The Brotherhood Ideal in Western Civilisation

Abstract

Although much lip service is paid to brotherhood in this country by preachers, teachers and politicians, the concept remains poorly understood. For the purposes of this article, the brotherhood ideal is defined broadly as behaviour among adult male human beings of the same generation, belonging to the same extended family, and living in a community, that ensures maximum well being and survivability of the entire family or community. In other words, it is behaviour that maximises the social welfare function of the entire family or community. A sisterhood ideal can be defined analogously, and group‐enhancing behaviour by family members of both sexes might be termed the brotherhood‐sisterhood ideal. Since this behaviour is learned gradually as the individual matures, it can be described as voluntary in the sense that it is not imposed by a legal authority external to the family.

Citation

Niedercorn, J.H. and Lichman, B. (1985), "The Brotherhood Ideal in Western Civilisation", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 12 No. 6/7, pp. 80-89. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb013997