Looked these two words up but unclear as to how they might differ or if one is a specialisation of another.
- individualism: The moral stance, political philosophy, or social outlook that promotes independence and self-reliance of individual people, while opposing the interference with each person's choices by society, the state, or any other group or institution.
- egoism: The belief that moral behaviour should be directed toward one's self-interest only.
I posted about this on a Q&A site and the conclusions were that:
- They are almost the same or even inseparable.
- Ethical egoism says you should only do stuff if it makes you feel good and individualism says you can only do things for the sake of individuals with “society” or “country” or “humanity” being fictional abstractions.
- Individualism is it is about freedom of individuals with an egoistic nature and behaviour that is positive in not being selfishness or selflessness.
- There is confusion about ethical egoism in that some people fail to recognise that the ego can extend beyond one's self in practising altruism for the personal benefits it can give.
Best Answer
Egoism talks about self-interest as the motivation of individual action. Individualism stresses the primacy of individual rights in society. See the US Declaration of Independence. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Contrast this with Collectivism defined as the theory and practice that makes some sort of group rather than the individual the fundamental unit of political, social, and economic concern.