Review Of "The Virtue Of Solidarity" Edited By A. Sangiovanni And J. Viehoff

In this excellent anthology of original work, 12 philosophers explore conceptual, historical, and normative questions and issues pertaining to solidarity from a variety of perspectives. The word itself is of mid 19th-century French origin—where it was used to mark commonality and mutual obligation—and carries its origin into contemporary Anglo-American philosophy. The essays are substantive and carefully argued, and often conflict with one another in enlightening ways. At the most fundamental level, all agree that that the concept of solidarity applies to cases where the relations between people satisfy some conditions of unity or togetherness. At the same time, the authors have differing conceptions of solidarity. For example, there are disagreements as to whether solidarity is always a good thing, the extent to which being in solidarity is compatible with universal commitments, and the ways in which it differs from closely related notions, such as fraternity. Different types of solidarity are also explored: e.g., social, civic, and political. There is thoughtful discussion, too, of paradigmatic versus non-standard cases. Finally, there are detailed discussions by sociologists and philosophers who have written about the topic. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates through faculty.