Modern individualism structurally erodes the capacity for gratitude

Evidence

The modern subject’s capacity to feel gratitude to others is diminishing (rather than increasing) because the feeling of debt chips away at self-entitlement, a major component in the constitution of modern subjectivity. In other words, gratitude threatens the notion of the autonomy of the individual’s rights, if not sovereignty, and takes away the sacred feeling of self-entitlement. — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 496

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the ADDENDUM article on sacrifice/gift economies and to Milgrom’s work on trust and reciprocity in trade institutions. — connects to: Moralistic self-denial weakens and coarsens the capacity for immediate pleasure — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 738; Manufactured desires create ever-deepening dissatisfaction even when satisfied — Yanis Varoufakis, Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism, 210; Illich frames generous shared practices as blessings whose worth bypasses monetary value. — Rebecca A. Martusewicz, Jeff Edmundson, and John Lupinacci, EcoJustice Education: Toward Diverse,…, 1756 (+2 more)
• DEFINE: Articulates how the modern liberal subject’s autonomy is constituted precisely by denying debts toward others.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism: A Critique of…, 496