Towards solidarity : the use and abuse of concepts of compassion

Compassion, self-sacrifice, heroism... There are countless words for selflessness. Their variety reflecting nuanced semantic distinctions and temporal variations. The selection of terminology is contingent upon the magnitude of the envisioned sacrifice and the pursued objective, with linguistic choices evolving alongside societal values pertaining to devotion. Conceptual history, by tracing the evolution of the thinking behind concern for others, represents a valuable approach to understanding the events of the past.

Through a meticulous analysis of specific cases, predominantly centered during the 19th and 20th centuries, this book gives fresh insights regarding the reconfiguration of ethical priorities intertwined with political transformations. These textual explorations show and interrogate the escalating discursive significance of the concept of solidarity. Thus, this book not only retrospectively examines how selfessness has been conceptualized and practiced in the past but also extends an invitation to deepen comprehension of the contemporary stakes inherent in such altruistic considerations.