Faithfulness is the inertia that sustains relations after their occasion passes
Evidence
Faithfulness might be called the inertia of the soul. It keeps the soul on the path on which it started, even after the original occasion that led it onto it no longer exists. — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 9091
Categorization
Category: Causal Relationships
- DEFINE: Simmel’s own definition of faithfulness as ‘inertia of the soul’ — a memorable conceptual anchor for the triad analysis.
- XREF: Connects to the reader’s integration of Simmel with Dostoevsky: Raskolnikov’s guilt is sustained by social form inertia even after the original motive.
Related
- Trustworthiness persists only while future gains from the relationship outweigh defection (similarity 0.83)
- Trustworthiness is grounded in the trusted’s interest in maintaining a relationship (similarity 0.81)
- Trustworthiness needs no moral groundings to sustain trust (similarity 0.80)
- Optimism about others’ trustworthiness is self-reinforcing through gained experience (similarity 0.78)
- Trustworthiness often rests solely on the interest in maintaining a relationship (similarity 0.78)
- Confirmation bias cements both reputations and habitual trust (similarity 0.78)
Broader Connections
- Trustworthiness is grounded in the trusted’s interest in maintaining a relationship
#expands(0.85) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 111 - Trustworthiness collapses once a relationship’s end becomes foreseeable
#corroborates(0.85) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 116 - Trust relationships self-maintain once the parties recognize mutual benefit
#expands(0.82) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 662 - Building stable relations generates the incentives that produce trust
#expands(0.78) — Russell Hardin, Trust and Trustworthiness, 804 - A continuing relationship functions as a forfeitable bond against cheating.
#expands(0.75) — PAUL R. MILGRO, PAUL R. MILGRO - THE ROLE OF…, 2