I'm sort of a fair-weather trekkie, so, when you said, 'collective', my mind thought of Borg.

In The Wrath of Khan:

Spock says, “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Captain Kirk answers, “Or the one.”, as Spock steps into the chamber.

Then I think of Seven trying to extricate herself.

Clearly, it is the individual that is important and one person can have a domino effect at bringing about change for the many.

Just an old fart's musing.