2.4 What is the Common Good

The Appearance of Individualism Gives Rise to Liberalism


As you have seen in Unit 1, the beliefs and values that people and society have determine what ideology develops. In Canada today, we have rights and freedoms based on political, economic, and social values that many people living in other countries can only dream of. There was a time when few people and countries around the world had the benefits of the rights and freedoms that we experience today.

Do you ever dream of your future? Imagine a world where you could only dream of having the ability to decide where you would live, who you would live with, or what kind of job you could have. What would it be like if, no matter how hard you worked, you could never get wealthier or live a better life than your ancestors? Could you imagine living in a country where the people in power had their own army or police force that could take your money, force you to serve in their army, or arrest you without just cause? This was what life was like for the majority of people living during feudal times in Europe.



The ideas formed during the Enlightenment by European philosophers allowed people to question the absolute monarchies of the traditional feudal systems that existed in Europe. The thought of having political, economic, and social freedoms motivated people to demand changes to societies based on individualism, which gave rise to the ideology of liberalism.

Ideological changes and events throughout European history have shaped the development of individualism and liberalism.


Read "Emergence of Individualism in Europe" and "The Rise of Liberalism" on pages 45-47 in your textbook, Understandings of Ideologies. These pages will further your understanding of the concepts of individualism and liberalism.

You should make notes, either on paper or on your computer, about what you have read. You may want to read the tutorial How to Make Notes. When you are finished the tutorial, return here to continue this unit.

Key Values of Individualism and Liberalism



The beliefs and values that form the basis of individualism and liberalism have given rise to several of the world's ideologies. These ideologies, whether political, economic, or social, focus on individual values and what is good for the individual. Individualism focuses on "you" the individual and your role in society.

Those who claim that individuals should be concerned primarily with satisfying their own self-interest express a belief in individualism. Individualists also emphasize the notion that they should act on their own to accomplish their goals. Individualists also believe that society's welfare, also known as the common good, is provided for when individuals take on the responsibility of caring for themselves. For example, when people are self-reliant by providing themselves with the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter, they are not just acting in their own self-interest. They are acting in the best interests of the common good as well.

This diagram illustrates the point of individualism working for both the individual and the common good:





 

Because individualists stress the importance of self-reliance, they expect the government to have a limited role in society. The government should get involved in society only for the following:

  • Security–Individuals should be kept safe through law enforcement by the police, and there should be a military to keep people safe from external threats (attacks from other countries).

  • Protection of Rights and Freedoms–Individual rights and freedoms, including private property, should be protected and guaranteed by the government.

What are the values of individualism? The key values of individualism and liberalism are emphasized in the following diagram.