Visions of Human Sociability in Early Modern Moral and Political Thought

This chapter explores the shifting role of human sociability in early modern moral and political thought as it was deployed in formulating the moral psychological underpinnings of social order. In what sense humans can be considered “naturally” social and political creatures has never been a settled conception in the history of western moral psychology. Yet, the early modern period marks a transformation in conceptions of human sociability. The challenge to the Aristotelian and other forms of naturalism, the gradual rise of sovereign states, renewed interest in the various forms of moral scepticism, religious controversies and numerous wars increased the anxiety to explicate the nature, origins and sustainability of human sociability. The chapter argues that, during the course of the early modern period, the concept of sociability as an innate inclination capable of providing sufficient foundations for the peaceful flourishing of large-scale societies came under scrutiny. As a result, the traditional view of humans as inherently social and political beings underwent a transformation. Gradually, this perspective was supplanted by the notion that sociability is an artificial construct, shaped by the unique historical context of societies and influenced by political dynamics.