But even if to speak of the equality of mankind in the presence of the qualitative singularity of individuals is no more than a misuse of words, the ideal of the unity of mankind is not at all incompatible with this supposition. For one can conceive of the diversity of individuals, even if it implies neither economic production nor more generally a direct cooperation of everyone, as a kind of division of labor.

Georg Simmel, on individuality and social…, loc. 691