Socialism through convergence,or: Why a socialist society does not need to be a fraternal community

Abstract

In this article, first of all, I point out the difference I perceive between the conception of social freedom Honneth delineates in Freedom’s Right and the one, inspired by the proto-socialists’ principle of fraternity, that I see operating in The Idea of Socialism (section I). Then, I discuss the advisability of envisaging the future socialist society, as Honneth does, in terms of a ‘fraternal coexistence’, in which a benevolent and fraternal attitude should guide everyone’s actions towards others (section II). Finally, I sketch out a conception that, in being compatible with Honneth’s idea of ‘social freedom’, does not need to rely on the decidedly substantive element of fraternity: thereby, it may prove itself more feasible and potentially attractive to the subjects of complex, pluralistic societies (section III).