Abstract
This chapter argues that there are theoretical benefits to understanding poverty as a kind of social relation: that is, a social position defined by the character of the interpersonal relationships a person is susceptible to losing or falling into in virtue of occupying that position. I begin with a methodological question: how, if at all, can philosophers as such make a valuable contribution to theoretical work on poverty? After sketching an answer to this question, I outline and motivate the general proposal that poverty can be understood as a social relation. In doing so, I draw an analogy to Sally Haslanger’s analysis of gender as a social position. Then I illustrate this proposal with two examples of the kinds of interpersonal relationships that figure in the content of poverty as a social relation: one positive (social networks) and one negative (invidious stereotyping). Finally, I conclude by considering an objection and sketching a few practical proposals.
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Notes
- 1.
For a canonical discussion of declining social capital in the American context, see Putnam (2000).
- 2.
For an overview, see The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (2014).
- 3.
For a popular overview of this phenomenon in the American context, see Rampell (2012).
- 4.
Among others, Larry Blum (2004) emphasizes these features of stereotypes.
- 5.
For a first-person discussion of this phenomenon, see Ehrenreich (2001).
- 6.
Even if it is too strong to say that respect for persons “consists in” giving appropriate weight to their interests (Raz 1986, p. 188), I take it that just about any plausible theory of respect holds that such a response is at least a necessary condition of respect for persons.
- 7.
For a discussion of this objection, see Scheffler (2015).
- 8.
A point vividly brought home in Desmond (2016).
- 9.
For an overview, see McKenna (2015).
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Putnam, D. (2020). Poverty as a Social Relation. In: Beck, V., Hahn, H., Lepenies, R. (eds) Dimensions of Poverty. Philosophy and Poverty, vol 2. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31711-9_3
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