Trust and Distrust

Abstract

Trust is commonly described using the metaphor of an invisible “social glue” that is conspicuous only when it is absent. It is initially tempting to think of distrust as the absence of the “glue” of trust. Although there are many theories of trust, few theorists of trust in the philosophical literature have elaborated explicit theories of distrust. Hawley proposes that what distinguishes reliance/non-reliance from trust/distrust is that the latter attitudes are only appropriate in the context of commitment. It is only appropriate to trust or distrust one's colleagues to bring their lunch if they have a commitment to bring their lunch; it is only appropriate for them to trust or distrust their colleagues to bring champagne if they have a commitment to bring champagne. Drawing on the work of Martin Luther King, Krishnamurthy advances an account of the political value of distrust that foregrounds distrust’s practical aspect.

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