The individual occupies the central place, he is different from the socio-cultural group. His personal identity comes before that of the group. But how can he be different and distinguish himself from the multitude? What are the differences between individuality and individualism?
Individuality requires distinguishing oneself from the group without comparing oneself to it. It is the path of the soul unique to each and yet present in all, it is the intimate and yet universal path.
Individualism involves separating oneself from the group while comparing oneself to it. It is the highway of the system, life along the mainstream, the path already marked and freewheeling in the middle of the majority flow.
Individuality is the high me, also called the Self. He cannot compare himself to his environment and his peers because he lives according to himself. He fully belongs to himself because he lives from his inner center.
Individualism is the little me, also called the ego. He lives according to the world, a simple reflection of his environment, an interchangeable and standardized product of his time. He does not belong to himself because he lives from outside himself.
Individuality is being unique. He internalized himself and then externalized his unique deep nature. He freed himself from his conditioning and from himself.
Individualism is being similar. It remains externalized and reflects the environment that shaped it. He is a prisoner of his conditioning, his addictions and himself.
individuality is dictated by singularity. Individualism is dictated by passions.
Individuality is the result of a spiritual journey where the being is distinguished from the group, he is no longer for or against, but simply himself.
Individualism is a sociological phenomenon, the triumph of egoism. The being reacts towards the group, he is against it. But this posture is a reaction, depending on society. In the West, individualism begins with the emergence of the bourgeoisie. It continues with other sociological trends, including individualist anarchism. It is the search for privileges and differences, the exclusive capture of resources, political struggle.
Individuality sanctifies the equality of all individuals. There is no such thing as superiority or exclusivity. The individual is freed from the group, but there is the possibility of cooperation and solidarity. Exchanges take place at the same level. Freedom and cohesion exist mutually. It is a circular organization of society.
Individualism supposes a form of separation, in a logic of superiority and superior rights, a hierarchy of predation. The exchanges are one-way, from the supposedly inferior being to the individualist. It is a pyramid-shaped company organization.
The 2 separated themselves from the group: individuality is the result of a personalization of thought. Individualism is the result of a sense of privilege and selfishness.