# How does The New State develop the theme of Critique of Individualism and Particularism?

> The New State by Mary Parker Follett

## Answer

The New State by Mary Parker Follett develops Critique of Individualism and Particularism across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The author rejects laissez-faire individualism and 'everyman-for-his-own-interests' as false individualism, asserting that true self-fulfillment comes through integration with the whole, not through separation or altruistic service to others.

The chapter critiques the focus on the individual as the primary unit of society, arguing that this leads to fragmentation and fails to achieve true democracy.

The chapter explicitly rejects the concept of the isolated individual and abstract society, arguing that both are fictions; instead, it focuses on the group as the fundamental unit.

Criticizes the craving for personal recognition and the notion of individual triumph, advocating for group satisfaction and the transformation of 'I' into 'we'.

## Evidence

- [part-i-the-group-principle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/part-i-the-group-principle.md): The chapter critiques the focus on the individual as the primary unit of society, arguing that this leads to fragmentation and fails to achieve true democracy.
- [i-the-group-and-the-new-psychology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/i-the-group-and-the-new-psychology.md): The chapter explicitly rejects the concept of the isolated individual and abstract society, arguing that both are fictions; instead, it focuses on the group as the fundamental unit.
- [ii-the-group-process-the-collective-idea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/ii-the-group-process-the-collective-idea.md): Criticizes the craving for personal recognition and the notion of individual triumph, advocating for group satisfaction and the transformation of 'I' into 'we'.
- [iii-the-group-process-the-collective-idea-continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/iii-the-group-process-the-collective-idea-continued.md): The chapter critiques the overemphasis on imitation and particularism, asserting that true social progress comes from the creative synthesis of differences, not individual isolation.
- [iv-the-group-process-the-collective-feeling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/iv-the-group-process-the-collective-feeling.md): The chapter rejects particularistic psychology that posits isolated individuals, arguing that sympathy and feeling originate in the group, not in preexisting ego or alter.
- [vi-the-unity-of-the-social-process](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/vi-the-unity-of-the-social-process.md): Rejects private conscience and individual ethics, arguing that right and duty arise from the group process, not isolated selves.
- [vii-the-individual](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/vii-the-individual.md): The chapter directly attacks the notion of the separate, self-made individual, arguing that individuality is constituted through social relations and that the idea of a self-made man is a fallacy.
- [viii-who-is-the-free-man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_new_state_se/chapters/viii-who-is-the-free-man.md): The chapter rejects the idea that freedom belongs to the solitary individual, arguing instead that true freedom is found through interpermeation with others and the whole.

## Links

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