Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

E. H. WOLGAST’S CRITIQUE OF INDIVIDUALISM AS SOCIAL ATOMISM

Year 2022, Issue: 33, 95 - 110, 21.05.2022
https://doi.org/10.53844/flsf.1069261

Abstract

Individualism is an important philosophical idea that determines and shapes the modern political philosophy, and especially liberalism as a political theory. In the context of political thought, individualism gives priority to the individual over society and state. This priority results in the idea that each individual has inviolable rights and these rights must be protected by laws. The aim of this paper was to illuminate Wolgast’s critique of individualism. Wolgast gave a systematic critique of individualism in her work. Her critique was based on the conception of social atomism. Before analyzing her critique, in Section 1, the basic definition and explanation of individualism will briefly be given. Then, this concept will be elucidated in the realm of political philosophy. In Section 2, the conception of social atomism will be explicated. According to Wolgast, social atomism justifies and characterizes individualism as a political thought. In Section 3, Wolgast’s critique of individualism will be explicated in the context of social atomism. In doing so, focus will be placed on her critique of individual rights, which is at the center of individualism as political thought for her. Section 4 presents an evaluation and critique of Wolgast’ s ideas on individualism.

References

  • Alzate, Elizabeth B. “From Individual to Citizen: Enhancing the Bonds of Citizenship Through Religion in Locke’s Political Theory”, Polity, 46: 2, (2014): 211-232.
  • Bird, Colin. The Myth of Liberal Individualism. London: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
  • Clapham, Andrew. Human Rights, A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • Cohen, G. A. Lectures on the History of Moral and Political Philosophy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2014.
  • Goodheart, Eugene, Individualism versus Equality, Salmagundi- No: 172, (2012), 142-157.
  • Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. (Edited by J. C. A. Gaskin). New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  • Lewis, James R. and Skutsch, Carl. The Human Rights Encyclopedia. New York: M. E. Sharpe Press, 2001.
  • Locke, John. Two Treaties of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration. London: Yale University Press, 2003.
  • Machan, Tibor R. Classical Individualism. New York: Routledge Press, 1998.
  • Minogue, Kenneth. Individualism and Its Contemporary Fate, The Independent Review, 17: 2, (2012): 257-269.
  • Scruton, Roger. Dictionary of Political Thought. New York: Pallgrave Macmillian Press, 2007.
  • Solomon, Robert C. A Passion for Justice: Emotions and the Origins of Social Contract. London: Rowman & Littlefield Publisher, 1995.
  • Whyte, Lancelot Law. Essay on Atomism. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 1961.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Innocence, Philosophy, 68:265, (1993), 297-307.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Intolerable Wrong and Punishment, Philosophy- 60:232, (1985), 161-174.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, The Demands of Public Reason, Colombia Law Review- 94:6, (1994), 1936-1949.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Wrong Rights, Hypatia- 2:1, (1987), 25-43.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H. The Grammar of Justice. London: Cornell University Press, 1987.

E. H. WOLGAST’IN SOSYAL ATOMİZM OLARAK BİREYCİLİK ELEŞTİRİSİ

Year 2022, Issue: 33, 95 - 110, 21.05.2022
https://doi.org/10.53844/flsf.1069261

Abstract

Bireycilik, modern siyaset felsefesini ve özellikle de politik bir düşünce olarak liberalizmi belirleyen ve şekillendiren önemli bir felsefi düşüncedir. Politik düşünce bağlamında, bireycilik devlet karşısında bireye öncelik verir. Her bir birey çiğnenemez haklara sahiptir ve bu haklar yasalarca korunmalıdır düşüncesi bu önceliğin sonucudur. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Wolgast’ın bireyciliğe yönelik eleştirilerini aydınlatmak olacaktır. O kendi eserlerinde bireyciliğe dönük sistematik bir eleştiri yapmıştır. Onun eleştirisi sosyal atomizm kavramına dayanır. Onun eleştirilerine geçmeden önce, birinci bölümde bireyciliğin tanımını verilip kavram kısaca analiz edilecektir. Sonrasında bireyciliğin siyaset felsefesindeki yerini açıklanacaktır. İkinci bölümde, sosyal atomizm kavramı izah edilecektir. Wolgast’a göre sosyal atomizm, liberal siyaset felsefesinin en önemli düşüncesi olarak bireyciliği gerekçelendiren ve karakterize eden ana fikirdir. Üçüncü bölümde, Wolgast’ın sosyal atomizm bağlamında bireyciliğe yönelttiği eleştirileri ele alınacaktır. Bunu yaparken Wolgast’ın politik bir düşünce olarak bireyciliğin merkezinde olduğunu düşündüğü bireysel haklar üzerine olan eleştirilerine odaklanılıp bu eleştirilere yer verilecektir. Sonuç olarak dördüncü bölümde Wolgast’ın bireyciliğe yönelik eleştirileri üzerine değerlendirmelere ve eleştirilere yer verilecektir.

References

  • Alzate, Elizabeth B. “From Individual to Citizen: Enhancing the Bonds of Citizenship Through Religion in Locke’s Political Theory”, Polity, 46: 2, (2014): 211-232.
  • Bird, Colin. The Myth of Liberal Individualism. London: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
  • Clapham, Andrew. Human Rights, A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007.
  • Cohen, G. A. Lectures on the History of Moral and Political Philosophy. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2014.
  • Goodheart, Eugene, Individualism versus Equality, Salmagundi- No: 172, (2012), 142-157.
  • Hobbes, Thomas. Leviathan. (Edited by J. C. A. Gaskin). New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
  • Lewis, James R. and Skutsch, Carl. The Human Rights Encyclopedia. New York: M. E. Sharpe Press, 2001.
  • Locke, John. Two Treaties of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration. London: Yale University Press, 2003.
  • Machan, Tibor R. Classical Individualism. New York: Routledge Press, 1998.
  • Minogue, Kenneth. Individualism and Its Contemporary Fate, The Independent Review, 17: 2, (2012): 257-269.
  • Scruton, Roger. Dictionary of Political Thought. New York: Pallgrave Macmillian Press, 2007.
  • Solomon, Robert C. A Passion for Justice: Emotions and the Origins of Social Contract. London: Rowman & Littlefield Publisher, 1995.
  • Whyte, Lancelot Law. Essay on Atomism. Middletown: Wesleyan University Press, 1961.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Innocence, Philosophy, 68:265, (1993), 297-307.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Intolerable Wrong and Punishment, Philosophy- 60:232, (1985), 161-174.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, The Demands of Public Reason, Colombia Law Review- 94:6, (1994), 1936-1949.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H, Wrong Rights, Hypatia- 2:1, (1987), 25-43.
  • Wolgast, Elizabeth H. The Grammar of Justice. London: Cornell University Press, 1987.
There are 18 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Philosophy
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Umut Dağ 0000-0002-2576-2146

Publication Date May 21, 2022
Submission Date February 7, 2022
Acceptance Date March 21, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Issue: 33

Cite

Chicago Dağ, Umut. “E. H. WOLGAST’S CRITIQUE OF INDIVIDUALISM AS SOCIAL ATOMISM”. FLSF Felsefe Ve Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, no. 33 (May 2022): 95-110. https://doi.org/10.53844/flsf.1069261.

Starting from 2024, our journal will be published in 3 issues as two regular and one special issues. These issues will be published In May (regular issue), September (special issue) and December (regular issue).

Acceptance of articles for our special issue and our regular issue in December will begin on March 15.

Only articles within the scope of the file will be included in our special issue. 

Thank you for your attention.