3 ms·
In theory, individualism is a concept best that might best be described by the Nash Equilibrium: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_equilibrium https://en.m.w
by saycheese 10y ago
In theory, individualism is a concept best that might best be described by the Nash Equilibrium:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_equilibrium https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_equilibrium
An individual failing to account for others is just as natural as them responding to that failure to account for them.
In an idealized state, no single individual is able to change the state of the system without cooperation.
- elcapitan 10y agoI think in Karl Poppers "The Open Society And Its Enemies" I read a helpful description of indivualism and egoism. He basically says that individualism, egoism, collectivism and altruism form a 2x2 matrix. Egoism being the opposite of altruism, and individualism (caring about individuals rather than groups) being the opposite of collectivism, you get these combinations: - individual egoism (probably what most people mix up as the same) - individual altruism (altruism directed at specific people, specific problems, e.g. Jesus says "love thy neighbor", not "love the entire town" or "love thy people") - collective egoism (this is what you would see very typically in form of racism, sexism, but also the elites in communist states) - collective altruism (people forming systems to help each other, in various forms)
- jokoon 10y agoNash's equilibrium is mathematical description, it does not really describe what people perceive of themselves, of their fellow citizens and of the system as a whole. I agree that we need sound economic tools, but reducing people to numbers is what leads to inhumane treatments.