[tacticalogic]

Individualism is the opposite of dependency, not collectivism.

Self-sufficiency is the opposite of dependency. Individualism and collectivism are opposing philosophies. Self-sufficiency/dependency are opposing traits of those opposing philosophies.

IMHO.

[aruanan]

Self-sufficiency is the opposite of dependency. Individualism and collectivism are opposing philosophies. Self-sufficiency/dependency are opposing traits of those opposing philosophies.

I suppose hermitism and collectivism would be opposites in every sense of the word because a hermit is one person all on his own versus a collective which is many people absorbed into one social organism. Individualism doesn't feel right as the word to use as the opposite of collectivism because it focuses on "individual" rather than on a social organization characterized by the free interaction of individuals. Too often "individualism" is used to describe an individual in society who goes off and does his own thing without regard for society or its effects on society. Whatever is the word used to describe the free association and interaction of individuals giving rise to a spontaneously self-ordering society should be the opposite of a centrally planned and administered collective.