Altruism, Morality, and Social Solidarity as a Field of Study

Affective and calculative solidarity: The impact of individualism and neoliberal capitalism

“…They are based on presumptions about human needs and human nature regarding what enables people to flourish or suffer. Among these unexplored presuppositions is the one that modernity’s human relationships are atomized and hierarchical, with self-interest being asserted as the fundamental principle governing contemporary human relations (Jeffries, 2014). This has created a sociological model of ‘the lonely stranger of modernity who selects his ( sic ) relationships in the same manner as his other purchases and who can know no loyalty because all his loyalty is vested in his own internal desires’ (Archer, 2000: 54).…”

“…The article closes by discussing the importance of moving outside liberal (and neoliberal) models of the human person that are implicit in much of the social scientific analysis of the politics of solidarity and social change (Alexander, 2014; Jeffries, 2014). By default, if not by design, these cognitive frames peripheralize the analysis of morally-led political activism that could promote affective as opposed to narrow calculative forms of solidarity.…”

A Convivial Journey: From Diversity in Istanbul to Solidarity with Refugees in Denmark

“…In the design of the quantitative part of the research, we built on the notions of mutual and altruistic solidarity, which are not mutually exclusive concepts. Altruism includes both the intent and behaviour that ranges from philanthropy, generosity, and volunteering with the aim to benefit others (Jeffries 2014). Solidarity refers to intergroup interaction, when people bond together and unite over common goals (Jeffries 2014).…”

“…Altruism includes both the intent and behaviour that ranges from philanthropy, generosity, and volunteering with the aim to benefit others (Jeffries 2014). Solidarity refers to intergroup interaction, when people bond together and unite over common goals (Jeffries 2014). Solidarity thus can be in the form of in-group cooperation and can be mutual, where there is a self-interested reciprocal exchange among the people who engage with it (Bruni 2008).…”

Towards an integrative sociological theory of empathy

“…Moral relativism, in addition to various critiques of the immorality of racism, sexism and classism in Western society, soon took the place of a substantive study of empathy (Black, 2013;Lukes, 2008). Yet, over the last decade and a half, the sociology of morality has experienced a resurgence (see Jeffries, 2014;Hitlin & Vaisey, 2010). Hitlin's (Hitlin, 2008;Hitlin & Piliavin, 2004) re-engagement with the concept of values, Vaisey's and Miles' (2014) synthetic integration of moral psychology, Tavory's (2011) formalization of moral action, Stets' and Carters' (2012) analysis of the moral identity, Abend's (2014) study of American business ethics in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and Simpson's and Willer's (2015) analysis of moral rules and reputation have all (among other important work) aided significantly in reviving the sociology of morality.…”