A society of mistrustthe new article by Victoria Campsbursting with the power of philosophical analysis that directly challenges a society characterized by loneliness and apathy. In this book, the author examines how extreme individualism has eroded trust in institutions, in others, and in oneself, and condemns the confusion between independence and isolation, as well as between freedom and irresponsibility.
A society of mistrust
E-book
The text of the camps delves into criticism NeoliberalismAnd deconstructing the idea that independence constitutes the highest virtue. The Catalan philosopher asserts that reducing freedom to the practice of pure selfishness does not represent true freedom. From this premise, Camps – the Spanish philosopher and professor born in 1941 in Barcelona – locates in exacerbated individualism the roots of the general distrust that characterizes contemporary society. The proliferation of verification mechanisms, such as fact-checkers, is presented as a symptom of this crisis: when trust disappears, everything must be proven.
In its 216 pages, the author presents an intellectual journey ranging from Bioethics until educationPassing through old age and political communication. His argument is supported by a range of references that include: Aristotle, Byung-chul Han, Kant and Michael SandelBut avoid falling into academicism, and keep the prose clear and accessible. Campus claims the “philosopher’s compliment” which, according to… Ortega and GassetIt should be present in public discourse, but it has become rare today.
One of the most prominent points in the article is the analysis Libertarianism Contemporaryism, which Camps describes as a distortion of the liberal tradition. According to the author, this trend reduces positive freedom – the ability to build a meaningful life – to negative freedom, understood as the possibility of acting without restrictions as long as one is not detected. In this context, Camps points out that the left’s abandonment of redistributive politics has facilitated the rise of populism that values community versus exclusion.
In an article in Country, Maryam Martinez Baskonian This work is known as “orAn essential book: “In an age that confuses hype, communication, and opinion with thought, Kamps reminds us that philosophy remains an act of resistance. Or as Prometheus says in the final pages: Perhaps the problem is not that freedom has been given to humans, but that they have not learned to exercise it as responsible moral independence.
The author points out that the politics of recognition has replaced the politics of redistribution, although she recognizes that the two are not mutually exclusive, but rather question the order of priorities. Camp countries: “Material equality is the most important requirement so that discriminatory differences of all kinds disappear once it is achieved.”. However, this hierarchical view is problematic, because it assumes that it is possible to achieve material equality without simultaneously addressing the cultural structures that perpetuate inequality. The proposal of “comprehensive identities framed in a common human identity” can lead to a universality that creates invisible differences that require special attention.
Thus, the domestic worker who is exposed to racism does not suffer first from economic discrimination and then from cultural discrimination, but rather both forms of oppression appear simultaneously and reinforce each other. The low salaries of these workers are directly linked to stereotypes about women, migrants and care work, making any attempt to prioritize these dimensions artificial. Discrimination operates as an integrated structure in which the material and the cultural are constantly intertwined.
This tension is highlighted when Camps defends the importance of “getting close to people” and, at the same time, criticizes identities that make those who have been historically marginalized visible. Hence a paradox arises: recognition of human interconnectedness is required, but recognition of specific forms of dependency and vulnerability is called into question.
Despite these nuances, Kamps’s intellectual project maintains its strength. The book acts as a mirror that reflects the contradictions of today’s society: community is desired while individualism is practiced, transparency is desired but scrutiny is avoided, leadership is desired, and authority is despised. Camps avoids offering simplistic solutions and, instead, gives the reader back the responsibility to think “The fundamental moral question: What should I do?”
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