Individuality is not an end in itself; it is something that must enter into fructifying contact with the world, and in so doing must lose its separateness. An individuality which is kept in a glass case withers, whereas one that is freely expended in human contacts becomes enriched.
Source： Bertrand Russell: Marriage and Morals, 1929
More info.：https://russell-j.com/beginner/MM09-090.HTM
* a brief comment:
We often hear calls to “value individuality” or “respect individuality.” But what exactly is this "individuality"?
When someone stands out markedly from others, many people tend to think that person "has individuality." However, if most people possess "individuality" and there are very few who stand out, wouldn't it feel as though there are fewer people with individuality?
When I asked ChatGPT to "comment from multiple perspectives" on this topic, the following response was provided:
** ChatGPT’s Response **
Your statement is very profound and invites consideration from various perspectives. I will comment on it from several angles:
1. Perspective of Relativity
You raise the issue that "individuality is relative." That is, whether someone is evaluated as "having individuality" depends on comparisons with others. If the surroundings are filled with similar people, then individuality stands out more. Conversely, if everyone is different, the prominence of individuality becomes less noticeable. This point is also connected to modern philosophical perspectives that understand individuality as "the intensity of difference" (such as Deleuzian thought).
2. Perspective of Social Construction
There is also the view that the very concept of "individuality" is socially constructed. A person is deemed "individualistic" when society recognizes certain characteristics as individualistic. In other words, individuality is not something internal to a person, but rather a result of social recognition. Your statement carries elements that are close to this social constructionist way of thinking.
3. Perspective of Rarity
One could also think of "individuality = rarity." As you pointed out, when someone stands out, it is because their traits are rare, and thus they are seen as having individuality. However, if everyone were markedly different, the criteria for judging what is "individualistic" would become ambiguous. In other words, individuality is partly defined by its rarity.
4. Essentialist Perspective
On the other hand, there is a viewpoint that individuality is an inherent essence possessed by everyone. From this stance, individuality is not a matter of comparison or rarity but the very uniqueness each person inherently possesses. If so, the phenomenon you mention, where individuality feels lacking when there are no standout individuals, could be seen merely as an issue of society’s sensitivity, unrelated to the actual existence of individuality.
5. Perspective of Educational and Cultural Critique
Furthermore, one could adopt a critical perspective: despite calls to “value individuality,” isn’t society in fact imposing uniform norms? Your question can be interpreted as suggesting the hypocrisy of a society that superficially claims to respect individuality while actually only celebrating conspicuous forms of it.
6. Existentialist Perspective
From an existentialist standpoint, individuality can be seen as something that arises through "choosing oneself" (in the Sartrean sense). From this viewpoint, individuality is not about standing out but about choosing one's way of living and taking responsibility for that choice. Thus, judging individuality based on comparison with others may itself be a fundamental misunderstanding of its essence.
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Source： Bertrand Russell: Marriage and Morals, 1929
More info.：https://russell-j.com/beginner/MM09-090.HTM
* a brief comment:
We often hear calls to “value individuality” or “respect individuality.” But what exactly is this "individuality"?
When someone stands out markedly from others, many people tend to think that person "has individuality." However, if most people possess "individuality" and there are very few who stand out, wouldn't it feel as though there are fewer people with individuality?
When I asked ChatGPT to "comment from multiple perspectives" on this topic, the following response was provided:
** ChatGPT’s Response **
Your statement is very profound and invites consideration from various perspectives. I will comment on it from several angles:
1. Perspective of Relativity
You raise the issue that "individuality is relative." That is, whether someone is evaluated as "having individuality" depends on comparisons with others. If the surroundings are filled with similar people, then individuality stands out more. Conversely, if everyone is different, the prominence of individuality becomes less noticeable. This point is also connected to modern philosophical perspectives that understand individuality as "the intensity of difference" (such as Deleuzian thought).
2. Perspective of Social Construction
There is also the view that the very concept of "individuality" is socially constructed. A person is deemed "individualistic" when society recognizes certain characteristics as individualistic. In other words, individuality is not something internal to a person, but rather a result of social recognition. Your statement carries elements that are close to this social constructionist way of thinking.
3. Perspective of Rarity
One could also think of "individuality = rarity." As you pointed out, when someone stands out, it is because their traits are rare, and thus they are seen as having individuality. However, if everyone were markedly different, the criteria for judging what is "individualistic" would become ambiguous. In other words, individuality is partly defined by its rarity.
4. Essentialist Perspective
On the other hand, there is a viewpoint that individuality is an inherent essence possessed by everyone. From this stance, individuality is not a matter of comparison or rarity but the very uniqueness each person inherently possesses. If so, the phenomenon you mention, where individuality feels lacking when there are no standout individuals, could be seen merely as an issue of society’s sensitivity, unrelated to the actual existence of individuality.
5. Perspective of Educational and Cultural Critique
Furthermore, one could adopt a critical perspective: despite calls to “value individuality,” isn’t society in fact imposing uniform norms? Your question can be interpreted as suggesting the hypocrisy of a society that superficially claims to respect individuality while actually only celebrating conspicuous forms of it.
6. Existentialist Perspective
From an existentialist standpoint, individuality can be seen as something that arises through "choosing oneself" (in the Sartrean sense). From this viewpoint, individuality is not about standing out but about choosing one's way of living and taking responsibility for that choice. Thus, judging individuality based on comparison with others may itself be a fundamental misunderstanding of its essence.
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