Overview
Presents an original perspective on research concerning the relationship between ethics and economics
Will hold value for scholars across a range of fields including anthropology, sociology, business, economics, ethics, philosophy, and religion
Brings an unusual perspective to a phenomenon that is widely acknowledged and often taken for granted
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Table of contents (9 chapters)
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Front Matter
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The Phenomenon of Competition
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Front Matter
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Competition and Anthropology
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
In this book, author Svein Olaf Thorbjørnsen probes the question: What is at stake for human beings in a society dominated by competition, particularly economic competition? Is competition endemic to human nature? Does it preserve the dignity and intrinsic value of the human being? Does it secure better living conditions? In a way, the answer to these queries is a simple “yes.” It can allow for superior satisfaction of fundamental needs; legitimate self-love and self-realization; and encourage positive feelings upon mastering a skill. At the same time, however, competition can also contribute to a strong materialistic self-interest and support classicism, social ranking, and elitism: other human beings become only means to a personal success, thus jeopardizing fellowship and collaboration. In a hyper-competitive environment, some of the same positive human values mentioned above—self-love, self-realisation, individuality, and freedom—can be viewed to pose a threat to the realisation of one’s potential and to one’s true humanity. These competing, contradictory aspects of competition are presented and discussed from perspectives across varying disciplines, from social anthropology and economics to history, ethics, philosophy and theology.
Reviews
—Carl-Henric Grenholm, Professor of Ethics, Uppsala University, Sweden
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Dr. Svein Olaf Thorbjørnsen is Professor at MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: What Happens to People in a Competitive Society
Book Subtitle: An Anthropological Investigation of Competition
Authors: Svein Olaf Thorbjørnsen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22133-1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-22132-4Published: 25 January 2020
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-22135-5Published: 26 August 2021
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-22133-1Published: 24 January 2020
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XI, 423
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations
Topics: Ethics, Social Anthropology, Moral Philosophy, Social Philosophy, Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Economics, general