Second colloquium: Overcoming individualism

The second colloquium consists of six sessions, which were held between August and November 2021. The six sessions are dedicated to the topic of overcoming individualism in its various guises in our conception of human nature. Here is a brief description of the overall topic these sessions address:

Humanity is in the midst of a tumultuous age of transition which can be likened to adolescence. Our former conditions and needs are being superseded by new requirements. New powers and capacities are emerging, and we are experiencing a rise in awareness. One might say that a new sense of individuality is gradually taking shape. Over the past couple of centuries, this rise in awareness has been directed towards various ends, not all of which have been conducive to individual and collective well-being. When individuals become mired in self-interest, and the structures of society come to reflect individualistic assumptions, a great deal of suffering ensues. This kind of unfettered individualism manifests itself in a variety of arenas, including the economic realm, the social and political world, our inner lives, and interactions with nature. The solution to this is not, of course, the imposition of a suffocating collectivism. Rather, we need to re-examine our very conception of the nature of the individual human being, and strive to better understand the relationships that should exist between, on the one hand, the individual, and on the other, the community, its institutions, society at large, and the natural environment. This colloquium is dedicated to an exploration of the work of scholars that have examined the nature of the individual and some of these essential relationships with the aim of overcoming certain aspects of modern individualism. Together, we hope to better appreciate some of the more subtle ways in which individualism can distort our conception of human nature, as well as examine some ideas and pathways of thinking that can help us contribute to discourse on this topic.

The first session examines the topic of individualism generally from a historical perspective, serving as an introduction to the colloquium. The second explores how individualism shapes human behaviour in the realm of economic activity as well as the conception of human nature in the discipline of economics. The third and fourth sessions are dedicated to investigating different dimensions of political theory and practice that manifest individualism. The fifth session traces the presence of individualism in the arts and media. Finally, the sixth session considers the relationship between individualism and nature/the environment.

Session One: Introduction

In this introductory session, the topic of individualism and human nature is examined from a historical perspective. Some of the content of this session comes from Journal of Bahá’í Studies’ articles written by Todd Smith as well as from an upcoming article coauthored with Omid Ghaemmaghami.

Session Two: Individualism in economics and economic activity

In this second session, the three panelists discuss the way individualism shapes human behaviour in the realm of economic activity as well as the conception of human nature in the discipline of economics.

Session Three: Political life and individualism I

The third session is dedicated to exploring manifestations of individualism in political theory and practice in the context of general models of society.

Session Four: Political life and individualism II

The fourth session is dedicated to exploring manifestations of individualism in political theory and practice in light of the broad question of rights.

Session Five: Individualism in arts and media

In this fifth session, the panelists explore manifestations of individualism in the arts and media and discuss how these influence conceptions of human nature.

Session Six: Individualism and nature

The sixth session is dedicated to exploring how individualism manifests itself in our relationship with nature and the environment, and the implications this relationship has for our conception of human nature.