Sorokin and the Power of Love. Beyond Self-Interest Toward the Rationality of Altruism

When Pitirim Aleksandrovič Sorokin wrote The Ways and Power of Love – Types, Factors, and Techniques of Moral Transformation (1954), the Cold War was escalating, with two opposing ideologies clashing for global dominance. In this context, Sorokin, a Russian-American sociologist, critiques that "the contractual capitalist society crumbles amid numerous discordances, conflicts, and wars, partly due to a lack of love, leading to unlimited rivalry degenerating into a war of all against all" (p. 144).

These themes resonate today, as post-pandemic recovery is hindered by new conflicts and a pressing energy and climate crisis. Sorokin operationalizes love through altruism, viewing it as a primary social relationship essential for societal survival. He argues that a society devoid of love cannot thrive and must pursue higher goals for collective well-being. Contradicting the evolutionary perspective that sees conflict as inevitable, he asserts that "cooperative forces are biologically more significant and vital than antagonistic ones" (p. 50), representing the highest evolutionary expression of society.

Sorokin critiques the utilitarian paradigm rooted in self-interest, arguing that empirical evidence shows human behavior is also driven by benevolence and cooperation. He emphasizes the “rationality of love,” asserting that solidarity and mutual aid have historically proven more crucial than competitive struggle. A just, noble, and happy society, he claims, consists of individuals bound by love, warning that societies reliant on coercive ties become social hells.

These insights from this classic highlight the renewed role of sociology in analyzing human interactions and economically relevant phenomena, particularly the impact of emotions like love and altruism on forming economic and social structures. In this context, we explore how social love (Cataldi & Iorio, 2024) and rationalities that combine values and purpose can help structure new socio-economic paradigms focused on caring for the planet and regenerating social relations rather than merely accumulating profit.