1. Evaluating the Claims of Social Capital Theory Using an Aristotelian Framework.
- Author
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Goldsmith, Melissa M.
- Subjects
- *
SOCIAL capital , *SOCIAL networks , *CAPITALISM , *POLITICAL science , *COMMUNITIES , *CITIZENSHIP - Abstract
In Bowling Alone, Putnam (2000) relies on economic terminology such as "goods," "investment," and "productivity" to define social capital (Smith and Kulynych 2002). This emphasis on capitalism when discussing social networks obfuscates the importance of cultivating community, trust, and reciprocity among the citizenry. In this paper, I utilize Aristotle's conceptualization of the city and citizenship, as put forth in The Politics and The Nichomachean Ethics, as a theoretical framework to evaluate the implications of Putnam's definitions of social capital theory. Aristotle's arguments with regard to the city and citizenship indicate that fundamental changes would have to be made within the institutions and the priorities of the United States in order for a more cohesive, civically-engaged community to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2004
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