Rethinking Self-Responsibility

An Alternative Vision to the Neoliberal Concept of Freedom

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3759397
AutoresMassimo Pendenza (0000-0001-8240-4794, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy, autor correspondente), Vanessa Lamattina (University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy)
Ano2019
Volume63
Fascículo1
Páginas100-115
Data de publicação2019-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764218816827
OpenAlexW2902173483
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas32

In current societies, the freedom of the individual is at the center of mainstream public and political debate. For neoliberals, the individual is conceived as an unattached, self-responsible market player. However, this perspective has highly destructive consequences for societies. We contrast this conception of the individual with that of Durkheim, endorsing Durkheim's. Our thesis is that the neoliberal notion of the individual, freedom, society, and the State rejects any idea of responsibility-of one individual toward others, of the State toward individuals, and even of individuals toward themselves-emphasizing the absolute autonomy of the individual. For neoliberals, society is an environment in which a new kind of individual is formed, whose modus vivendi is focused on self-entrepreneurship and the obsessive acquisition of resources to achieve success in a competitive system. In contrast, Durkheim highlights the moral nature of society and the reciprocal obligations of individuals. For him, the individual is part of the State, not against it, and, consequently, he considers neither the individual nor the State as subordinate to economic freedom and the needs of the market. Thus, Durkheim emphasizes a social vision with regard to freedom, justice, solidarity, and the responsibility of the individual and the State based on his perception that human behavior operates within particular fields of action that are formed by various social engagements

Action (physics · Autonomy · Environmental ethics · Individualism · Law and economics · Moral responsibility · Neoliberalism (international relations · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Solidarity · State (computer science · Emile Durkheim and Sociology · Law · Social Sciences and Governance