La individualidad y sus paradojas. Un análisis epistemológico-político y algunos ejemplos

Abstract

En este artículo me propongo aclarar algunas dificultades epistemológicas y políticas del concepto de individuo. Seguiré a Joan W. Scott para argumentar que en este concepto presenta una paradoja, por ser una noción abstracta y concreta a la vez. Conectaré esa paradoja con la pregunta sobre quién es (o puede ser) considerado como individuo y sujeto de derecho y, para ello, voy a estudiar algunos usos del concepto de “individuo” en distintos escenarios y momentos de la historia europea, desde la Revolución Francesa y sus primeros debates constitucionales en torno a quién era ciudadano, hasta las consecuencias que tuvo el proceso de descolonización en Europa en el siglo XX y los debates sobre la integración de migrantes en Reino Unido. Acabaré con unas referencias sobre el ascenso de la ultraderecha y la necesidad de reivindicar un concepto de individuo, pese a todas sus dificultades y paradojas.

In this paper, I am going to clarify some epistemological-political difficulties that lay under the concept of “individual”. I will follow Joan W. Scott’s work to argue that this concept entails a paradox, because it is abstract and particular at the same time. I will link this paradox with the question about who is (or might be) an individual and subject of law as well. To this end, I will analyse some uses of this concept in some scenarios and moments of the European History, from the revolutionary France and the first debates about who was citizen, to the consequences of the decolonial process in Europe in the 20th Century. I will end up with some references about the rise of ultra-right parties and the necessity of claim for a concept of “individual”, despite all its difficulties and paradoxes. In this paper, I am going to clarify some epistemological-political difficulties that lay under the concept of “individual”. I will follow Joan W. Scott’s work to argue that this concept entails a paradox, because it is abstract and particular at the same time. I will link this paradox with the question about who is (or might be) an individual and subject of law as well. To this end, I will analyse some uses of this concept in some scenarios and moments of the European History, from the revolutionary France and the first debates about who was citizen, to the consequences of the decolonial process in Europe in the 20th Century. I will end up with some references about the rise of ultra-right parties and the necessity of claim for a concept of “individual”, despite all its difficulties and paradoxes.