[[alternative]]Civil Society as the Learning in/between Communities

[[abstract]]I believe that idea civil society is best understood as the social learning in/between communities. In this thesis, I will examine the model of civil society put forward by political and social philosophers including T. Hobbes, J. Locke, A. Smith, A. Ferguson, C. S. Montesquieu, G. W. Hegel, A. Tocqueville, K. Marx and A. Gramsci, and then, compare their discourse about what civil society is and how make it working sustainable. I identify that the model of civil society developed by Tocqueville serves the learning in/between communities best. The central idea of Tocqueville’s position, the civil society is theorized as communities within which individuals are socialized as active citizens. For instance, he stresses that civil society is the foundation against despotism of the state and disassociation of the society. Furthermore, he highlights that civil society is the best condition of human interaction through which people and communities maintain the public/private identities, memberships, characters and the ”unity” of civil society as well. Following Tocquevilleian tradition, I suggest that people and communities exist in interaction, and combine their material enjoyment and the loving of freedom with participation in public affairs. Therefore, this thesis concludes that equal participation, mutual understanding, rational dialogue, intellectual and morality transforming or lifting are identified as central to significant social learning in/between communities. Put it differently, through learning in/between communities, labor skills, civic capacities of rational communication and critical reflection, civic virtues of tolerance or respect those others who own diversified values and life styles, are acquired. Nevertheless, people and communities is essential to obey the civil rights in modern civil society.