
110 ◾ Logics of Legitimacy
(2010) calls this atomistic individualism—the classical Cartesian, unitary subject
(Farmer 2005a) in which human identity is centered (self- contained) and isolated.
One’s sense of self is highly individual and social only in light of transactions with
other individuals. is corresponds with the social group type of individualism
(Douglas 1996) in which competition establishes social order.
However, as shown in Table7.2, because individuals are static in nature, rep-
resentatives can be legitimately chosen based on similarity of beliefs or superior
reasoning abilities. In other words, ideas represent each individua ...