Social Values: Solidarity and Trust

Beyond the distinctly institutional focus of much research mentioned so far, I aspire to work out the attitudes and dispositions that individuals are required to hold for institutions to work properly. One important but underexplored concept in this context is solidarity. Whilst on leave from for a fellowship at the EUI in Florence, I started to work, in collaboration with Prof. Andrea Sangiovanni, on this concept, its value and prerequisites. Amongst the publications to come out of this is an edited volume on the philosophy of solidarity with OUP, a new contribution to the Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy, and articles that work out the prerequisites, demands and values of solidaristic practices. My work on solidarity and social trust is rooted in a desire to invigorate social inclusion and equality. In the future I plan to expand my research by presenting my account of solidarity in a monograph.