Eighteenth-century thought held races varied but humanity unified

Evidence

The elaborations that the principle or ideal of individualism has undergone in the modern era differ according to the accentuation given to the first or the second of these meanings. On the whole, the eighteenth century sought individuality in the form of freedom, the lack of every kind of restraint on personal powers, regardless whether this restraint came from the estates or from the church, whether it was political or economic. But at the same time, the assumption prevailed that once men had been freed from all sociohistorical fetters, they would show themselves to be essentially equal; that “man in general,” along with all the goodness and perfection of his nature, was inherent in every personality, needing only to be emancipated from those distorting and diverting bonds. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 650 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Modern Orientalism derives from secularizing elements in eighteenth-century European thought; The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 650; The Enlightenment laid the basis for modern ideas of race

Related

• The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality (similarity 0.88)
• Eighteenth-century rights theory assumes rights hold even for an isolated single human. (similarity 0.85)
• The eighteenth century made abstract universal humanity sacred over particular persons (similarity 0.83)
• True equality among people is impossible due to inescapable uniqueness (similarity 0.80)
• Eighteenth-century thinkers believed racial variety coexisted with human unity. (similarity 0.80)
• Liberated individuals turn from equality toward distinguishing themselves from others (similarity 0.80)
• Modern individuality values being this specific irreplaceable person, not mere freedom (similarity 0.79)
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality (similarity 0.79)
• Individual liberty has become a cosmopolitan value beyond its Western origins (similarity 0.79)
• Eighteenth-century individualism was quantitative while the romantic version was qualitative (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality #corroborates (0.85) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 650