Individual diversity can be conceived as a division of labor among unique beings

Evidence

But even if to speak of the equality of mankind in the presence of the qualitative singularity of individuals is no more than a misuse of words, the ideal of the unity of mankind is not at all incompatible with this supposition. For one can conceive of the diversity of individuals, even if it implies neither economic production nor more generally a direct cooperation of everyone, as a kind of division of labor. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 691

Categorization

• DEFINE: Simmel’s division-of-labor model of individuation: the unique individual occupies a slot no one else can fill, yet presupposes all others.
• QUESTION: How does this organismic/unity ideal of individuation map onto the urban ‘blasé’ figure whose uniqueness is instead isolating rather than complementing? The essay could press this tension.
• XREF: connects to: Breaching guild equality unleashed self-reinforcing specialization that dissolved the guild — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 598; Individualization loosens ties with the near to enable ties with the distant — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 603; Individualism of equality and individualism of inequality both require large social circles. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 652 (+13 more)

Related

• Fewer, more general marriage forms allow more individual differentiation (similarity 0.88)
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality (similarity 0.85)
• Individual uniqueness as a value denies equality rather than grounds it (similarity 0.85)
• Individualism of equality and individualism of inequality both require large social circles. (similarity 0.85)
• True equality among people is impossible due to inescapable uniqueness (similarity 0.83)
• Society, through the division of labour, produces more than the sum of its parts. (similarity 0.82)
• Breaching guild equality unleashed self-reinforcing specialization that dissolved the guild (similarity 0.82)
• No institution can fully reconcile social uniformity and individual differentiation. (similarity 0.81)
• Each person is a fragment even of their own singular type (similarity 0.81)
• Social types can embody an all-dominating orientation to the world (similarity 0.80)
• Schleiermacher made individual uniqueness itself a moral imperative (similarity 0.80)
• Rising individuality necessarily yields belief in mankind’s ideal unity (similarity 0.80)
• Simmel saw cultural evolution producing diverse incommensurable worlds, not unified humanity (similarity 0.80)
• The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality (similarity 0.80)
• Modern individuality values being this specific irreplaceable person, not mere freedom (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Individuality emerges from the layering and clash of overlapping social types #corroborates (0.60) — Janet Burroway; Elizabeth Stuckey-French; Ned Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition, 284
• Every person is perceived as both unique individual and general type #corroborates (0.50) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 174
• Individual uniqueness as a value denies equality rather than grounds it #complicates (0.40) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 690
• True equality among people is impossible due to inescapable uniqueness #complicates (0.35) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 187