Abstract: This invention relates to a lighting system having a plurality of individual light points or groups of individual light points which may be controlled by means of a central switch element, acting on all individual light points, whereby the function of the individual light points (or groups of individual light points to be jointly connected) is maintained independent of the central control and the individual light points may be switched on and off individually and independently, this lighting system being installable in a most simple manner with the use of already installed two-wire cabling and without additional cabling or devices. The present invention also relates to the central switch element and to the individual light switches associated with the individual light points or groups of individual light points, in different embodiments.