“Habits of the heart” and individualism
Abstract
The article examines R. Bellah’s cultural criticism of American society. Bellah understands individualism as a dominant social and moral phenomenon and asks for a return to biblical and republican traditions which individualism has undermined. The article contends that the justification of Bellah’s social criticism of individualism refers to the moral sphere, and that the conception of the politics of the “common good” he introduces as an answer is vague. Regarding the return to biblical traditions, the article contends that it is not a religious claim, but it refers to moral values and social practices. It is also argued that although Bellah attributes individualism to the loss of moral values, he also introduces claims for social equality, mainly in his later critique of individualism.
Article Details
- How to Cite
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Σιούφα Β. (2017). “Habits of the heart” and individualism. Greek Political Science Review, 43, 131–149. https://doi.org/10.12681/hpsa.14408
- Issue
- Vol. 43 (2015)
- Section
- Articles
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