Sorokin actively relied on the testimonies of saints and great people of the historical past in his works. How do you think modern science on altruism can utilize his insights while avoiding reliance on such subjective and potentially biased historical sources?
From the current perspective of altruism, the charismatic figures of the past that Sorokin points to in his book might seem very ill-suited to developing acceptable patterns of benevolence and caring. Sorokin even seems interested in strategies of mortification.
However, these figures of the past are representative of important advances—even with their contradictions and shortcomings—in the control of aggression and the development of empathy and altruism.
Behavioral concepts such as “charity,” “repentance,” “consolation,” “compassion,” or “mercy” are authentic “tools of the moral mind”; just as plows, boats, mills, or forges have been “tools of economic advancement.”
This suggests that, just as current technology has allowed for a vast increase in the productivity of human economic labor, perhaps in the future the “saints” who exist will be far more perfect and effective in propagating anti-aggressive and prosocial behaviors than those Sorokin points out as having great value in the past.
From the current perspective of altruism, the charismatic figures of the past that Sorokin points to in his book might seem very ill-suited to developing acceptable patterns of benevolence and caring. Sorokin even seems interested in strategies of mortification.
However, these figures of the past are representative of important advances—even with their contradictions and shortcomings—in the control of aggression and the development of empathy and altruism.
Behavioral concepts such as “charity,” “repentance,” “consolation,” “compassion,” or “mercy” are authentic “tools of the moral mind”; just as plows, boats, mills, or forges have been “tools of economic advancement.”
This suggests that, just as current technology has allowed for a vast increase in the productivity of human economic labor, perhaps in the future the “saints” who exist will be far more perfect and effective in propagating anti-aggressive and prosocial behaviors than those Sorokin points out as having great value in the past.