Single Idea 20532

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people]

Full Idea

Love, or at least affection, not justice, is the first virtue of the family. Should mutual affection also be the first virtue of social and political institutions?

Gist of Idea

Should love be the first virtue of a society, as it is of the family?

Source

Jonathan Wolff (An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) [2006], 6 'Transcending')

Book Reference

Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.196


A Reaction

Surely this ideal should be at the heart of any society, no matter how far away from the ideal it is pushed by events and failures of character? I take 'respect' to be the form of love we feel for strangers.