Rozin, V. M. The Problem of Identity in the Context of New Egoism

Abstract: The article discusses conditions of identity formation of a modern person in the situation of expansion of new egoism. The author of the article thinks of how economic, confessional, cognitive and personal egoism was overcome during formation of capitalism and a liberal society. The crisis of liberalism and globalization processes led to appearance of new egoism and crisis of modern personality. In this regard, the author suggests his own interpretation of identity and egoism. Based on the author, identity should be better viewed as personal efforts aimed at construction and institutionalization of the self, during which he actually develops different attitudes to other personalities, groups or communities. This is not just the self-love or self-centeredness but particular behavior in different periods of our civilization when traditional stereotypes about reality and common social norms of behavior stop functioning and human have to set them all from the very beginning. In such a case human is usually relies on himself, i. e. he acts quite selfi shly which causes all kinds of social confl icts.

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