rugged individualism
Bootstrap philosophy, American-style
Rugged individualism is the belief that people should succeed through their own efforts without government assistance or social safety nets.
The phrase carries a distinctly American flavor, evoking frontier self-reliance and bootstrap mythology: He built his fortune through rugged individualism.
Critics use it to describe policies that ignore systemic barriers to success or justify cutting social programs.
Depending on oneself alone
- pioneer spiritBoldness of early settlers
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- American DreamUS ethos of opportunity
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
Horatio Alger · free enterprise · manifest destiny · American exceptionalism · homesteader · entrepreneurship · pull yourself up · go it alone
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- independenceFreedom from external control
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
- self-containedWhole without external parts
self-directed · off-grid · homesteading · survivalism · resourcefulness · do-it-yourself · bootstrapping · self-governance
Determination or abrasive particles
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
toughness · hardiness · endurance · self-discipline · willpower · backbone · stoicism · roughing it
Minimal-government political philosophy
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- Ayn RandObjectivist movement founder
- laissez-faireNoninterference in commerce
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
free will · personal sovereignty · anarcho-capitalism · classical liberalism · natural rights · non-interventionism · self-ownership · voluntarism
Traditional explanatory tale
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- atomizationReduction to fine particles
- social isolationLack of human contact
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
victim blaming · Hoover · Great Depression · neoliberalism · romanticized · oversimplified · ahistorical
self-reliance
Depending on oneself alone
- pioneer spiritBoldness of early settlers
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- American DreamUS ethos of opportunity
self-made · Horatio Alger · free enterprise · manifest destiny · American exceptionalism · homesteader · entrepreneurship · pull yourself up · go it alone · lone wolf
autonomy
Independent decision-making capacity
- self-sufficiencyIndependence from outside aid
- independenceFreedom from external control
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
self-contained · self-directed · off-grid · homesteading · survivalism · resourcefulness · do-it-yourself · bootstrapping · self-governance · nonconformity
grit
Determination or abrasive particles
- determinationFirmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
perseverance · toughness · hardiness · endurance · self-discipline · willpower · backbone · stoicism · roughing it · adversity
libertarianism
Minimal-government political philosophy
- objectivismBelief in external truths
- Ayn RandObjectivist movement founder
- laissez-faireNoninterference in commerce
self-determination · free will · personal sovereignty · anarcho-capitalism · classical liberalism · natural rights · non-interventionism · self-ownership · voluntarism · meritocracy
myth
Traditional explanatory tale
- ideologyStructured belief framework
- atomizationReduction to fine particles
- social isolationLack of human contact
inequality · victim blaming · Hoover · Great Depression · neoliberalism · romanticized · oversimplified · ahistorical
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
- frontierfrontier, pioneer, pioneers, settlers, settler
- American IdeasAmerican Dream, American exceptionalism, transcendentalism, manifest destiny, self-reliance
- Individualismself-reliance, nonconformity, personal freedom, autonomy, independence
- Political Quotesall men are created equal, Gettysburg Address, Declaration of Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, nothing to fear
- American folklorePaul Bunyan, tall tales, folk heroes, John Henry, folk narratives
rugged individualismcollectivism
Group primacy doctrine
communitarianism · socialism · communism · communalism · mutual aid
rugged individualismwelfare state
Government-funded citizen support system
social democracy · big government · nanny state · statism · social insurance
rugged individualismubuntu
Shared humanity ethic
collective responsibility · social cohesion · vulnerability · dependence · interdependence
rugged, individual, individually, individuality, individualistic, individualist, individualism, ruggedness, individualize