Jednotlivec

Jednotlivec is a Czech term used primarily in philosophy, sociology, and related disciplines to refer to an individual human being, as distinct from a group or collective. It is employed when the focus is on the person as a discrete entity with agency, rights, or identity, rather than on populations or categories.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from the numeral jeden (one) and a productive suffix that yields a noun referring to a single person. Spelling is one word: jednotlivec; the plural is jednotlivci.

Usage and context: In academic writing, jednotlivec contrasts with kolektiv (the collective) or skupina (group). It appears in discussions of personal autonomy, responsibility, or personhood, and can be used when analyzing actions or attributes of a single person rather than collective phenomena. In logic and rhetoric, it can denote a particular, identified entity as opposed to a variable representing a class of individuals. In anthropology and sociology, the concept helps frame debates about individuality within social structures.

Register and alternatives: The term is specialized and more common in scholarly texts. In everyday language, more general terms such as osoba (person) or člověk (human) are typically used.

See also: osoba, člověk, identita, kolektiv, individualismus.

Notes: The precise meaning of jednotlivec can vary by author and discipline, and its usage is often guided by contextual definitions rather than a single canonical definition.