【正文】 h individualism would be in some changes, it is still in effect. That is the situation of individualism nowadays. It is in the process of being newly defined. Second is the most important. In democratic country, the spirit of individualism not only be accepted but also be legalized. So an illusion also has been made, that is individualism seems to be outofdate. If a modern democratic society were without individualism, how could it go on with its development? Individualism is in every walk of people’s life. Romanticism is the individualism in emotion。 Liberalism is the individualism in thoughts。 Diversification is the individualism in society。 Laisserfaire is the individualism in economy and democracy is the individualism in politic. All in all, individualism has been expanded and rooted in western world greatly since the time of Tocqueville and Emerson, and it is legislated and has bee a kind of living style existing in every walk of life in western world. 4 Although the 17th century British’s traditional thinking is considered to be the origin of the concept of individualism, the founder of the word “individualism” is Tocqueville. He investigated in America for 9 month, and in 1835 he published Democracy in America in which book he used individualism for the first time. He believes that the existence of individualism is much earlier than the social order, and the selfinterests is the purpose of the action of individuals, and the social system originated in the interaction among individuals. He indicated that individualism is a new word created by a new concept. Only know our ancestors is egotism which means a kind of radical and excessive love to one’s own, and it makes people only care about themselves. Individualism is a kind of feeling which people feel no qualms about selfconcern. With the increasing of equality, a large number of Individuals arise. They have enough wealth and power to satisfy their own needs, therefore, they are independent and hold their own fate in their hands. Ralph Waldo Emerson affirmed the individual in his essays selfreliance. He said, “Character teaches above our wills.”(Emerson, 18) He also think that, “A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the luster of the firmament of bards and sages.”(Emerson, 6) Insist on yourself。 never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation。 but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. 5 That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. No man yet knows what it is, nor can, till that person has exhibited it. (Emerson, 42) “It is only as a man puts off all foreign support, and stands alone, that I see him to be strong and to prevail.”(Emerson, 46) At last he concluded that, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.”(Emerson, 48) Above all, individualism is a product of social development, and it is a cultural phenomenon. There is no right or wrong should be printed on individualism, on the other hand, its essence should be analyzed objectively. Besides, individualism should not be branded with selfish and egoism since its positive effect on the development of Chinese society. As a new developing socialist country, the development in China has beyond the imagination of all over the world and now China plays an important role in the world and it may achieve more in the the ability of start a new way to develop itself, China achieved a great success in construction. Right Acknowledgements of the Individualism To have a right recognition towards individualism, at first, one should realize its essence correctly. There are tow implications in individualism. First is positive, that is one has an ability to struggle for himself。 grasp his own fate。 depend on himself and uphold his own personality. It emphasizes on selfconfidence and believing in uniqueness. The belief of American people is: I am I。 you are you。 I am not you and you are not I. meanwhile, they also 6 emphasize on independence and selfreliance. What they are proud of is the achievement that gained by oneself but not through the help that given by other people. Therefore, in American people’s eyes, individualism is worth being proud of and it brands with the characteristic of American culture. Second is negative, refers to one is insatiable of profits。 crazily ask for interests and without thinking about other people. In short, they only care about themselves and will never give up their absolute selfishness that not belonged to their instinct desire. So seen from the positive and negative side of individualism, the key of dealing with the problem is that how to restrain the radical thoughts but advocate the positive side of individualism among people. Individualism in America is quite different from it in China. America is a multiculture country, after Columbus discovered this land, people from different places of the world flowed to it. America has been called rootless nationality, for most people live in America are from other places. So when the Europeans, who have carried on the belief of freedom, independence, and democracy, on the May Flower stepped on this land, which had no national sentiment that should formed during a long time, the personal interests have been considered much important than anything else. It is a rule to protect one’s own interests in a strange place. However, in China, which has a long history of more than 5,000 years, the cultural origins could date back to the primitive society, when Shanding cave people lived and worked together the interests of the collective were sure to be 7 much higher than personal intere