Individualism: A Reader

by George H. Smith (Editor), Marilyn Moore (Editor)

Overview

Individualism is one of the most criticized and least understood ideas in social and political thought. Is Individualism the ability ot act independently amidst a web of social forces? A vital element of personal liberty and a shield against conformity? Does it lead to or away from unifying individuals with communities?

Individualism: A Reader provides a wealth of illuminating essays from the 17th to the early 20th centuries. In 26 selections from 25 writers, individualism is explained and defended, often from unusual perspectives. This anthology includes not only selections from well-known writers, but also many lesser-known pieces-reprinted here for the first time-by philosophers, social theorists, and economists who have been overlooked in standard accounts of individualism.

Both richly historical and sharply contemporary, Individualism: A Reader provides a multitude of perspectives and insights on personal liberty and the history of freedom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781939709646
Publisher:	Libertarianism.org Press
Publication date:	04/07/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	250
File size:	398 KB

About the Author

George H. Smith writes a weekly column for Libertarianism.org. His fourth book, The System of Liberty: Themes in the History of Classical Liberalism, was published in 2013 by Cambridge University Press.
Marilyn Moore holds a PhD in English literature. She is an adjunct professor of English and rhetoric at Triton College (Illinois) and also works as a freelance editor.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

Part I Individuality 27

1 Wilhelm von Humboldt, "Of the Individual Man, and the Highest Ends of His Existence" 29

2 John Stuart Mill, "Of Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-Being" 37

3 Oscar Wilde, from The Soul of Man Under Socialism 61

4 Michel de Montaigne, "Of Preparation" 64

Part II Social Individualism 69

5 J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, from "What Is an American?" 71

6 St. Augustine of Hippo, from The City of God 73

7 Nathaniel Niles, from Two Discourses on Liberty 75

8 Voltairine de Cleyre, from "The Dominant Idea" 77

9 Mary Wollstonecraft, from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman 80

10 Moses Harm an, "Marriage of Lillian Harman and Edwin C. Walker" 87

Part III Moral Individualism 95

11 Richard Overton, An Arrow Against All Tyrants 97

12 Peter Annet, from Social Bliss Considered 102

13 Lysander Spooner, from "Vices Are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty" 107

14 Henry Wilson, "Archbishop Temple on Betting" 112

15 Francis Dashwood Tandy, from Voluntary Socialism 114

16 Josiah Warren, from True Civilization 125

17 Thomas Hodgskin, from The Natural and Artificial Right of Property Contrasted 135

Part IV Political Individualism 141

18 William Wollaston, from The Religion of Nature Delineated 143

19 Angelina E. Grimke, from Letters to Catherine E. Beecher 152

20 Auberon Herbert, from The Voluntaryist Creed 155

Part V Religious Individualism 173

21 Elisha Williams, from The Essential Rights and Liberties of Protestants 175

22 George Jacob Holyoake, from "Free Thought-Its Conditions, Agreements, and Secular Results" 177

23 Robert G. Ingersoll, from "Individuality" 183

Part VI Economic Individualism 189

24 Henry Wilson, A Catechism of Individualism 191

25 Antoine Destutt de Tracy, from A Treatise on Political Economy 220

26 H. M. Robertson, from Aspects of the Rise of Economic Individualism 222

Recommended Reading 225

Index 227