Individuality over identity: individual freedom and responsibility within social identity

ABSTRACT

Identity can be understood as the process in which people feel at home inside a class, which is defined by symbolic borders that distinguish some people from others. There are a number of sources of identity, but most relate to belonging to a group. Identities are often based on opposition against different values and life visions: anticommunists vs. antifascists, pro-life vs. abortion, traditional family vs. homo-affective relationships, etc. Moreover, there are identities based on the dimensions of race, gender, class, and religion that often oppose other people. In any of these cases, there are individuals that share a common condition and are, thus, similar and identify with one another and with the group. Political and ethical evolution, globalisation, and technology have enhanced individual freedom to a point that makes it possible for some ascribed identities to be denied in favour of others. Although the consideration of groups of people might eventually enhance the freedom of individuals, identity is also a source of violence. The ultimate individual freedom seems to be the freedom to understand ourselves as unique individuals who might think, feel, and act differently than the group to which we otherwise belong.

KEYWORDS:

• Freedom
• individuality
• social identity
• development
• fundamental rights

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) en Finance Code 001; by the Fundação Araucária de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Estado do Paraná; and by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – Chamada Universal, all from Brazil; CNPq.

Notes on contributors

André Folloni

André Folloni, Full professor and Law School Dean of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Brazil (PUCPR). Holds a PhD Degree in Law from the Universidade Federal do Paraná. Professor and was a researcher in the Master and Doctoral Program in Law of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR). He is a member and former vice-president of the World Complexity Science Academy and a member of the Human Development and Capability Association.