Collectivism vs. Individualism

10/24/2009.

Collectivism is the philosophy and mentality of groups. Individualism is not. Collectivism is the caring for the welfare and interests of the group. Individualism is only caring for the interests and welfare of the individual.

Collectivism are like dogs, individualism is like cats.

Dogs and wolves have been observed to have a pack mentality. That is, any individual canine hunts meat for the group.

Cats have not been observed to have a pack mentality. Each cat hunts food for their own. They are individualists.

When an enemy attacks a canine, other canines of that pack will fight to defend. Cats however, do not have.

Should I bother stating the obvious exceptions? The only exception to cats only hunting for their own is mother cats hunting for their young.

When canines defend others in their group or care for the others, that is a form of altruism. Cats have no such altruism. Altruism is possible in collectivism, there is no such altruism in individualism. Altruism is not possible in individualism.

Collectivism is certainly more useful in humans than individualism. An example is social proof.

As for law and politics, what is more prevalent or useful - an individual fighting to get something accomplished or changed, or a group of people fighting to get something accomplished or changed?