Introduction

Abstract

The introduction begins by answering a question from the perspective of the history of Western philosophy: how should we understand the “individual” as a philosophical concept? One conclusion that emerges is that there is little emphasis on the idea of the individual in traditional metaphysics, and that the emergence and development of the individual as a philosophical concept is a result of the tradition of practical ethics. Given that Marx’s philosophy is often accused of supporting economic determinism and totalitarianism, the concept of the individual seems to be absent in his theories, and its influence on subsequent generations is even less evident. However, this is not the case. Until now, Marx’s thoughts on themes such as self-realisation, estrangement and emancipation have continued to be present in academic discussions.