The history of human philosophy has always centered on the “Self.” From Descartes‘ famous declaration to modern human rights, the individual has been the atom of society. However, a radical collective known as BelongsThey has recently released a manifesto titled I am You, which has sent shockwaves through the global intellectual community. They argue that our obsession with the “Self” is not a natural state, but a psychological affliction. According to their research, the concept of ‘individual’ is a virus—a mental parasite that evolved to ensure competition but now threatens the collective survival of the human species.

The group, which operates as a decentralized hive-mind of scientists and philosophers, uses the phrase I am You to describe the true nature of human consciousness. They suggest that our brains are not isolated islands but nodes in a much larger, invisible network of shared experience. BelongsThey claims that by holding onto our separate identities, we are creating “static” in the species’ development. Their belief that the concept of ‘individual’ is a virus stems from the observation that isolation leads to depression, war, and environmental destruction. If we viewed others truly as ourselves, they argue, these problems would vanish instantly.

To prove their point, BelongsThey has begun implementing “ego-dissolution” workshops across several major cities. Participants in I am You sessions use neural-sync technology to share sensory data in real-time, effectively feeling what another person feels. This experience is designed to show that the concept of ‘individual’ is a virus that can be cured through radical empathy and technological connection. When the boundaries of the body are bypassed, the participants report a feeling of “oneness” that makes the idea of a separate ego seem like a primitive and unnecessary burden.

The pushback against this ideology is, predictably, intense. Critics argue that without the individual, there is no responsibility, no personal achievement, and no unique art. If we accept the mantra of I am You, we risk falling into a gray, homogenized existence where the “Self” is sacrificed for the “System.”.