Relational goods

A note of sociology that explains how today, the social is placed in an intermediate sphere whose main good is the "sociability".

Relational goods

The development of the third sector has highlighted the existence of a space between the public and private sectors, the social sphere lies in an intermediate sphere whose principal good is sociability.
Donated in 1988, Donati says that human life is a relational good, it means to say that it is a kind of common good that depends on the relationships put in place by the subjects towards each other and can only be fruitful if they orientate themselves accordingly.
In the same year, Uhlaned uses the term relational good to define products that derive from the sharing of political objectives by local group members.

Characteristics of the relational good

1. personal and social identity-> presupposes a relationship of knowledge between the dialogues

2. a non-instrumental motivation-> the mutual interest must be inspired to take pure ownership of the other, without ends
   of another nature.

3. Reciprocity--> you follow the principle of gift (give me and I give you)

4. sharing

5. the preservation in time--> the relational good, only at the moment in which it has a lasting value and is not limited to a momentary interaction, assuming a historical value. In this case, the ego and the other face a risk: that of defection which is overcome by a bond of mutual trust.

6. reflexivity--> reciprocity and sharing are in favour of members of the group
   Donati identifies the relational good as a social phenomenon, the good has to do with love, with taking care of the other, in fact it has a positive meaning, as it is suitable to create contexts that favour the
   sociability.
   From a psychological point of view too, love can be considered a good thing, but for "love" one can also arrive at suicide or murder.
   Observed from the point of view of the relational good, the Third sector assumes a very particular characteristic, so it is not a simple remedy to the welfare state crisis but represents a global picture of society in which the State has lost its central role.

The sociological identity of the Third sector can in fact according to Donati be expressed on the basis of three criteria:

1. is a social phenomenon
2. produces its own assets which are neither public nor private
3. has its own distinctively--> creates solidarity