Interconnection as an Ethic of Generosity

Abstract

The significance that establishing relationships holds for ethical theory can be evidenced in the network culture that is emerging in contemporary society. John Rawls’ Contractarianism, despite its aim to be an ethic of “justice and fairness”, is not always capable of addressing the broad range of human qualities and virtues as is required in a complex world. Thus, I explore alternatives to Contractarianism, such as the moral particularity of Iris Murdoch, Lawrence Blum, and others as well as the corporeal generosity of Rosalyn Diprose. I then propose my own Mutualist model of generosity that asserts an appreciation for intimacy and symbolic exchange, the acceptance of risk, and above all, a commitment to an authentic responsiveness to others. Through an examination of the aesthetic of networked art, I show that an ethic of interconnectedness can be established through acts of generosity.