Solidarity: Theory and Practice

(Hardback)

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This book brings together philosophers, social psychologists and social scientists to approach contemporary social reality from the viewpoint of solidarity. It examines the nature of different kinds of solidarity and assesses the normative and explanatory potential of the concept. Various aspects of solidarity as a special emotionally and ethically responsive relation are studied: the nature of collective emotions and mutual recognition, responsiveness to others suffering and needs, and the nature of moral partiality included in solidarity. The evolution of norms of solidarity is examined both via the natural evolution of the human social brain and via the institutional changes in legal constitutions and contemporary work life. This text will appeal to students, scholars, and anyone interested in the interdisciplinary topic of social solidarity.

Reviews

Arto Laitinen and Anne Birgitta Pessi have edited a unique collection of essays focusing on the theory and practice of solidarity from a perspective defined by philosophical theories of recognition and emotions on the one hand, and social-scientific work on welfare and helping cultures and practices on the other hand. Authored by leading experts in the field, the volume represents precisely the kind of philosophy enriched by in-depth empirical studiesor empirical social science enriched by philosophical analysisthat we need in the complex social world we live in. -- Sami Pihlstrm, University of Helsinki
Solidarity is one of those concepts that numerous people in all types of occasions use, yet it lacks a clear definition and too little has been studied about it. Arto Laitinen and Anne Birgitta Pessi provide us with the first comprehensive and well thought out treatment of this concept. This volume is a foundational piece upon which the academic and public discourse of "solidarity" will be examined for years to come. There will be no serious discussion of solidarity without reference to this seminal work. -- Ram A. Cnaan, University of Pennsylvania

Author Bio

Arto Laitinen is professor of philosophy at University of Tampere. Anne Birgitta Pessi is professor in church and social studies at the University of Helsinki.