个性观念是陈独秀、李大钊、胡适等五四主流思想家的主导话语, 是一个重要的现代性观念。可以从消极和积极两个维度理解五四时期的个性观。消极个性指对宗法性和奴隶性的反抗, 积极个性与认识论上的理性主义、伦理学上的功利主义等有密切关联。五四时期的个性观从一个侧面反映现代性意识的发育历程。五四主流思想家注意到消极个性与积极个性的多重内涵与意义, 表明中国知识分子对现代性理解的深化。同时, 个性观上的局限也表明中国现代性意识发展的曲折性与困难性

The idea of individuality is not only a leading discourse that mainstream thinkers such as Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao and Hu Shih held in the May Fourth Movement, but also one of important ideas of China's modernity. We may define the conception of individuality during the period of May Fourth in terms of negative and positive dimensions. The negative individuality means a resistance to patriarchalism and servility. The positive individuality is associated with rationalism in epistemology and utilitarianism in ethics. Views of individuality during May Fourth reflect a developmental course of consciousness of modernity from one respect. Those mainstream thinkers of that time have taken note of multiple implications and meanings of negative and positive individuality, which shows that Chinese intellectuals' understanding of modernity is deepening. Meanwhile, the disadvantages in the idea of individuality indicate some difficulties in the growth of Chinese consciousness of modernity.