Ten modes of individualism - None of which works - And their alternatives

Individualism comes in at least 10 modes: ontological, logical, semantic, e pistemological, methodological, axiological, praxiological, ethical, histor ical, and political. These modes are bound together. For example, ontologic al individualism motivates the thesis that relations are n-tuples of indivi duals, as well as radical reductionism and libertarianism. The flaws and me rits of all ten sides of the individualist decagon are noted. So are those of its holist counterpart. It is argued that systemism has all the virtues and none of the defects of individualism and holism. One such virtue is the ability to recognize that individualism is a system rather than an unstruc tured bag of opinions-which raises the question whether thorough and consis tent individualism is at all possible.