Civic Attachments & Sibling Attractions: The Shadows of Fraternity, by Stefani Engelstein, in The Goethe Yearbook (original) (raw)
Related papers
The Forgotten Principle: Fraternity in Its Public Dimension
Claritas Journal of Dialogue and Culture, 2013
In this article, the author presents background on the notion of fraternity, as well as events in Europe and in Latin America during the past decade or so that have led to a new scholarship on this "forgotten principle." This scholarship that began in Europe, spread to Latin America, and then back to Europe with new insights and publications in the fields of philosophy, political science, sociology, psychology, economics, and theology. The author cites publications in both Europe and Latin America that have been important contributions to this scholarship. Chiara Lubich, as we will see in the following articles, has contributed to this intellectual movement. And Pope Francis has proclaimed that "fraternity" will be the theme of the Day for Peace in 2014.
Fraternity, understood as an interpersonal relationship between two or more subjects, is expressed and made concrete in a specific type of goods: relational goods. Relational goods are born on a micro level in the lifeworlds (primary relational goods), but then they can originate forms of civil associations and organizations at a meso level (secondary relational goods), thus contributing to giving a specific configuration to an entire community or society. This contribution aims to explain this important way of considering and making operational the meaning of fraternity. To understand the role of relational goods in creating a fraternal society, we must start from the observation that modern society, typically Western, was built on the basis of the principles of (individual) freedom and equality (between individuals), putting aside the principle of fraternité. But a society like this has limits that lead it to self-defeat. Freedom and equality require the «third», i.e. fraternity, otherwise they fall into lib/lab systems which generate inequalities and threaten fundamental human rights.
Fraternity, familial relationships, and politics in the light of the encyclical Fratelli tutti
Forum Teologiczne, 2022
Based on the dignity and intrinsic sociability of the human person, this article asserts the importance of fraternity and family relationships in social life and politics. Too many dreams about political integration have been shattered lately, while new walls of aggressive nationalism and isolationism are being built. In this situation, people everywhere feel the need for good politics and for "a healthy injection of family spirit." (AL 183) However, there can be no universal fraternity without good politics "built upon respect for law and frank dialogue between individuals." (FT 196
A FRATERNITY AS A (COSMO)POLITICAL CATEGORY
A FRATERNITY AS A (COSMO)POLITICAL CATEGORY
Is fraternity an exclusively ethical and religious category or can it also play a relevant role in political theory and practice? This is the question/challenge posed by Antonio Maria Baggio in his collective book: The Forgotten Principle. Fraternity in contemporary political reflection. In this short essay, we have tried to take up the challenge by proposing some initial reflections on the subject as part of a broader debate that Prof. Baggio and his interlocutors are conducting. The central hypothesis is to define the concepts of fraternity starting from the capacity to promote greater social solidarity, as concentric rings that tend to widen to the idea of a tendentially universal fraternity. We will develop our theme by proposing a dialogue between the evangelical reading of fraternity and Max Weber's sociological reading. The author begins with an affirmation of the religious roots of fraternity, a category which is present in various religions, and in deed fundamental in Judaism and Christianity. He examines three concepts of fraternity: as consanguinity, as an ethical principle, and as a cosmopolitical category. He shows the historical impact of fra- ternity and analyses some "realist" criticisms. He suggests some ar eas for further study and for the development of the idea of fraternity: exploring the dialectic of identity and otherness, a dialectic of intersubjectivity, and its application to international solidarity. In this way, the idea of fraternity can assume a measure of importance in intercultural and international relations, because it develops Bar tolomeo de Las Casas' guiding idea that 'humanity is one'.
Fraternity: Redefining the Frontiers of Being and Becoming a ‘Brother’
Little Flower Institute of Philosophy and Religion , 2023
This study is an effort to devise a comprehensive vision of Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti. The reading of this social encyclical will provide a possibility for developing a new philosophical anthropology. As a leader, his strategy seems to be to initiate processes that lead to transformation. I firmly believe that Pope Francis has offered us a bold vision of meaning and hope against a backdrop of chaos, uncertainty, and dehumanization in world of crisis. I hope that this thesis will help us to understand that ultimately, we are not ‘You’ and ‘I’; instead we are inseparably bound together as a family, to become brothers and sisters.
Palgrave Studies in the History of the Media, 2020
If the underlying theme of the "Universal Fraternity" movies I discuss in this chapter could be redacted down to a sentence, it would echo the words of Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?" The Great War films during this period, made as the world seemed to move towards a conflict the vast majority of the populations of the UK and US dreaded, tended to emphasize the oneness of humanity-a brotherhood (and sisterhood) beyond nation or culture. Of course, this did not mean that all nations were equal-the German government could not be trusted and the Allied soldiers were still noble in their bravery. However, according to these films, the "good" people of Germany could not really be blamed for fighting, after all, who fights against their own country? These apolitical Germans were just used as pawns and manipulated by their government, in the same way, if to a greater extent, that almost everyone else had. If another war was to happen, it would be because of crazed political fanatics in some country, somewhere. Regular people were not to blame. This concept of the essential fraternity of the human race necessitated a kind of resignation and acceptance as to the nature of the world in the outlook of these films. Since the grand narratives of political and military pursuits do not lead to happiness, individuals must look to interpersonal relationships to create meaning. This implicit belief in the inability of governments and societies to solve problems at the end of a decade of economic privation and the spectre of war is not particularly surprising,
Reflexive cooperation between fraternity and social involvement
Philosophy & Social Criticism, 2019
This paper explores Axel Honneth's long-standing philosophical interest for solidarity in the larger context of contemporary theories of democracy. It identifies three models to which Honneth resorts to conceptualize solidarity, and which he tries to reconcile: abstract solidarity, fraternal coexistence, and reflexive cooperation. The paper examines these three models in turn, retracing them back to different works and moments of Honneth's career, and relates them to the three intellectual tradition that have had the larger influence on Honneth's thought: Hegelianism, socialism, and American pragmatism.