Is Radical Individualism Destroying the West?

Is Radical Individualism Destroying the West?

Individualism is a core value to western civilization—and rightfully so. Individualism inspires discovery, unleashes creativity, and cultivates liberty. On a political level, individualism thwarts authoritarian government through the unbridled allowance of free thinking. With the freedom to think, man decides what measures of power are acceptable, and what powers infringe on individual liberty—particularly in the context of government overreach. It is the top adversary to communism, which inevitably turns to fascism. It places emphasis on the rights of individuals and forces governing bodies to integrate policy that enriches the lives of their constituents…a poetic balance of elected representation endorsing values and legislation that leads to the prosperity of the populous. But can individualism go too far?

For quite some time, individualism has been at war with collectivism. Conflict between the two ideologies quite literally manifested into a physical divide in Europe in the 1940s. The Berlin Wall was constructed to divide collectivist ideologies of Eastern Europe and the individualist ideologies of Western Europe. The construction of the wall in 1961 followed a philosophical divide which, in 1946, Winston Churchill referred to as the “iron curtain” in his Sinews of Peace speech. The wall stood between two very different ideological and political systems: communism reigned in the east and capitalist democracy ruled in the west.

Between the two, individualism reigned supreme in economic outcome and individual liberties such as free speech and freedom of religion. For 28 years, that wall stood between capitalism and communism; freedom and restriction—it divided families and friends, all in the name of power and control. During that time, radical individualism was not only desirable—it was necessary. In the face of adversity, nations were forced to take a strong stance. Ultimately, the people fared over the state. A necessary struggle that continued to shape the individual-focused western civilization that we know today.

However, the key to successful unbridled liberty amongst the people can only be achieved through a bridled government. As western culture shifted toward a secularist view of the world, the values put forth by elected representatives began to change. Worth noting, the shift seems to have originated in parts of Europe, which also happened to be the location of the Age of Enlightenment—a movement most of us; maybe not at the time; would consider a secular revolution. This period placed emphasis on science, human reason, politics, art, and philosophy…not so much on religion. It’s, quite possibly, our first modern example of critical theory and deconstructionism.

When tethered by God, the components of the Enlightenment are useful; and so, we saw explosive innovation make its way through the west. However, it would only be a matter of time before the erosion of a Godly faith would make itself apparent in the culture. When individuals are tethered by a higher power, their selfishness has bounds. When the culture undermines the existence of a higher power, man’s selfishness has no limits; he is not bound by the law, because what is morality without God? And what is law without morality? Man made. Corruptible. Fragile. Finite.