Collectivism: Difference between revisions
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{{Quote|There is no uniform collectivist ideology, but many collectivist doctrines. Each of them extols a different collectivist entity and requests all decent people to submit to it. Each sect worships its own idol and is intolerant of all rival idols. Each ordains total subjection of the individual, each is totalitarian..|Ludwig von Mises|''[[Theory and History]]''}} | {{Quote|There is no uniform collectivist ideology, but many collectivist doctrines. Each of them extols a different collectivist entity and requests all decent people to submit to it. Each sect worships its own idol and is intolerant of all rival idols. Each ordains total subjection of the individual, each is totalitarian..|Ludwig von Mises|''[[Theory and History]]''}} | ||
Another criticism relates to the collectivist view that the interests and desires of individuals are to give way to those of the collective, but how are the interests of such an entity to be determined but by an arbitrary decision by those in power? And how can these decisions reflect the actual desires of the collective rather then being | Another criticism relates to the collectivist view that the interests and desires of individuals are to give way to those of the collective, but how are the interests of such an entity to be determined but by an arbitrary decision by those in power? And how can these decisions reflect the actual desires of the collective rather then being solely based on the values of the leaders? | ||
Revision as of 01:22, 18 October 2011
Collectivism is a philosophical position and political doctrine which holds that universals have an objective existence.[1] More specifically collectivist ideologies maintain that entities such as the state, society, or a nation have an autonomous existence apart from the individuals who compose it. Some extreme forms of collectivism even go as far as denying that individuals have an autonomous existence outside of the collective.[1] A further characteristic of collectivism is the belief that the will or interests of the collective should come before the interests of individuals.[2] Collectivism is a central characteristic of ideologies such as communism, socialism, and fascism and can be seen as the antithesis of the philosophical position of individualism.
Criticisms of collectivism
Classical liberals have been consistent opponents of the collectivist position. Ludwig von Mises being one of the most vocal opponents, points out that the philosophy of collectivism is flawed in that collectives can not be viewed as existing autonomously, but instead they can only be analyzed through examining the actions of the individuals who compose them, i.e., from a methodological individualistic point of view. A further criticism is the choice of which individuals will compose the collective is arbitrary or as Mises says:
There is no uniform collectivist ideology, but many collectivist doctrines. Each of them extols a different collectivist entity and requests all decent people to submit to it. Each sect worships its own idol and is intolerant of all rival idols. Each ordains total subjection of the individual, each is totalitarian..
Another criticism relates to the collectivist view that the interests and desires of individuals are to give way to those of the collective, but how are the interests of such an entity to be determined but by an arbitrary decision by those in power? And how can these decisions reflect the actual desires of the collective rather then being solely based on the values of the leaders?
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ludwig von Mises. 1. Methodological dualism, Introduction, Theory and History, pages 250-251.
- ↑ Ludwig von Mises. "The Ultimate Foundation of Economic Science", 1962.