The Journal of Human Rights

The Journal of Human Rights

Solidarity; Syncretism of Peace and Friendship

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Seyed Mohsen Alavipour
Morteza Bahrani
Member of the Center for cultural and social studies
Abstract
Considered as a fundamental virtue in the classical political thought, “friendship” even outshined the other important virtues like “justice”. However, the emergence of modernity and the consequent epistemological rupture caused to the prevalence of other concepts as “security” and “peace” over “friendship”. Thus, humans, as the wolves of each other, forgot about classical virtues including “friendship”. However, the contemporary criticism of modern thought shows the necessity of revival and reinterpretation of classical political concepts. Meanwhile, returning to the importance of “friendship” in the classical thought, Jürgen Habermas syncretizes “friendship” and “peace”, believing that with making “solidarity” central, those two concepts can be realized simultaneously in the society. Thus, “solidarity” is the source of legitimate norm establishing in the modern society. Plato’s opposition to democracy –indeed only to a certain kind of it– shows that there is no necessary correlation between justice and peace on the one hand and democracy on the other hand.
 In this paper, having sated Plato’s view on justice, peace and democracy we will show what he regards as pre-conditions to reach justice and peace.
Keywords
Friendship
Security
peace
Solidarity

Subjects

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The Journal of Human Rights
Volume 04, Issue 2 - Serial Number 8
Issue 8
October 2009
Pages 21-40