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The Reverse Individuality Theory -- How to Appreciate Humanity and Individuality

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A reverse individual

The Reverse Individuality Theory: How to Appreciate Humanity and Individuality


Every person - with his or her own skills, abilities and uniqueness - can contribute to others and bring great joy to those that fortune has not smiled upon -- Shari Arison


A Childhood Realization


I recall a certain, distant memory from kindergarten. A realization dawned upon me through my interactions with both individuals and the larger framework of the world. It helped me appreciate humanity, not just myself.


The kindergarten teacher sat us down in a circle and asked us how "special" we all were. She pointed at each pupil and affirmed, "You are unique," and "You are unique," until the premise sank in: we are all unique.


But the paradox became clear to me, even as a child: If everyone is unique, doesn’t that mean we are all the same? If uniqueness is universal, does it not negate itself?





The Paradox of Individuality


To be unique is to be distinct, to stand apart from the collective. But if everyone shares this trait, then uniqueness becomes a universal constant—an irony that undermines its very premise.

Perhaps our unity as humanity stems from our shared uniqueness, from the idea that we all contribute in different ways. It is not that we are all unique in the same way, but rather that each of us possesses something singular to offer.


The irony deepens when we consider that someone who is entirely unremarkable—so bland as to be forgettable—could be more unique than any of us. Such an individual would be a deviation from the norm, not through eccentricity, but through.... an extreme form of averageness.


Yet... how can a person be distinct by being ordinary?


Take physical appearance, for example. Everyone possesses different body structures, varying facial features, and individual traits that distinguish them.


But suppose there existed a person whose features aligned perfectly with an imagined "textbook average"—a person so prototypically normal that they embodied the statistical mean of all human attributes. Would this individual not be more unique than any eccentric artist or rebellious trendsetter? Their normalcy, by virtue of its near impossibility, would be a rarity, and thus paradoxically unique.


The Normalization of Uniqueness


The pursuit of individuality is fraught with irony. The more people strive to be unique, the less unique they become. Trends emerge as deviations from the norm, only to be adopted en masse and transformed into conventions. Subcultures such as Goths, punks, and hipsters initially arose as distinct countercultures but eventually became part of mainstream fashion. What once signified rebellion now exists as mere aesthetics.


Individuality is inherently relative. One cannot be unique in isolation, just as one cannot be tall or short without comparison. Our identities exist only in contrast to those around us. A person who is "just like everyone else" is not unique, while someone who stands apart from societal conventions is. Yet, if everyone becomes unique in the same way, distinctiveness ceases to exist.


The Relativity of Self-Identity


The notion of individuality is inextricably tied to comparison. If everyone suddenly embraced a uniform sense of uniqueness—say, by dyeing their hair blue and wearing flamboyant clothing—then the person who refused to do so would become the true outlier. Uniqueness would shift toward those who conformed to a previous norm.


Thus, the status of "normal" and "unique" is fluid, always dependent on context. If everyone were genuinely one-of-a-kind, then the standard person—the person with no extraordinary traits—would become the most remarkable.


This is the crux of the Reverse Individuality Theory: Uniqueness and normalcy are not fixed states but shifting positions relative to the environment in which they exist. When uniqueness becomes standard, normality becomes extraordinary.


The Statistical Average Human


A fascinating example of this paradox can be found in statistical analyses of the "average human." A 2011 study identified the most statistically "normal" human being as a 28-year-old, right-handed Chinese man with a cell phone but no bank account. Given China’s vast population, this is not particularly surprising. If we were to broaden the study to include more Asian populations, we would likely find even more individuals fitting this "average" archetype.


However, consider the implications: While this man represents statistical normality, he is, in a way, one of the rarest individuals on Earth. He is the sole embodiment of the precise average—a living median—making him, paradoxically, an anomaly.


The Extremes of Difference


Now, let us turn to individuals who deviate dramatically from the norm. There exist people with rare genetic traits, extreme physical modifications, or unique lifestyles—such as a man with 96% of his body covered in hair or an individual who has tattooed their eyes black. These people, while undoubtedly unique, belong to a subcategory of human experience that is itself normalized.


Society tends to categorize and label such deviations, making them predictable in their own way.

If every person with extreme modifications were to walk together down a street, passers-by might perceive them as part of a coordinated group. Their collective uniqueness, ironically, makes them blend into a new, separate norm.


Thus, uniqueness is not only contextual but also dependent on the framework within which it is perceived. It is not merely a matter of personal choice but of how society defines deviation.


The Path to True Uniqueness


If one truly wishes to stand apart, the key is not in simply opposing the mainstream but in understanding the framework in which one exists. First, one must identify the dominant traits, behaviors, and values of a given environment. Then, by consciously diverging from these norms—not arbitrarily, but thoughtfully—one can craft a distinct identity.


However, even this effort is bound by the paradox of individuality. If you successfully differentiate yourself, you may become an archetype for others to emulate. What was once radical becomes fashionable; what was once unique becomes mundane.


This leaves two paths to absolute individuality:


  1. Extreme Normalcy: Embracing such a complete level of statistical averageness that one becomes an anomaly by virtue of their lack of distinguishing features.


  2. Extreme Deviation: Becoming so fundamentally different from societal expectations that integration becomes impossible.


Neither path is inherently superior, but both demonstrate the fluid and paradoxical nature of uniqueness.


Conclusion: Embracing the Reverse Individuality Theory


The pursuit of uniqueness is one of humanity’s most persistent yet self-defeating endeavors. As individuals strive to distinguish themselves, they often find themselves caught in cycles of normalization, where their distinctiveness is absorbed into the mainstream. True individuality, then, is less about outward expression and more about internal realization.





By understanding the shifting nature of normalcy and distinctiveness, we can learn to appreciate both the diversity of humanity and the strange paradoxes that govern our sense of self.

Perhaps the greatest irony is that, in a world where everyone is striving to be unique, true individuality lies in embracing what is already there—ourselves, as we are, without forceful deviation or artificial conformity.


Thus, to be uniquely human is to exist in the delicate balance between the normal and the extraordinary, the common and the rare. And therein lays the beauty of our shared existence.

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1 Comment


Roland Leblanc
Roland Leblanc
Jul 12, 2021

Interesting article; it seems to me that what makes us unique is the purpose that we carry on in our selves even if we do not know what it is! But also, what makes us part of the Whole Humanity is the goal that we all carry on our shoulders; this is if we are aware of our unique purpose for us to be part of this rectification of our world as per our made to do or life purpose...

Conclusion:I see it as both at the same time; we need to be as much as possible as all the others in order to be able to do our share and reach them, and at the same time, we need…

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Tomasio A. Rubinshtein, Philosocom's Founder & Writer

I am a philosopher. I'm also a semi-hermit who has decided to dedicate my life to writing and sharing my articles across the globe to help others with their problems and combat shallowness. More information about me can be found here.

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