Property and Human Flourishing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Private Ownership ◽  
Individual Freedom ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Moral Foundation ◽  
Moral Value ◽  
Historic House ◽  
African Slaves

Many people assume that what morally justifies private ownership of property is either individual freedom or social welfare, defined in terms of maximizing personal preference-satisfaction. This book offers an alternative way of understanding the moral underpinning of private ownership of property. Rather than identifying any single moral value, this book argues that human flourishing is property’s moral foundation. It develops a theory that connects ownership and human flourishing with obligations. Owners owe obligations to members of the communities that have enabled the owners to live flourishing lives by cultivating in their community members certain capabilities that are essential to leading a well-lived life. These obligations are rooted in the interdependence that exists between owners and their community members, a condition that is inherent in the human condition. Obligations have always been inherent in ownership. The human flourishing theory explains why owners at times owe obligations that enable their fellow community members to develop certain necessary capabilities. This book considers implications for a wide variety of property issues of importance both in the literature and in modern society. These include questions such as: When is a government’s expropriation of property legitimate? May the owner of a historic house destroy it without restriction? Do institutions that owned African slaves or otherwise profited from the slave trade owe any obligations to the African American community? What insights may be gained from the human flourishing concept into resolving current housing problems like homelessness, eviction, and mortgage foreclosure?

scholarly journals Kritische Anthropologie?

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Peter Krüger
Keyword(s):  
Critical Theory ◽  
Philosophical Anthropology ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Philosophy Of Nature ◽  
Pluralistic Society ◽  
Complementary Relationship ◽  
Negative Dialectics ◽  
Critical Anthropology ◽  
Communicative Theory

AbstractThis article compares Max Horkheimer’s and Theodor W. Adorno’s foundation of the Frankfurt Critical Theory with Helmuth Plessner’s foundation of Philosophical Anthropology. While Horkheimer’s and Plessner’s paradigms are mutually incompatible, Adorno’s „negative dialectics“ and Plessner’s „negative anthropology“ (G. Gamm) can be seen as complementing one another. Jürgen Habermas at one point sketched a complementary relationship between his own publicly communicative theory of modern society and Plessner’s philosophy of nature and human expressivity, and though he then came to doubt this, he later reaffirmed it. Faced with the „life power“ in „high capitalism“ (Plessner), the ambitions for a public democracy in a pluralistic society have to be broadened from an argumentative focus (Habermas) to include the human condition and the expressive modes of our experience as essentially embodied persons. The article discusses some possible aspects of this complementarity under the title of a „critical anthropology“ (H. Schnädelbach).

Human Dignity in Classical Chinese Philosophy: The Daoist Perspective

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 493-510
Author(s):  
Qianfan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Human Dignity ◽  
Chinese Philosophy ◽  
Human Person ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The State ◽  
Individual Freedom ◽  
Traditional Morality ◽  
Classical Chinese ◽  
Spiritual Well Being

This article discusses the Daoist contribution to the idea of human dignity in the classical Chinese philosophy, particularly in aspects that had been ignored by the Confucians and the Moists. By criticizing the traditional morality and reviving the faith in a primitive, self-sufficient life, Laozi and Zhuangzi add an important dimension to the classical understanding of human dignity: individual freedom, particularly the freedom of living under minimum burden, direction, and oppression of the state. By comparing the Daoist conception of human dignity with those of the Confucians and Moists, the article concludes that all three classical schools, if rationally construed, should support the view that the establishment of a liberal constitutional scheme is necessary to preserve and protect minimum/basic dignity in both physical and spiritual well-being of every human person who lives in a modern society.

Chinese Perceptions of American Democracy: Late Qing Observers and Their Experiences with the Chinese Exclusion Act

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-346
Author(s):  
Sam Wong ◽  
Brian Wong
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
American Democracy ◽  
Moral Foundation ◽  
Late Qing ◽  
Chinese Exclusion ◽  
Chinese Perceptions ◽  
American Society ◽  
Exclusion Act ◽  
The U.S

Abstract Analysis of the writings of Kuang Qizhao and other Chinese self-strengtheners suggests that their emphasis on promoting education before democracy and continuing to endorse classical Confucianism were not signs of a retrograde kind of conservatism, but an entirely rational decision based on the actual experiences of late Qing observers of 19th Century American democracy. Observing the U.S. Congress’s passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, Chinese officials observed the real dangers of demagogue led populism without an educated, moral citizenry and the apparent importance of Christianity to creating the moral foundation for an effective modern society. For Kuang, Confucianism was equivalent to Christianity to establish that moral basis, and not a conservative desire to preserve the old social order. Kuang would pass on his thoughts to some of China’s most important reformers and officials on his return home, suggesting he and the officials he associated with had a more realistic and sophisticated understanding of American society and democracy than is currently assumed.

Symbols and Dynamics of Social Meanings: Lessons From Residential Grave Spaces Among the Ekiti Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 003022281986157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babatunde Joshua Omotosho
Keyword(s):  
Social Structure ◽  
Symbolic Interactionism ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Social Meanings ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
Modern Era ◽  
Power Play

Grave spaces within Yoruba (Nigeria) societies are not just ordinary symbols, and they constitute “other place” used to meet individuals’ physical and social needs. This study examined how residential grave spaces within Yoruba social structure are used by them in meeting their day-to-day needs. Drawing from symbolic interactionism theory, and data gathered from Ekiti-Yoruba culture, this study investigates how community members define and utilize the place of graves from traditional to modern society in meeting their needs. Findings revealed that during the precolonial society, grave spaces served religious and endearment purposes. While still retaining these functions in modern era, the functions have increased to security, protections, and power play due to the hurdles posed by modernity. The article concluded that the practice may continue in spite of its opposition by policy makers and orthodox faiths.

Beyond Immutability: Sexuality and Constitutive Choice

2014 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily R. Gill
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Moral Agency ◽  
Individual Freedom ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Harm To Others ◽  
The Individual

AbstractAdvocates for the equality and dignity of LGBT persons often suggest that the immutability of sexual orientation is their strongest argument. I believe that it is a weak one. First, the individual freedom that liberalism accords to people, absent harm to others, as necessary for human flourishing applies to sexuality as well as to other areas of existence. Second, the distinction often made between status and conduct is a false one, and the argument from immutability effectively protects neither. Third, I examine the notion of constitutive choice, arguing that the line between immutability and choice is more complex than many realize. Finally, greater attention to the notion of constitutive choice may broaden liberalism's hospitality to conceptions of the good in ways that better respect human moral agency and autonomy.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Communities

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-57
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Future Generations ◽  
Basic Material ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Community Members ◽  
The Past ◽  
Property Owners ◽  
General Obligation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Specific Obligation

Abstract Under the human flourishing theory of property, owners have obligations, positive as well as negative, that they owe to members of the various communities to which they belong. But are the members of those communities limited to living persons, or do they include non-living persons as well, i.e., future persons and the dead? This Article argues that owners owe two sorts of obligation to non-living members of our generational communities, one general, the other specific. The general obligation is to provide future generations with the basic material background conditions that are necessary for them to be able to carry out what I call life-transcending projects that their forebears have transmitted to them. The specific obligation is project-specific; that is, its purpose is to enable successive generational community members to whom particular life-transcending projects have been forwarded to be carried out in their way. The future generational members to whom the project is transferred must also be given whatever resources or goods are necessary to carry the project forward in its intended way. I argue further that each generational community owes its predecessors the obligation to accept life-transcending projects transmitted to them by their forebears and make reasonable efforts to carry those projects forward into the future. The obligation is based on the past generational community members’ dependency on their successors for the projects to continue into the future, a matter that is constitutive of the project creators’ flourishing. This obligation is defeasible, rather than absolute, however.

scholarly journals In Shadows and Darkness: being authentic in Céline and Hillman (“intimité des choses” and “pathologizing” )

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Cláudio Cledson Novaes ◽  
Aleš Vrbata
Keyword(s):  
Modern Society ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Human Soul ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Modern Project ◽  
Intellectual Context ◽  
Ways Of Being ◽  
Deep Interest ◽  
Intellectual Legacy

Aim of this paper is to demonstrate a proximity or even complementarity between James Hillman’s and Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s vision of  human soul and human condition. Even though their cultural and intellectual context differed significantly and they both used very different forms of expression, they repeatedly invoked intimate dimension of human existence as permeated by somehow pathological, peripherial or dark aspects of being. Nevertheless, both of them shared deep interest in bottom-line dimension of being which they called “soul” and which they linked with death, darkness, weakness and which they associated with  socially disapproved ways of being. Even though Hillman could be labeled as reformist and Céline as nihilist, for both of them modern society and its programming cut modern man off his deeper sense of meaningfulness or as Céline puts it in from “intimité des choses”. Questioning intellectual legacy of Enlightenment, both Céline and Hillman find soul of modern man as pathologized and threatened but at the same time as the very source of meaningfulness. Like that Hillman and Céline can be viewed not just as cultural critics but as actively deconstructing, questioning modern project and modern subjectivity

scholarly journals Partisipasi Anggota dan Pemanfaatan Instagram dalam Interaksi Komunitas Brand Ria Miranda

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Satya Herlina Armananti ◽  
Donna Asteria
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Community Participation ◽  
Interpersonal Communication ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
The Other ◽  
Brand Community ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Activity Involvement ◽  
Loyal Customer ◽  
Definition Of

Communities can be formed from groups of people who have the same passion. In the life of modern society, the definition of community has developed so that it can form a brand community, which is a community of people with an interest in the same brand. Ria Miranda Loyal Customer (RMLC) is brand community of Ria Miranda. Community members scattered throughout the territory of Indonesia caused this community divided according to their respective regions. Geographically separated does not cause the strength of this community inferior to other communities. In every community the brand community is no exception, every member has needs that can be met through their participation in the community. Members in the brand community interact to fulfill needs and develop relationships between members. A strong community is a community that can unite a variety of individuals and can meet each other's needs and on the other hand can meet the needs of other individuals. This study aims to see how the participation of RMLC community members and the use of Instagram as a social media that supports community interaction. The results showed that interaction in the community occurred through the participation of community members consisting of member-to-member interactions and member-activity involvement. This is demonstrated through interpersonal communication done between members of the community and the involvement of members in activities organized by the community. Participation in interacting with each member can foster stronger ties between community members. Instagram plays an important role as a social media that members use to meet their needs in terms of sharing information related to brand products and references on product use. Likes and comments as an Instagram feature help build closer relationships between community members. Komunitas dapat terbentuk dari sekelompok orang yang memiliki kegemaran yang sama. Dalam kehidupan masyarakat modern, definisi komunitas mengalami perkembangan sehingga dapat terbentuk sebuah brand community, yang merupakan komunitas sekelompok orang dengan minat pada sebuah brand yang sama. Ria Miranda Loyal Customer (RMLC) merupakan komunitas penggemar brand Ria Miranda. Anggota komunitas yang tersebar di seluruh wilayah Indonesia menyebabkan komunitas RMLC dibagi menurut wilayah masing-masing. Terpisahkan secara geografis tidak menyebabkan kekuatan komunitas ini kalah dengan komunitas lainnya. Dalam setiap komunitas tak terkecuali brand community, setiap anggota memiliki kebutuhan yang dapat dipenuhi lewat keikutsertaannya dalam komunitas. Anggota-anggota dalam brand community melakukan interaksi untuk pemenuhan kebutuhan dan pengembangan hubungan antar sesama anggota. Komunitas yang kuat adalah komunitas yang dapat menyatukan beragam individu dan dapat memenuhi kebutuhan masing masing dan di sisi lain dapat memenuhi kebutuhan individu lainnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat bagaimana partisipasi anggota komunitas RMLC dan penggunaan Instagram sebagai media sosial yang menunjang interaksi komunitas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa interaksi dalam komunitas terjadi melalui partisipasi anggota komunitas yang terdiri dari member-to-member interactions dan member-activity involvement. Hal ini ditunjukkan melalui komunikasi yang dilakukan secara interpersonal antar anggota komunitas satu sama lain serta keterlibatan anggota dalam kegiatan yang diselenggarakan komunitas. Partisipasi dalam berinteraksi yang dilakukan masing-masing anggota dapat menumbuhkan ikatan yang lebih kuat antar anggota komunitas. Instagram berperan penting sebagai media sosial yang digunakan para anggota untuk memenuhi kebutuhan mereka dalam hal berbagi informasi terkait produk brand dan referensi penggunaan produk. Likes dan comment sebagai fitur Instagram membantu membangun hubungan yang semakin akrab antar anggota komunitas. 

scholarly journals The need for professional and personal mentorship in modern society

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-57
Author(s):  
Marianna M. Korenkova
Keyword(s):  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Moral Value ◽  
Personal Trainers ◽  
Consulting Services ◽  
Fast Pace

Due to large scale transformations in modern society, serious changes have occurred in the lifestyle of Russian people. Said changes have affected both the material and the moral-value side of modern life. This article examines the recently established trend towards following expert opinion when making choices and decisions, both when it comes to the consumer and the professional aspect of the life of young and middle-aged Russians. An increased amount of information and a fast pace of living have increased professional and personal requirements when it comes to employment or joining a social group – including a family – which leads to an increased demand for expert opinion and consulting services. Additionally, this article examines styles and means of personal development as new social practices in modern society. The understanding of development as being a natural and spontaneous process gives way to a new approach towards personality formation as being a process of orderly and systematic development, it being a result of intentional adherence to expert opinion and attending various training seminars aimed at personal and professional growth. This article gives a short analysis of websites which offer consulting services in various fields of personal and professional life, while also evaluating premises and means of creating motivation for resorting to paid expert services in the field of personal growth, as well as the effectiveness of the services being offered. The author comes to the conclusion that there is relatively high demand for those consulting services offered by personal growth coaches, bloggers who cover the subject, personal trainers at gyms, leading YouTube channels, and opinion leaders on social media. Despite there not being a way to verify the results of these services, they still remain quite popular. Personal mentorship, having a personal trainer, coach, mentor, therapist or spiritual father is regarded by a certain group of the population to be an essential part of their lives, and is even elevated to being something of prestige.

Globally Minded Leaders

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Heffron ◽  
Rosemary Papa
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
School Leaders ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Moral Foundation ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Infinite Variety ◽  
The Right

The pressures—economic, political, and cultural—on educational leaders to think and act globally have perhaps never been greater than they are today. However, although it may go without saying that we live increasingly in a world of interdependent causation, of interconnectedness (and not simply between the local and the global, but between people and forces everywhere), this fact alone fails to fully explain the need for globally minded leaders in education. When so much of today’s interdependence tends to favor the strong over the weak on an essentially uneven playing field, a favorite complaint of critics on both the right and the left, the ways and means and ultimate purpose for producing such school leaders lie elsewhere, beyond today’s competitive stance. It lies in identifying and providing an unshakeable moral foundation for universal norms of social justice and equity; it lies in a revolutionary new approach to the knowledge base required of globally minded educational leaders, one that turns for guidance to humanistic thinkers around the world, past and present, the only test of their relevance being a philosophical one, not a psychological, an empirical, or a purely practical one; and it lies in embracing the multifaceted yet singularly cognizant of the human at heart. All this because the aim first and foremost is to develop thinkers, and then and only then practitioners. Practice follows from theory and theory from abstract, almost mathematical logic, a dialectical process of reasoning and argumentation. Globally minded school leaders distinguish themselves as masters of the lost art of argument, engaging actively in public dialogue and debate that seeks information, not some false standard of objectivity in the betterment of the human condition. Finally, the anthropological attitude that pursues processes of meaning making and value creation—not limited to an understanding of indigenous cultures, but extending to human and social relations in all their infinite variety—is the attitude of the globally minded leader. Such a one, in this sense of the term, is never finished, but in a perpetual state of becoming, a learning organization bound only by the self-imposed limits of his or her own curiosity and imagination. But the nature of one’s convictions is especially important here; it determines one’s actions, which in turn determine our value as human beings and as citizens of the earth, in linking commonalities of thought to actions that matter. Where do our convictions lie? This is the question globally minded educational leaders, in their challenges to sovereignty at home and abroad, are continually asking themselves on this journey with their learners.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document