Happiness, Democracy, and the Cooperative Movement

Mark J. Kaswan

Description

Happiness is political. The way we think about happiness affects what we do, how we relate to other people and the world around us, our moral principles, and even our ideas about how society should be organized. Utilitarianism, a political theory based on hedonistic and individualistic ideas of happiness, has been dominated for more than two-hundred years by its founder, Jeremy Bentham. In Happiness, Democracy, and the Cooperative Movement, Mark J. Kaswan examines the work of William Thompson, a friend of Bentham's who nonetheless offers a very different utilitarian philosophy and political theory based on a different conception of happiness, but whose work has been largely overlooked. Kaswan reveals the importance of our ideas about happiness for our understanding of the basic principles and nature of democracy, its role in society and its character as a social institution. In what is the closest examination of Thompson's political theory to date, Kaswan moves from philosophy to theory to practice, starting with conceptions of happiness before moving to theories of utility, then to democratic theory, and finally to practice in the first detailed account of how Thompson's ideas laid the foundations for the cooperative movement, which is now the world's largest democratic social movement.
Preface
Introduction

Part I: What is Happiness?

1. The Two Faces of Happiness: A Brief History

2. Between Pleasure and Well-being: Bentham

3. William Thompson’s Social Happiness

Part II: The Politics of Happiness

4. Happiness and Utility

5. The Politics of Happiness and Democratic Principles

6. From Theory to Practice: Cooperatives, Happiness, and Democratic Social Change

Conclusion

Appendix 1: Laws and Objects of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, adopted 1844 (abridged)
Appendix 2: International Co-operative Alliance Statement on the Co-operative Identity

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie politique

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 19 mai 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781438452050
• Langue: English

Extrait

HAPPINESS, DEMOCRACY, and the COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT
SUNY series in New Political Science Bradley J. Macdonald, editor
HAPPINESS, DEMOCRACY, and the COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT
The Radical Utilitarianism of William Thompson
Mark J. Kaswan
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
© 2014 State University of New York
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Printed in the United States of America
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kaswan, Mark J., 1962– Happiness, Democracy, and the Cooperative Movement: The Radical Utilitarianism of William Thompson / Mark J. Kaswan. pages cm. — (Suny series in new political science) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4384-5203-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Happiness. 2. Democracy. 3. Cooperation. 4. Utilitarianism. 5. Thompson, William, 1775-1833. 6. Bentham, Jeremy, 1748-1832. I. Title. BJ1481.K35 2014 320.01’9--dc23
2013028902
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Jaques
It is evident, therefore, that a physical change in the condition of man must precede the moral change which every sympathizing mind ardently wishes to see effected; and without some operation, some new and honest mode of traffic, which shall cauterize that plague-spot,—the present commercial system,—we may look in vain for human virtue and social harmony. Precept has ever fallen powerless before the rootedly sordid, mean, selfish, money-changing character which this wicked commercial system has given, with few exceptions, to every human being throughout the civilized world: and more particularly are its debasing effects conspicuous in our own country, where the principle has been pushed to its utmost limits. The system must cease.
—“Death of Mr. Thompson,” in John Minter Morgan, Hampden in the 19 th Century , 1834
A more important and more extensive change in human society was never contemplated by the mind of man.
—William Thompson
Contents
Preface
Introduction
PART I: WHAT IS HAPPINESS?
1: The Two Faces of Happiness: A Brief History
2: Between Pleasure and Well-being: Bentham
3: William Thompson’s Social Happiness
PART II: THE POLITICS OF HAPPINESS
4: Happiness and Utility
5: The Politics of Happiness and Democratic Principles
6: From Theory to Practice: Cooperatives, Happiness, and Democratic Social Change
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Laws and Objects of the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, adopted 1844 (abridged)
Appendix 2: International Co-operative Alliance Statement on the Co-operative Identity, adopted 1995
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Preface
This book has two primary topics, or, as I like to think of them, valences: First, it seeks to demonstrate that the concept of happiness is a significant political concept, and that different ways of conceptualizing happiness have very significant political consequences. Second, it seeks to resuscitate a political theory of cooperatives as agents for broadbased social change. I started with the second of these two objects, and admittedly it was not without surprise that I found myself working on the first. However, the more attention that I gave to happiness, the stronger my sense became that it was a matter of vital importance to political theory that had long been overlooked.
I arrived at happiness as a central topic because in my work to develop a political theory of cooperatives I started with the first person to articulate such a theory, William Thompson, who I soon learned had a close association with Jeremy Bentham. But, although Thompson and Bentham share a conceptual framework, they arrive at very different conclusions—Bentham being one of the great theorists of liberal capitalism, and Thompson one of the founders of socialism. One day, in an empty classroom at UCLA, I drew out a conceptual map of their ideas in parallel, to try to trace out the point at which they diverged. That point was happiness; they understand happiness differently, and the rest of their differences flow from there. The rest, as they say, is history.
I have received inspiration, ideas and advice from many sources, but the first to acknowledge here is my father, Jaques, as his contribution extends far beyond the love and support one might hope for from one’s parents. His interest and active involvement in the development of cooperatives as a means to build a better society based on principles of justice and equality not only inspired me, but gave me practical experience in the kinds of organizational settings that are the ultimate object of my theoretical work. That my parents gave me the space and ample time to arrive at their conclusions through my own circuitous route speaks volumes for the quality of not only their ideas but also their character. Though my approach leaves my father and me with plenty to talk about, the fact of the matter is that this book reflects a perspective developed through discussions we have had over many years.
As with so many academic “first books,” this one started as a doctoral dissertation, and Carole Pateman, my advisor at UCLA, deserves as much credit as can be given for someone in her position. Her influence extends much farther than just shepherding the dissertation, of course, as I first encountered William Thompson in her work; early on she pointed out the importance of subordination; and from her I learned that there was more to utilitarianism than Jeremy Bentham’s felicific calculus. And, post-completion, I have benefited in many ways from her ongoing support, mentorship, and, dare I say, friendship. The other members of my dissertation committee, Ray Rocco, Perry Anderson, and Giulia Sissa, also provided much valuable insight and support, both in and out of the classroom, for which I am grateful. One of the great values of graduate school is the opportunity to forge strong supportive relationships with one’s peers, and I feel that I have been especially fortunate in this regard. In this light I warmly acknowledge the help of my friends, Helen McManus, Fred Lee, Rebekah Sterling, Paul Osher, Theo Christov, Alex Schulman, Mary McThomas, and Hector Perla.
A number of individuals have provided me with valuable inspiration, encouragement, support and feedback for this project. One of the most important was an anonymous reviewer for SUNY Press (whom I now know to have been Stephen Engelmann) who gave the work both high praise and detailed criticism from a close read that enabled me to strengthen the text considerably. I must also thank Helen McManus for agreeing with the reviewer and helping me think through the revisions. Carlos Figueroa provided lastminute comments along with the solution to a problem that had troubled me almost from the very beginning of the work. And Jim Crimmins’s detailed feedback on an earlier version of the manuscript was also of great value. These individuals deserve absolutely no part of the blame for any errors, but much of the praise for the better qualities of this work.
Other individuals who deserve special mention are Dolores Dooley, who generously provided information and material in true cooperative spirit, and Michael Quinn and Stephen Engelmann, whose comments greatly improved chapter 2 . Chapter 4 was substantially strengthened thanks to a lengthy discussion and subsequent email exchange with Phillip Schofield. Some of the ideas expressed in this work appeared in early form in 2007 in my article, “Happiness, Politics and the Co-operative Principles” ( Journal of Cooperative Studies 40, no. 1 (April): 30–40; London: UK Society for Cooperative Studies), and I thank the editor, Paul A. Jones, as well as Molly Scott Cato and two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. Terence Ball provided crucial early encouragement, support, and advice about publishing. Others who provided encouragement and feedback include Gar Alperovitz, Mark Bevir, Craig Borowiak, Marc Stears, Bradley MacDonald, Sandy Thatcher, and John Parrish.
Work on the book was greatly aided by my receipt of a J. Robert Beyster Fellowship in 2010 and the Michael W. Huber Fellowship in 2011 through the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations. Although much of the work I am doing through the fellowship pertains to a future project, I must express my gratitude for the generosity of Mary Ann Beyster and the support of Joseph Blasi and Doug Kruse, who direct the Beyster Fellowship program at Rutgers SMLR. The people I have gotten to know through the Beyster Program, particularly Joan Meyers, Erik Olsen, Phil Melizzo, Daphne Berry, Christopher Mackin, David Ellerman, Frank Shipper, and Francesco Bova, have given me much support and encouragement, and have helped me understand that there are many ways of working toward the same goals.
The role of family with respect to happiness is not discussed much in this book, but my own experience has demonstrated to me its importance. No mere acknowledgment can express the depth of gratitude I have for Elizabeth MacDowell. Her critical eye has improved my writing and challenged my thinking in innumerable ways, but more important, she has demonstrated the value of focus and perseverance, of the possibility of change, and of dreaming the impractical. And our daughter, Zoë, I thank for putting up with her father sometimes being a wee bit overstressed, especially in the dissertation stage, and for the remarkable clarity and cogency of youth. I also want to thank my sister, Alice, who provided much crucial support at critical times,