Just hierarchy : why social hierarchies matter in China and the rest of the world / Daniel Bell & Pei Wang

By: Bell, Daniel Pei, WangContributor(s): Bell, Daniel | Pei, WangMaterial type: TextTextPublisher number: :International Book Distributors | :Flat No 17, Prakash Apartment 4405/2, 5 Ansari Road Darya Ganj New DelhiPublication details: Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, ©2020Description: x, 270 pages 24cmISBN: 9780691200897Subject(s): Social Sciences | Social interaction | Social groups | Social groups -- China | Hierarchies | Hierarchies -- China | PHILOSOPHY -- Political | ChinaDDC classification: 302.35 BEL
Contents:
What's wrong with hierarchy? -- In defense of hierarchy -- From China to the world -- Relations with friends -- Relations with lovers -- Relations with family members -- Relations with housekeepers -- Justifying hierarchical political rule in Chinese context -- Is it possible to limit political power without competitive elections? -- Political meritocracy as the problem, political meritocracy as the solution -- Justifying a hierarchical political system to those outside the system -- Hierarchical ideals of global order in ancient India -- Hierarchical ideals of global order in ancient China -- One world, two hierarchical systems? -- Are animals our equals? --Domesiticated animals : subordination with care -- Eating animals : subordination with humane exploitation -- Marx on machines -- The role of Confucian role ethics -- Silicon Valley vs. the Chinese Communist Party.
Summary: A trenchant defense of hierarchy in different spheres of our lives, from the personal to the politicalAll complex and large-scale societies are organized along certain hierarchies, but the concept of hierarchy has become almost taboo in the modern world. Just Hierarchy contends that this stigma is a mistake. In fact, as Daniel Bell and Wang Pei show, it is neither possible nor advisable to do away with social hierarchies. Drawing their arguments from Chinese thought and culture as well as other philosophies and traditions, Bell and Wang ask which forms of hierarchy are justified and how these can serve morally desirable goals. They look at ways of promoting just forms of hierarchy while minimizing the influence of unjust ones, such as those based on race, sex, or caste. Which hierarchical relations are morally justified and why? Bell and Wang argue that it depends on the nature of the social relation and context. Different hierarchical principles ought to govern different kinds of social relations: what justifies hierarchy among intimates is different than what justifies hierarchy among citizens, countries, humans and animals, and humans and intelligent machines. Morally justified hierarchies can and should govern different spheres of our social lives, though these will be very different than the unjust hierarchies that have governed us in the past. A vigorous, systematic defense of hierarchy in the modern world, Just Hierarchy examines how hierarchical social relations can have a useful purpose, not only in personal domains but also in larger political realms
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302.35 BEL (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Available 28048
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What's wrong with hierarchy? --
In defense of hierarchy --
From China to the world --
Relations with friends --
Relations with lovers --
Relations with family members --
Relations with housekeepers --
Justifying hierarchical political rule in Chinese context --
Is it possible to limit political power without competitive elections? --
Political meritocracy as the problem, political meritocracy as the solution --
Justifying a hierarchical political system to those outside the system --
Hierarchical ideals of global order in ancient India --
Hierarchical ideals of global order in ancient China --
One world, two hierarchical systems? --
Are animals our equals? --Domesiticated animals : subordination with care --
Eating animals : subordination with humane exploitation --
Marx on machines --
The role of Confucian role ethics --
Silicon Valley vs. the Chinese Communist Party.

A trenchant defense of hierarchy in different spheres of our lives, from the personal to the politicalAll complex and large-scale societies are organized along certain hierarchies, but the concept of hierarchy has become almost taboo in the modern world. Just Hierarchy contends that this stigma is a mistake. In fact, as Daniel Bell and Wang Pei show, it is neither possible nor advisable to do away with social hierarchies. Drawing their arguments from Chinese thought and culture as well as other philosophies and traditions, Bell and Wang ask which forms of hierarchy are justified and how these can serve morally desirable goals. They look at ways of promoting just forms of hierarchy while minimizing the influence of unjust ones, such as those based on race, sex, or caste. Which hierarchical relations are morally justified and why? Bell and Wang argue that it depends on the nature of the social relation and context. Different hierarchical principles ought to govern different kinds of social relations: what justifies hierarchy among intimates is different than what justifies hierarchy among citizens, countries, humans and animals, and humans and intelligent machines. Morally justified hierarchies can and should govern different spheres of our social lives, though these will be very different than the unjust hierarchies that have governed us in the past. A vigorous, systematic defense of hierarchy in the modern world, Just Hierarchy examines how hierarchical social relations can have a useful purpose, not only in personal domains but also in larger political realms

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