Growing up together: Exploring progressive life and relationship for a new global era

This paper considers the inescapable dimension and transformative effects of socially vulnerable life. It draws from political theory and analysis to explain this essential life experience as common among all human beings and significant in meeting large-scale goals of peace and justice. Our relationships to others provide novelty in experience and continually challenge who we are as individuals. This tension between individual and social dimensions of existence is the fuel of progress toward deeper understandings of self, broader connections to others, and better methods of social relationship required for justice. Social progress is ultimately measured in the development of cooperative relationship and in our advancement toward universal solidarity. This paper argues that progress would be furthered by the increased awareness of progressive ontology---knowing ourselves as mutually, socially vulnerable persons under development with the capacity for collective change---and by the conscious experience of one another in common social context.Advisers: Julie A. Mertus; Lucinda Joy Peach.