Organicism: Difference between revisions

'''Organicism''' is a political and moral philosophy based on the existence of organically developed, interconnected societies and public life as an expression of these concepts. Organicists argue that all human persons are social animals and, consequently, humans are created to be governed and live in society. In this model, since society is an organically developed set of social relationships to which all individuals are subject, it is in society's interests to ensure the common good, defined as "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily".  Organicists espouse a somewhat wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but they generally support {{wp|social democracy}}, organized religion, moral law as public law, degrees of social equality, with some proponents of organicism supporting nationalism or [[organic socialism]].

Organicism became a distinct movement in the 18th century, when it became popular among [[Occidental]] philosophers and economists as a position contra {{wp|social contract theory}}. Organicism sought to reform the norms of hereditary privilege, state religion, absolute monarchy, the divine right of kings and traditional conservatism into more inclusive systems without creating a definitive rupture. Organicists reject both absolutism and the social contract, and consequently spent much of the 18th and early 19th centuries opposed by both liberals and absolutists. Organicist criticism of absolutism specifically came from the perspective of restoration or defense of traditional, inclusive forms of society, such as local communes and the paternal obligation of Monarchy. Organicism also proposed its own view of history and society, eschewing {{wp|whig history}} in favor of continuity thesis and other similar ideas.

Organicists get their name from the application of their theory on the origin of the State, saying that States and societies develop "''organically''" with each other throughout history. Organicism exists contrary to most other ideology, particularly orthodox {{wp|socialism}} and liberalism, which argue that certain constructions of the State utilize power structures which are contrary to human nature. From the organic origin of the State, organicists espouse what's called the principle of limited applicability. When used in practice, this view allows for a flexible and pragmatic approach to constructing political positions. Most major organic philosophers adopt positions which view {{wp|revolution}} as generally abhorrent as they "disrupt institutions developed over time with respect to social conditions, time and place" (Rebin). The organicist position, both historically and theoretically, has been towards gradual reforms.  

Organicists believe {{wp|organized religion}} to be the central cultural element of society, both from what they call the "objective perspective" - in the sense that religion is ''true'' - and from the "subjective perspective" - that it is a unifying element which calls believers together in solidarity and has been since the dawn of man. Most organicists note, from the "subjective perspective", that the practice of religion orders individuals towards the common good due to the teaching of most - but not all - organized religions (the issue of [[Arzalism]] has long vexed Organic philosophers). Most Organic philosophers largely focus on the subjective benefit of religion, since the objective perspective is viewed as more appropriate to {{wp|Theology|theologians}}. Central to the subjective benefit is the principle of "religion is the practice of the whole", creating increased social buy-in across society.