Solidarity

Abstract

Solidarity is distinctively collective virtue is a virtue of a collective (or group) for which there is no individual analog; that is, there is no corresponding virtue V of individuals, from which the collective version of V could be derived. Political Solidarity, that: “one cannot be in solidarity with oneself”. This chapter is exploratory in spirit. It brings virtue theory to bear on some key accounts of political solidarity, flagging several points of controversy along the way. Any analysis of solidarity will need to account for a simple datum: groups of “bad actors” can have solidarity. For group members, it can result in uncritical deference, mindless outsourcing, and thoughtless conformity. For marginalized subgroups, it can result in self-silencing and self-censorship. A group has the trait of solidarity to the extent that its members are disposed to share values, aims, or goals, care about those values, aims, or goals.