Possessive Individualism by C. B. Macpherson
What is Possessive Individualism?
Possessive individualism focuses on the indivi/dual as the sole proprietor of their self, including the body, mind, skills and capacities, owing nothing to society. Possessive individualism is a way of thinking that an individual is a separate and independent individual, knowing what is right and what is wrong for them.
An individual is self-sufficient enough to make all his decisions without the interference of others. Freedom is defined by his independence through the ownership of property, skills, and labour. According to the possessive individualism, society is a collection of self-interested individuals who interact particularly through the market and the role of the state is only to protect the life, liberty and private property of the individual and enforce regulations. The idea of possessive individualism as an idea is a part of classical liberalism that prioritizes the individual.
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Who coined the term possessive individualism?
Canadian political thinker C B Macpherson coined the term Possessive Individualism in his book The Political Theory of Possessive Individualism: Hobbes to Locke? Published in the year 1962.
The Key Features of Possessive Individualism
Possessive individualism is not exactly similar to general individualism; it has its unique and identifiable features. Possessive Individualism provides a model of human nature and society based on the following four features:
- The Individual as Proprietor of Own Self: The most important feature of Possessive individualism is that the individual is the “proprietor of his own person or capacities,” owing nothing to society for them. This means a person’s abilities, labour, skills and even their physical body, mind and soul are considered as the own private property of that person. This self-ownership is known as a fundamental and natural right that precedes over society itself.
- Freedom as Freedom from Others: Possessive Individualism provides a framework that freedom is the core human essence. Freedom here means freedom from dependence on the wills of others. Freedom is not a collective or social good, but a personal possession. The more a person possesses freedom, the more independent they are from the will of others. The role of society is only to protect the individual’s life, liberty and property.
- Society is the Series of Market Relations: Possessive individualism views society as a collection of “free equal individuals related to each other as proprietors.” These individuals interact primarily through a series of market exchanges, where they buy and sell their own labour and the products of their labour. Social relations are essentially market relations that are driven by individual self-interest.
- The State as Protector of Property: The State is seen as a rational, man-made institution designed to protect the individual’s life, liberty and property as a night watchman. The primary role of the state is to maintain an orderly environment for the peaceful exchange of property and to enforce contracts. Any state intervention beyond this limited function as a protector is considered as a challenge to individual liberty.
Development of Possessive Individualism
C. B. Macpherson argued that possessive individualism is not a philosophy, but rather an assumption that is part of classical liberalism, tracing its roots to the work of key 17th-century English political thinkers. He traced these ideas through the writings of:
- Thomas Hobbes: In Thomas Hobbes’s philosophy, the “state of nature” is a condition of constant competition and conflict among self-interested individuals. Macpherson interpreted this as a reflection of an emerging market society, where a desire for power and possessions drives individuals. The Leviathan state is necessary to control these competitive drives and ensure order.
- John Locke: Locke is one of the related scholars of possessive individualism. According to Locke, property rights are central to the social contract. He argued that a person acquires property by “mixing his labour” with the land or an object.18 Macpherson explained that this theory of property justifies the unlimited accumulation of wealth and the commodification of labour, as individuals can sell their labour for wages and thus alienate the product of their work.
Criticisms of Possessive Individualism
Macpherson’s theory of possessive individualism is a significant idea but not free from criticisms. The main criticisms against Possessive Individualism are:
- A historical Application: Many critics have argued that Macpherson imposed a modern, capitalist framework onto historical thinkers like Hobbes and Locke, who were writing about a different economic and social context of their time. The idea of a fully developed “possessive market society” in the 17th century, where a labour market was commonplace, is historically is a cause of argument.
- Narrow View of Human Nature: The theory is criticized for presenting a narrow, materialistic and distorted view of human nature. It reduces human beings to self-interested, calculating “consumers” and “proprietors,” ignoring other fundamental aspects of human existence, such as social relationships, community obligations, and the pursuit of non-material values.
- Erosion of Social Obligation: A central critique is that possessive individualism undermines the very idea of social obligation. If individuals owe nothing to society for their capacities, and society is merely a collection of market relations, there is little to no basis for a sense of collective responsibility or a shared common good.
- Justification of Inequality: Macpherson himself was a socialist who used the theory to criticise capitalism. He argued that the logic of possessive individualism leads to a society of deep inequality. In an “unlimited contest for possessions,” some individuals will gain control of the means of labour, forcing others to sell their labour for subsistence, thus preventing them from fully developing their “truly human powers” of rationality and moral judgment.
Conclusion
C.B. Macpherson’s theory of possessive individualism remains a powerful and enduring concept in political philosophy. While its historical application to Hobbes and Locke has been debated, the theory provides a potent critique of a particular strain of liberalism—one that prioritizes individual liberty and property rights above all, seeing society as a collection of self-owning, market-driven individuals. It continues to be a crucial tool for analysing the ideological underpinnings of modern capitalism and its effects on our understanding of freedom, community, and human flourishing.
