Definition

Individualism and holism represent two key theoretical perspectives that have, for many decades, steered and shaped sociological thought. The holism-individualism controversy, in its various iterations, primarily addresses ontological and explanatory concerns. The individualistic perspective (rooted in the Weberian approach) attributes its explanations to rational individuals and their motivations and views. The holistic perspective (rooted in the Durkheimian approach) grounds its explanations in social entities or attributes (structures, groups).