On Being Human

An insightful look at alienation in the modern world from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Art of Loving and Escape from Freedom.Social psychologist Erich Fromm observed the spread of alienation in the 1960s, arguing that humans who were once dynamic, creative beings were reduced to fixating on TV screens, emotionally paralyzed by anxieties over threats like nuclear war. Though we may stare at different devices and worry about other dangers today, his insights are as useful as ever, and allow us to gain perspective on the human condition.A collection of his writings on “New Humanism” and the need to reclaim our happiness and peace of mind, this is a thoughtful, fascinating overview of the past that shaped us, and the philosophies and practices that can ensure a better future, both for ourselves and for the world at large. Included are reflections on thinkers from Karl Marx to medieval Catholic mystic Meister Eckhart, as “Fromm’s large, keen mind and attractive, likable voice [strive] for heart as he asks himself the hardest questions of his day” (Kirkus Reviews).Erich Fromm, Ph.D. (Sociology, University of Heidelberg, 1922), was a psychoanalyst and social philosopher who explored the interaction between psychology and society, and held various professorships in psychology in the U.S. and Mexico in the mid-20th century. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's estate. Cover Title Page Contents Editor''s Foreword I. The Humanistic Alternative 1. Modern Man and the Future Stages in the Development of Western Man Alienation as a Disease of Modern Man Indifference as a New Manifestation of Evil The Alternative: A Renaissance of Humanism 2. The Psychological Problem of Man in Modern Society 3. What I Do Not Like in Contemporary Society 4. The Disintegration of Societies The Nature of Systems On Disintegration of Social Systems Disintegration or Reintegration of Contemporary Technological Society 5. The Search for a Humanistic Alternative. Where Are We Moving to?The Conditions for a Humanist Activist Alternative The Necessity for an Alternative Movement 6. A New Humanism as a Condition for the One World The History of the Idea of Humanism The Relevance of Humanism for Today II. Humanistic Initiatives and Confessions 7. The Idea of a World Conference 8. Campaign for Eugene McCarthy 9. On the Common Struggle against Idolatry 10. Some Beliefs of Man, in Man, for Man 11. Remarks on the Relations between Germans and Jews III. Meister Eckhart and Karl Marx on Having and Being Introduction 12. Meister Eckhart. On the Understanding of His IdeasOn Having and Being The Sermon on Poverty 13. Karl Marx: The ""Religious"" Interests of Marx Excursus: Religion and the Concept of God Humanism as Secular Messianism Having and Being, According to Marx 14. The Common ""Religious"" Concern The Tradition of Mysticism Atheistic Religiosity Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Z A Biography of Erich Fromm Copyright. Cover; Title Page; Contents; Editor''s Foreword; I. The Humanistic Alternative; 1. Modern Man and the Future; Stages in the Development of Western Man; Alienation as a Disease of Modern Man; Indifference as a New Manifestation of Evil; The Alternative: A Renaissance of Humanism; 2. The Psychological Problem of Man in Modern Society; 3. What I Do Not Like in Contemporary Society; 4. The Disintegration of Societies; The Nature of Systems; On Disintegration of Social Systems; Disintegration or Reintegration of Contemporary Technological Society; 5. The Search for a Humanistic Alternative.;Erich Fromm & rsquo;s insightful work on the modern human condition, and how to break free of its bonds In the 1960s, renowned social psychologist Erich Fromm argued that people were becoming increasingly alienated. No longer were we dynamic, constantly creative beings. Instead, he observed, we were becoming fixated on things like television, while the specter of nuclear war remained a consistent worry. On Being Human gathers several ofFromm & rsquo;s writings on the & ldquo;New Humanism & rdquo; he proposed. In addition, the book presents a most interesting chapter on & ldquo;Having & rdquo; and & ldquo;Being & rdquo; according to Master Eckhart and Karl Marx that originally was written to be included in To Have or To Be? This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author & rsquo;s estate. An insightful look at alienation in the modern world from the New York Times –bestselling author of The Art of Loving and Escape from Freedom . Social psychologist Erich Fromm observed the spread of alienation in the 1960s, arguing that humans who were once dynamic, creative beings were reduced to fixating on TV screens, emotionally paralyzed by anxieties over threats like nuclear war. Though we may stare at different devices and worry about other dangers today, his insights are as useful as ever, and allow us to gain perspective on the human condition. A collection of his writings on “New Humanism” and the need to reclaim our happiness and peace of mind, this is a thoughtful, fascinating overview of the past that shaped us, and the philosophies and practices that can ensure a better future, both for ourselves and for the world at large. Included are reflections on thinkers from Karl Marx to medieval Catholic mystic Meister Eckhart, as “Fromm’s large, keen mind and attractive, likable voice [strive] for heart as he asks himself the hardest questions of his day” ( Kirkus Reviews ). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Erich Fromm including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate. Anyone attempting to identify the thread that runs through the writings of the late Erich Fromm (1900-1980) will soon discover an unequivocally humanistic worldview. This was Fromm's guiding principle. From the 1930s on it signified his break with the Institute for Social Research, and marked his disputes with Marcuse, Horkheimer, and Adorno. Fromm himself frequently refers in his writings to the humanistic aspect of man: humanistic science, humanistic socialism, humanistic religion, humanistic psychoanalysis. This posthumous volume includes writings from one of Fromm's most fertile periods, the 1960s, during the last twenty years of his life. They are based on lectures, works written for specific occasions, and manuscripts intended as books. Of special interest is the extended essay on two very difficult thinkers, Meister Eckhart and Karl Marx.