Civil Society As The Organized

Civil Society as the Organized
Commonwealth
1. The focus is on civil society in ancient Greek and Roman thought, including the common good,
citizenship, governing structures, and ethical foundations laid by Plato and Aristotle.
2. Cicero emphasized grounding justice in natural law to maintain civic virtue and combat corruption,
adapting Aristotle's mixed constitution to promote the common good and safeguard individual
differences.
3. The Roman concept of 'res publica' differentiated between public and private spheres, influencing
medieval constitutionalism.
4. The text also explores the evolution of religion in Greece and Rome, its independence in the Middle
Ages, and its impact on Augustine's theories of organizing public and private life through a centralized
Church.
Greek and Roman thinkers emphasized civil society, governance, ethics, and citizenship. Plato focused
on ethics in public life, while Aristotle developed moral and political concepts. Cicero highlighted
natural law and civic virtue, and the Roman 'res publica' concept distinguished public and private
spheres. Stoicism promoted a universal civil society governed by reason.
The Transition to Modernity
Machiavelli emphasized civic institutions and good laws, setting the foundation for Locke and Smith's
ideas on civil society. The concept of a mixed constitution is crucial in managing class conflicts.
Hobbes believed in a single sovereign power to prevent civil war and maintain order, emphasizing
state power for domestic peace. He also stressed the necessity of common power to prevent endless
war and facilitate mutual trust.
The Civil Society of “Economic Man”
Locke's theory of civil society emphasizes the importance of a disinterested authority to protect
acquisition and accumulation rights through the rule of law. He believed that economic laws can
effectively organize society for individual benefit, with citizenship tied to property rights for the
protection of natural rights. Locke's focus on private interests and wealth creation suggests that a
limited state, governed by the rule of law, allows individuals to pursue their interests peacefully while
separating the state and economy from the broader social body.Adam Smith extends Locke's theory
of civil society by emphasizing the central role of economic processes in civilized life. He advocates for
minimal political regulation, highlighting the significance of markets and the division of labor in
shaping civil society.
Locke's theory focuses on a limited state protecting acquisition and accumulation rights through the
rule of law, while Adam Smith emphasizes the importance of economic processes and markets in
shaping civil society.
Beyond Civil Society

Immanuel Kant envisioned civil society founded on moral duty and universal principles, emphasizing
self-governance and autonomy through political institutions. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel criticized
Kant's formalism, arguing that equality, republican institutions, and civil liberties were insufficient.
Hegel's civil society concept revolved around subjectivity, property, and competition, allowing
individual self-interest, potentially limiting moral freedom. In contrast, Karl Marx proposed
democratizing civil society by extending emancipation to economics, eliminating private property, and
recognizing the proletariat as the universal class, aligning with democratic and socialist principles.
Civil Society and Associations

Here's a concise summary:
In the 1980s, East European intellectuals blamed communism's crisis on state interference in civil
society. Critics rejected Marxism's politicization and suppression of spontaneous activities. This led to
skepticism towards state intervention and fueled a right-wing movement advocating limited state
intervention and individual freedoms.
Influential thinkers like Alexis de Tocqueville emphasized civil society's role in balancing equality,
localism, and materialism. However, contemporary conditions challenge these assumptions,
particularly regarding increasing inequality.
Critics argue:
1. Localism and voluntarism don't inherently promote democracy.

2. Civil society alone can't address systemic inequalities and power imbalances.
3. Democratic political action is essential for challenging entrenched wealth and privilege.
Key points:
- Civil society's autonomy is crucial.

- State intervention can be harmful.
- Democracy requires addressing systemic inequalities.
- Local initiatives are valuable but insufficient.
- Democratic political action is indispensable.

Civil Society As The Organized

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Civil Society as the Organized

Beyond Civil Society

Civil Society and Associations

1. Localism and voluntarism don't inherently promote democracy.

- Civil society's autonomy is crucial.

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