ABSTRACT
Individuality as a modality of Well-Being is nearly as ancient as Continuity, having also originated early-on in the history of life. This chapter begins by describing the selection forces that propelled life to expand on the Well-Being foundations of Continuity and evolve larger, more complex Systems related to Individuality. It provides two examples demonstrating both how Individuality functions in general as well as specifically in humans. The chapter shows how the inherent quality of Well-Being Systems has made possible the evolution of life forms capable of solving ever more complex life-challenges, at ever more complex levels of organization. The earliest Well-Being Systems were focused on the needs of physiological Continuity. All major organismal groups, including primitive single celled organisms, have evolved some form of adaptive or acquired immunity. The innate tendency for every organism to perceive itself as an individual and remain independent from every other organism is deeply embedded within the make-up of life.
