Principles, Models, and Representations of the Social Order

Abstract

This paper analyzes the hypothesis according to which, having a great importance in the history of mankind, social order is characterized by peaceful coexistence rather than violence, by predictability rather than hazard, and by cooperation rather than isolation. The aim of the study is to underline that, in practice, all these features could not ensure the desirable social order which, on its turn, has to be linked with good and justice. Among the various models of social order analyzed by political philosophy and political theory, we have settled on the one that takes into account the way in which social order is experienced by individuals. Thus, individuals acquire different representations of social order. In everyday life, people use different cognitive and conceptual schemes for explaining and justifying social order and the features of social relationships. Our thesis is that, for having a better understanding of both the individuals’ behavior and ideals, it is important to identify and analyze the intellectual origins related to the models of social order. In this respect, we present several liberal philosophical perspectives related to Hobbes and Locke’s works. Moreover, we correlate this approach with other important philosophical directions, theorized in the sphere of conservative, libertarian and communitarian political philosophy. In accordance with these normative perspectives, the paper highlights the nexus between political philosophy and psychology in shaping different patterns of political representations related with social order.

Keywords: Communitarianism, Conservatism, justice, Liberalism, Libertarianism, social order, social representation