Complete Loss of Individuality – Phenomenological Reflections on Mass Action

Even though it is not any more in the center of current social theoretical discussions, the concept of “mass” possesses the potential to describe a specific expression of collectivity formation and collective action, highly relevant for the description of modernity. Mass action as linked to the “dark side” of modern society is often related to irrational behavior of the crowd, which cannot be controlled. The paper presents phenomenological reflections on mass action, arguing the concept of “mass” must be understood parting from the dialectical relationship of individual and collectivity. In comparison to the concept of mass, individuality can be considered as counter concept, since mass describes a form of collectivity, which includes the least involvement of the subjectivity of the individual actor. The particular mass we-relationship fugaciously and temporarily gets established, e.g. when a crowd of soccer fans climbs the fences to the area of the supporters of the opposing team to use violence against them. This kind of mass action takes place when the moral individual who can promise, feel guilty or regret gets suspended in mass collectivity. Collective mass action may appear independently of the possibility for the individual to interfere, leading to its potential dangerous, irrational and chaotic progression. When the individual still has the possibility to reflect on his or her collective crowd action, we cannot speak of “mass.” Only when individuality gets completely suspended, mass action will appear.