In defense of the heart

Abstract

The concept of defence-respect is elaborated here as a cornerstone of Urarina ethics and politics and alternative to the concept of respect inherited from the Kantian tradition. While similarly expressing a kind of liberal and egalitarian ethos, it is founded on very different premises, for the worth of an individual has little to with their inherent dignity or membership of a common humanity, and emerges instead from concrete, practical knowledge in the context of an ongoing relationship.Defence-respect demands a willingness to take on responsibility for another's wellbeing and to abstain from certain forms of evaluation or judgement. It is not opposed to love or care, but as an art of diplomacy and civility and vehicle of moral power, proves crucial for the successful management of social distance.