Jean Jacques Rousseau's Theory Of Individualism

Throughout time there has been a fundamental conflict between collectivist values and individualist values that have set the basis of how societies around the world operate today and how they will operate in the future. In Aristotle’s quote he states how “Man is a goal-seeking animal” and how if he attempts to achieve these goals then only then will his life “have meaning”. His idea of how “man” can bear resemblance to an “animal” can be compared with Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ideology of how men are savages and must improve themselves. It is evident that his quote is embracing individualist ideologies that can be closely related to the idea of existentialism, which is founded on the principles of giving meaning to life. Those who support these

ideologies would be more right-wing along the political spectrum such as anarchists, classical liberals, and conservatives. Individualistic ideologies have originated from the principles of private property, rule of law, individual rights and freedoms, competition, economic freedom, and self-interest.

Some people may believe that a society should have goals directed towards the principles of collectivism rather than those of individualism, where private property, collective responsibility, collective interests, adherence to collective norms, cooperation, and economic control are the principles that goals must be directed to. People who value collectivist ideologies may believe that goals focused on collective interest must be prioritized, if each individual were to achieve the goals of the community then society would benefit as a whole. Another example of collectivist goals could be public property, if corporations or small individual businesses were to partner with the government than the economy would improve. The last example of collectivist ideologies could be the idea of cooperation and economic control in the marketplace, where if each corporation were to cooperate with each other than all the hatred of rival companies would be abolished and society could live in a peaceful and wealthy state. An individualist would argue that an individual’s goals should be concentrated on before concentrating on those of the

state. One would believe that self-interest could benefit society, where people generate their own wealth for their own interest and it would serve the collective good. An individualist may also believe that private businesses are more efficient than those partnered with the government because the government can hold corporations back from their true potential. Another example of an individual’s ideology is the idea of competition and economic freedom; they would believe that if the marketplace were to have a competitive setting and people were free to sell what they want to whomever they want that the company’s true aptitude can be revealed. After considering opposing sides of this value conflict and the source, it is apparent that we should embrace the Aristotle’s ideas pertaining to individualist ideologies.
Goals directed towards self-interest are fundamental to an individual’s worldview.

The idea of generating wealth for your own or your family’s interests can be traced back to Adam Smith’s ideology of the baker, which essentially states that an individual does not produce goods for your purpose but for their own which then is beneficial to your interests. Copious individuals and corporations within our society have generated wealth by producing goods and services, but those who have great prosperity have established foundations that are beneficial to the collective good. These affluent corporations began based on the founder’s own self-interest-which was most likely to become rich and purchase whatever they desired- but afterwards benefiting the common good. An example of a foundation that benefits the community would be the Ford Foundation, which is directed towards advancing human welfare and taking their own profits from the automobile industry and donating it to organizations with the common goal of reducing poverty. The Ford Foundation is amongst the top five most charitable foundations in the world with a total benefaction of $11.2 billion. Another example of a foundation founded on self-interests would be the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is essentially engaged on providing education and knowledge about technology. This foundation is founded by Bill Gates, the wealthiest man in the world, from his own self-interests he has turned a once small business into a

massive corporation and has benefited the world with a total endowment of 42 billion, making it the most charitable foundation in the world. These businesses were created by “goal-seeking” men who strived and reached out for their goals later accomplishing them and assisting society as a whole.
Private business and property is a key principle in an individual’s values. Private businesses are those not owned by the government, when there is no affiliation with government a business can truly strive and reach their potential. Oftentimes government can hold organizations back with their strict policies not allowing genuine ideas and theories to surface, which overall conceals their potential to become prosperous. The government holds businesses back where in times of economic turmoil it can drag its partnered industries down and ultimately create a recession. An example of this would be Alberta’s oil industry, this year we have reached a recession where our GDP has fallen two successive quarters. Oil companies have overproduced and overall there is too much supply, due to strict government policies, businesses are unable to solve these economic problems and royalty confusion has developed. Government involvement has dragged down our oil industry and has created a hiring freeze, outsourcing, and numerous layoffs, Alberta’s debt has risen from its average of approximately $21,164 to $27, 313. When controlled by the government than we are not as efficient and cautious about our spending and resources because the government is in charge of them, therefore public businesses can often overproduce which creates a recession and ultimately affects the private companies as well. Another example of the benefits of private businesses would be the private health care system, within the United States of America there are private healthcare systems, in the documentary “Sicko”, Michael Moore ultimately discusses the disadvantages of the private healthcare system, but he fails to discuss the disadvantages of public healthcare. Disadvantages include raised taxes for other citizens who may not need healthcare, there is no competition between health care companies therefore they cannot give the best service because government involvement restricts them from doing so. Ultimately the government prevents us from “goal-seeking”, we are restricted by their involvement.
The final example of individual beliefs would be through competition, we cannot meet our full potential if we do not have competition. Coca cola and Pepsi are example of companies that benefit with competition; they are influenced to create better products when in competition and ultimately it benefits society. Another example would be with Apple and Microsoft, where new innovative ideas such as the Apple Watch can be created to meet consumers desires which overall improves the economy. The final example could be with online retailers, such as Amazon and EBay, where they compete for the most comfortable and convenient way for consumers to buy products online, ranging from online bidding to the quickest shipping and easiest payment. Goals that corporations have are mostly directed to competing with rival companies, and those who benefit the most are society. When corporations make goals based on self-interest then our economy can be improved due to rival companies and the desire to succeed.
Overall when individuals prioritize their goals above those of the community it can later benefit society as a whole and go towards the collective good. When individuals seek goals towards self-interest, private property, and competition and economic freedom then society can prosper and ultimately benefit. Individuals should prioritize their goals above the goals of the community, only then can we live in a genuine state of existentialism where our lives have “meaning”.