Aporofobia, el miedo a las personas pobres | Adela Cortina | TEDxUPValència

What is Aporofobia?

Introduction to the Concept

• The speaker expresses gratitude for the invitation and mentions this is their first time participating in such talks.

• They state that the goal of their presentation is to "sell an idea," which they aim to do despite uncertainty about its success.

• The central term introduced is "aporofobia," described as a new and somewhat controversial word.

Significance of Aporofobia

• The speaker emphasizes that "aporofobia" is not only new but also revolutionary, highlighting its recent addition to the Spanish language dictionary on December 20, 2017.

• It was declared the Word of the Year by Fundéu BBVA just nine days later, indicating its potential impact on social reality.

Understanding Aporofobia

• The choice to award "aporofobia" reflects its capacity to transform societal perceptions and realities.

• The speaker intends to explore what aporofobia means and why it matters in contemporary discourse.

The Importance of Naming

Connection with Literature

• The speaker references Gabriel García Márquez's novel "Cien años de soledad" to illustrate how naming things has been a fundamental aspect of human history.

• They quote a passage emphasizing that many things lacked names in early times, necessitating pointing them out physically.

Role of Language in Society

• Human history largely revolves around naming things to integrate them into our understanding and dialogue.

• Without names, concepts like justice or democracy feel distant or unrecognized, underscoring the importance of language in shaping our reality.

Identifying Social Realities

Challenges with Abstract Concepts

• Many significant social issues (e.g., antisemitism, xenophobia, misogyny) cannot be pointed at physically; thus, they require specific terminology for recognition and discussion.

Impact of Naming on Awareness

• By assigning names to these realities, society can acknowledge them and decide whether to confront or ignore them.

Practical Examples: Meteorology

Naming Natural Phenomena

• An example from meteorology illustrates how naming dangerous storms helps people recognize and prepare for them effectively.

Conclusion on Recognition through Naming

Aporofobia: Understanding Social Rejection of the Poor

The Concept of Aporofobia

• The speaker questions whether social storms, such as the rejection of the poor, are more dangerous than atmospheric storms.

• They ponder if a storm as perilous as the rejection of the impoverished can exist.

• The need for a term to describe this societal rejection is emphasized, highlighting its significance in recognizing and addressing it.

• The speaker shares their journey of creating the term "aporofobia," derived from Greek roots meaning fear or hatred towards the poor.

• Despite initial challenges in introducing this term to the Royal Academy 22 years ago, it has now been accepted into their dictionary.

Importance and Recognition of Aporofobia

• The importance of naming this phenomenon lies in acknowledging that there exists a societal rejection towards poverty.

• Without a name, ideologies like aporofobia can operate unnoticed, perpetuating asymmetry between those who practice it and those who suffer from it.

• Naming aporofobia serves to deactivate this ideology by bringing awareness to its existence and implications.

Personal Reflections on Aporofobia

• The speaker invites discussion on whether attendees believe aporofobia truly exists among society.

• They share an example from 2017 when Spain welcomed 81 million tourists, illustrating how economic status influences societal reception.

Contrasting Attitudes Towards Tourists

• Media celebrated tourism as Spain's primary income source without fostering xenophobia towards wealthy foreign visitors.

• Foreign tourists were treated with hospitality due to their financial resources, leading to academic programs focused on serving them.

• In contrast, impoverished migrants arriving by boat faced hostility rather than hospitality upon reaching Spanish shores.

Societal Implications and Questions Raised

• This disparity led to increased support for xenophobic parties across Europe and America during times of crisis regarding immigration.

• The speaker raises critical questions about whether rejection stems from being foreign or being poor—highlighting an ingrained bias against poverty itself.

• They express concern over societal tendencies to reject even family members who are impoverished.

Exploring Causes and Solutions for Aporofobia

• There is recognition that while a name exists for this issue (aporofobia), further exploration into its causes is necessary.

• Questions arise about whether society aims to cultivate or eradicate aporofobia moving forward.

• Neuroscientific perspectives suggest that xenophobia may have biological underpinnings related to survival instincts within our brains.

Understanding Human Behavior: Xenophobia and Altruism

The Nature of Social Preferences

• Humans tend to surround themselves with people who are similar, leading to a preference for those who share language and physical traits.

• There is an inherent discomfort towards individuals who are different from us.

• This discomfort can lead to a form of rejection or xenophobia against those perceived as different.

• A psychological mechanism allows us to ignore or set aside things that disturb us, reinforcing our social preferences.

• Consequently, we often exclude those who cause us discomfort.

Empathy vs. Xenophobia

• Despite tendencies toward xenophobia, humans also possess empathy and selective sympathy.

• These conflicting tendencies suggest that while our brains may lean towards exclusion, we are capable of caring for others.

• The concept of aporofobia (fear or disdain for the poor) emerges alongside xenophobic tendencies in human behavior.

Altruism in Human Nature

• Contrary to the belief that humans are purely selfish, we have the capacity for altruism and concern for others.

• The notion that radical egoism defines humanity is challenged by evidence of altruistic behaviors.

• Notable works like "The Selfish Gene" highlight this duality between selfishness and altruism in human nature.

Evolutionary Perspectives on Altruism

• Darwin's delayed publication of "The Descent of Man" was influenced by his struggle to explain biological altruism within his theories.

• Understanding how altruistic behavior fits into survival competition remains a complex issue in evolutionary biology.

Reciprocity as a Foundation for Cooperation

• Humans exhibit both selfishness and altruism; we help others but expect something in return eventually.

• This reciprocal nature underpins many social interactions—people give with the expectation of receiving later.

• Common sayings reflect this reciprocity: “He who takes must give,” emphasizing mutual exchange in relationships.

• Cooperative strategies yield better outcomes than conflict-driven approaches; societies thrive on cooperation rather than competition.

• Our existence as "homo reciprocans" highlights the importance of reciprocity in human interactions.

Indirect Reciprocity and Social Contracts

• An anecdote about an Oxford professor illustrates indirect reciprocity—attending colleagues' funerals with hopes they will attend his own.

• This reflects a broader societal tendency where individuals expect returns from their actions, even if not directly from those they helped.

• Societies function on contractual agreements where duties are fulfilled based on expected rights protection from governing bodies.

• Engaging in economic transactions relies on trust that others will reciprocate after initial exchanges occur.

Conclusion: The Importance of Cooperation Over Conflict

• Conflict leads to disastrous outcomes; successful societies prioritize cooperation over adversarial relationships.

Understanding Aporophobia and Its Implications

The Nature of Human Rationality

• The speaker argues against the notion that humans are purely rational beings focused on maximizing benefits, suggesting a more complex understanding of human behavior.

• This perspective is framed as positive news, indicating a shift in how we perceive human interactions.

Exclusion in Contractual Societies

• In contractual societies, there exists an inherent issue regarding those who cannot reciprocate in exchanges.

• The speaker raises concerns about individuals who seem unable to contribute anything valuable to societal exchanges.

• Such individuals, often the poor or marginalized, face exclusion from social and economic systems due to their perceived lack of value.

Identifying the Excluded

• The discussion highlights that the excluded are often the impoverished or "áporos," lacking resources for meaningful participation in society.

• These individuals struggle to engage in reciprocal exchanges ("you give me and I give you") because they have little to offer.

Broader Definitions of Poverty

• Poverty is not solely economic; it encompasses various forms of exclusion based on social dynamics, such as mental health issues or physical disabilities.

• Vulnerability manifests across different contexts—schools, universities, and workplaces—where individuals may lack resources or connections necessary for inclusion.

Aporophobia: Understanding Rejection of the Poor

• The term "aporofobia" is introduced as crucial for recognizing societal rejection of the poor and identifying those who are marginalized at any given moment.

Addressing Aporophobia: What Can Be Done?

Recognizing the Problem

• There is a choice between perpetuating aporophobia through existing economic and political systems or actively working to dismantle it.

Positive News About Human Potential

• One hopeful insight shared is that the human brain exhibits significant plasticity, allowing for transformation influenced by social environments even before birth.

Direction for Change

• The speaker emphasizes a need for collective direction towards inclusivity rather than xenophobia or aporophobia.

Dignity as a Fundamental Principle

Aporofobia: A Threat to Human Dignity and Democracy

Understanding Aporofobia

• Aporofobia is described as a genuine attack on human dignity, highlighting the moral implications of societal attitudes towards poverty.

• The act of despising and relegating groups lacking sufficient means across various fields constitutes a significant violation of human dignity.

• This form of discrimination not only undermines individual worth but also poses a threat to democratic values.

The Role of Equality in Democracy

• Aporofobia is identified as an affront to democracy itself; true democracy cannot exist alongside such prejudice.

• The fundamental principle of democracy is equality, which necessitates that societies cannot be radically unequal where some are privileged while others are marginalized.

Addressing Aporofobia through Education

• To combat aporofobia, it must be disarmed for both reasons of dignity and democratic integrity; this is deemed unacceptable in society.

• The critical question arises: how can we address this issue?

• Education emerges as the primary solution, emphasizing its importance within universities and schools.

Expanding Educational Efforts

• Both formal and informal education play vital roles in fostering understanding and compassion towards marginalized groups.

• Media outlets and social networks should also contribute to spreading awareness about these issues.

Creating Equal Institutions

• Establishing equal institutions is essential since current asymmetric structures perpetuate inequality.

Goals for the 21st Century

• One major goal for the 21st century is eradicating poverty, with an emphasis on our collective responsibility to provide opportunities for all individuals to pursue their life plans meaningfully.

Justice and Compassion in Education

• Discussions around justice highlight that while they are crucial, they may not suffice alone; there’s a need for education focused on compassion as well.

• Compassion involves empathizing with others' emotions—both sadness and joy—and striving to alleviate their suffering.

The Importance of Recognizing Value in Others

• Compassion entails recognizing the value each person holds, regardless of their circumstances or contributions perceived by society.

• It’s emphasized that every human has something valuable to offer; failing to see this reflects our own blindness rather than any lack on their part.

Conclusion: Moving Forward Against Aporofobia