The idea that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. It's contrasted with Closed Individualism and Empty Individualism, 2 other philosophies of personal identity. Closed Individualism is the standard common sense view of identity where "you" start existing when you're born, and stop existing when you die. "You" are essentially a line or line segment existing throughout time. Empty Individualism is the idea that you only exist for a single moment. Every moment you die, and a new consciousness arises in your body to take its place, thinking they're you. Buddhists have a similar philosophy called anattā about the existence of the self. Andy Weir's short story The Egg also has similar ideas.
Psychonaut: "I smoked 5-MeO-DMT and realized we are all one. I realized Open Individualism is right when the ego death hit."
by dead666420 November 19, 2025
Get the Open Individualismmug.