Overview
Focuses on on one of the key debates in modern Western Society: how did we become so focused upon ourselves and our individuality?
Explores how the birth of a Christian worldview affected the evolution of individualism in Western culture as a cultural meme
Investigates the effect of religion on the historically evolving psychological sense of self
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
The modern West has made the focus on individuality, individual freedom, and self-identity central to its self-definition, and these concepts have been crucially shaped by Christianity. This book surveys how the birth of the Christian worldview affected the evolution of individualism in Western culture as a cultural meme. Applying a biological metaphor and Richard Dawkins’ definition of a meme, this work argues the advent of individualism was not a sudden innovation of the Renaissance or the Enlightenment, but a long evolution with characteristic traits. This evolution can be mapped using profiles of individuals in different historical eras who contributed to the modern notion of individualism. Utilizing excerpts from original works from Augustine to Nietzsche, a compelling narrative arises from the slow but steady evolution of the modern self. The central argument is that Christianity, with its characteristic inwardness, was fundamental in the development of a sense of self as it affirmed the importance of the everyday man and everyday life.
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Maureen P. Heath received a Doctorate in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University in 2018. She previously served as an Air Force officer and as a Vice President at Northrup Grumman Corporation. This is her first book.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Christian Roots of Individualism
Authors: Maureen P. Heath
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30089-0
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-30088-3Published: 09 December 2019
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-30091-3Published: 31 December 2020
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-30089-0Published: 28 November 2019
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIII, 294
Topics: History of Religion, Christian Theology, Self and Identity