James Laing (Faculty of Philosophy, Oxford): 'Belonging'
Abstract: An idea common to bell hooks, Johann Gottfried von Herder, and many equality, diversity, and inclusion units has it that we have a need to belong. But what do we want in wanting to belong? And how is the concept of belonging related to the nearby concepts of solidarity and attachment (to a group or a place)? I have three aims in this talk. First, I will argue that existing discussions of ‘belonging’ tend to conflate two distinct social goods: those of belonging in a group and belonging in a place. Second, I will offer an elaboration of each of these concepts of belonging and, in doing so, will argue that we should resist the temptation to reduce the concept of belonging in a place to the concept of belonging in a group (or vice-versa). Finally, I draw upon this understanding of belonging to distinguish the notion of belonging in a place with that of solidarity, and both notions of belonging from that of attachment (to a group or place).
Registration: If you do not hold a university card, please contact the seminar convenor or admin@philosophy.ox.ac.uk at least two working days before a seminar to register your attendance.
Workshop in Moral Philosophy Convenor: David Owens
