Individual uniqueness as a value denies equality rather than grounds it

Evidence

The later meaning of individualism—according to which the factual reality of human nature is comprised of the uniqueness of individuals’ qualities and values, a uniqueness whose development and intensification are moral imperatives—this meaning of individualism is the denial of every kind of equality. For it seems inadmissible to me to construe equality from the fact that each individual is as special and incomparable as every other. That an individual is incomparable is hardly his own positive quality; rather, this arises only out of comparison with others, who are different only in the judgment of an observer who does not find in one person what he found in another. — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 690

Categorization

• XREF: Contrasts with the 18th-century freedom/equality combo of the prior paragraph — the two individualisms could be staged against one another when framing the blasé observer’s isolated uniqueness. — connects to: Schleiermacher made individual uniqueness itself a moral imperative — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 539; The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 650; Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 687 (+18 more)

Related

• Schleiermacher made individual uniqueness itself a moral imperative (similarity 0.91)
• True equality among people is impossible due to inescapable uniqueness (similarity 0.89)
• Individuality and universal equality historically arise as twin reactions to inequality (similarity 0.88)
• Inclusive universal claims arise from within the particular (similarity 0.88)
• Modern individuality values being this specific irreplaceable person, not mere freedom (similarity 0.87)
• Individual diversity can be conceived as a division of labor among unique beings (similarity 0.85)
• Liberated individuals turn from equality toward distinguishing themselves from others (similarity 0.84)
• The eighteenth century equated individuality with freedom and assumed natural human equality (similarity 0.84)
• Equality must govern politics even though it is technically a fiction (similarity 0.83)
• A second individualism of uniqueness replaced the quantitative one (similarity 0.82)
• No institution can fully reconcile social uniformity and individual differentiation. (similarity 0.82)
• Individualism of equality and individualism of inequality both require large social circles. (similarity 0.82)
• Foisting uniqueness on everyone is itself a cruel status demand (similarity 0.81)
• Christian eternal-soul doctrine unites extreme individualism with universal equality (similarity 0.80)
• Equality achieved becomes the platform for further competition and surpassing (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• True equality among people is impossible due to inescapable uniqueness #contradicts (0.80) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 187
• Every person is perceived as both unique individual and general type #qualifies (0.60) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 174