Pathologies of neoliberal individualism: a critique using Axel Honneth’s models of recognition and social freedom

<p dir="ltr">This thesis examines the specific ways that neoliberalism affects the inner lives and relationships of individuals. The model of critique it will use takes the theoretical concepts of ‘recognition’ and ‘social freedom’ as developed by Axel Honneth as its principal tools for evaluation. Honneth’s work provides a rich framework to account for the social and psychological mechanisms by which we internalise social norms. It also helps to determine to what extent these mechanisms represent a gain or loss for an individual’s life. The main claim this thesis will develop is that by extending its highly individualistic and economic mode of reason across all individual and social life, neoliberalism undermines the very intersubjectivity that individuals need to develop the full autonomy associated with individual self-realisation. As a result, neoliberal values and ideals are detrimental to an individual’s psychological development and wellbeing.</p>