usually referred to as being on the left or having left-wing values.

The more to the left one moves, the stronger one believes in the values of collectivism or the more "left-wing" one is.

People who believe in individualism are referred to as being on the right or having right-wing values.

The more to the right one moves, the stronger one believes in the values of individualism or the more "right wing" one is.

People who have a moderate view or a belief that occupies the middle ground of the spectrum are referred to as being in the centre. These people may have views that involve some values from both individualism and collectivism, but they do not believe strongly in only one or the other.