Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 91-124.

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Simmel's Theory on Individuality

WANG Liping, CHAN Kato   

  1. Department of Sociology, The University of Hong Kong
  • Online:2018-11-20 Published:2018-11-20

Abstract:

This paper aims to unpack Simmel's theory of individuality that is central to his notable vitalist philosophy. Simmel's discussion on the development of individuality in German intellectual history can serve as a lead-in to trace the crucial intellectual changes from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment Period in the 18th century, and the rise of Romanticism in the 19th century and afterwards. The first intellectual change was signified by the transition from an emphasis on the uniqueness of individuals in relation to society to the dedication to individual freedom as a mission to the freedom of the entire human species. The 19th century witnessed a drastic change when capitalism had matured into a complex and impersonal mode of production where individuals became isolated from the world. The unprecedented personal freedom led to atomic individualism, essential to the understanding of Nietzsche's philosophy that once separated from an organic whole, individuals no longer had a sense of belonging to human as a species. This paper discusses extensively Nietzsche's influence on Simmel. Facing a reality where individuals are no longer part of a larger whole, Simmel was particularly interested in the source of energy that moved individuals forward. Simmel looked into various characteristics of modernity such as division of labour in capitalism, transition of artistic forms and extended sensibility of time (especially the meaning of death), and concluded with his conceptualization of individual will as a fundamental for synthesizing modern individuals. The paper concludes with a response to Max Weber and Georg Lukacs's critiques of Simmel's works. Weber shares the individualist stance with Simmel even though he critiqued Simmel's vitalist philosophy from a rationalist standpoint. Lukacs maintained a critical view of the German Idealist Tradition of Simmel's philosophy.

Key words: Vitalism, Individuality, Georg Simmel, Friedrich Nietzsche