Individualism is a quintessential American value, manifesting in emphases on hard work and economic independence. But there is another key aspect to individualism: moral autonomy, which must be understood in the context of an individual's relationship to authority.
The Politics of Individualism emphasizes the importance of moral autonomy by examining the relationship between autonomy, the self, and institutions. Political scientists Christopher F. Karpowitz and Kelly D. Patterson examine the conceptual dimensions of individualism, introduce a new empirical measure they call "moral individualism," and evaluate its relationship to civic life. Their analysis shows that people who score highly on the moral individualism scale are less likely to commit to public goods and to engage in collective efforts to alleviate common problems--like a pandemic. In light of this finding, Karpowitz and Patterson assess the danger that moral individualism may pose to the maintenance of democratic institutions and the common goals and beliefs that help bind a nation together.
The Politics of Individualism demonstrates how individualist attitudes drastically reduce the possibility that people will defer to the decisions and practices of civic and political institutions, therefore threatening the stability of democratic society. Modern American justifications for individual decisions are often rooted in skepticism toward authority and the influence of social institutions. Examining this "moral" dimension of individualism, political scientists Christopher F. Karpowitz and Kelly D. Patterson argue that attachment to this form of the individualist attitude poses significant risks to the maintenance of democratic practices and institutions.
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