Solidarity without sentimentality

Although she did not develop a theory of solidarity, numerous comments scattered throughout Hannah Arendt's writings provide important insights into this concept. In particular, they warn against the infusion of political solidarity with the sentimental notions of love and pity. The paper analyzes Arendt's critique of these ideas and of conceptions of solidarity employing them and sketches an alternative approach, emerging from her perspective, on which the sentimental foundation of solidarity is replaced with an adequate conception of the common interests of individuals living together in political society.