In this dissertation I retrace the notion of social individuality in early German liberal thought to respond to the ongoing criticism of liberal individuality as being at its foundation anti-social and atomistic. I concentrate on the exposition of this concept in the works of Wilhelm von Humboldt and Friedrich Schleiermacher at the turn of the 18th to 19th century, who I argue presented the clearest defense of individuality understood as interdependent uniqueness. Analyzing their relevant academic writings, speeches, sermons, letters, diary entries as well as political reports, I situate their conceptualization of social individuality within their wider thought, and examine what social institutions and practices as well as political consequences derive from understanding individuality as inherently social.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:columbia.edu/oai:academiccommons.columbia.edu:10.7916/d8-psg6-vh36 |
| Date | January 2020 |
| Creators | Papcke, Luise |
| Source Sets | Columbia University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Theses |
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