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The Erich Fromm Reader
Erich Fromm is probably best remembered as the author of Escape from Freedom and The Art of Loving, but he also wrote extensively on social psychology, social theory, and religion and was the founder of what he called "democratic decentralizing socialism."
His role within this ideology as a socialist-humanist involved challenging Freud's vision of human existence, setting forth radical alternatives to traditional psychoanalytic tenets, introducing Marx's humanism into psychoanalytic theory and, perhaps most valuably, attending to the reality of alienation in social psychology. It is this last contribution, especially, that makes Fromm's thought so relevant today because it explains how capitalist society impacts human existence. This reader provides a concentrated introduction to the full range of Fromm's writing. The concise introductions to the texts guide the reader and reveal the inner logic of Fromm's words. The Fromm who emerges from these pages is never simplistic and always meaningful. He exhibits the true genius of an original thinker in seeing the connections between overlapping knowledge from many different fields.
His role within this ideology as a socialist-humanist involved challenging Freud's vision of human existence, setting forth radical alternatives to traditional psychoanalytic tenets, introducing Marx's humanism into psychoanalytic theory and, perhaps most valuably, attending to the reality of alienation in social psychology. It is this last contribution, especially, that makes Fromm's thought so relevant today because it explains how capitalist society impacts human existence. This reader provides a concentrated introduction to the full range of Fromm's writing. The concise introductions to the texts guide the reader and reveal the inner logic of Fromm's words. The Fromm who emerges from these pages is never simplistic and always meaningful. He exhibits the true genius of an original thinker in seeing the connections between overlapping knowledge from many different fields.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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188 people want to read
About the author
Erich Fromm
447 books5,299 followersErich Fromm, Ph.D. (Sociology, University of Heidelberg, 1922) was a German-American social psychologist, psychoanalyst, sociologist, humanistic philosopher, and democratic socialist. He was a German Jew who fled the Nazi regime and settled in the United States. He was one of the founders of The William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and Psychology in New York City and was associated with the Frankfurt School of critical theory.
Fromm explored the interaction between psychology and society, and held various professorships in psychology in the U.S. and Mexico in the mid-20th century.
Fromm's theory is a rather unique blend of Freud and Marx. Freud, of course, emphasized the unconscious, biological drives, repression, and so on. In other words, Freud postulated that our characters were determined by biology. Marx, on the other hand, saw people as determined by their society, and most especially by their economic systems.
Fromm explored the interaction between psychology and society, and held various professorships in psychology in the U.S. and Mexico in the mid-20th century.
Fromm's theory is a rather unique blend of Freud and Marx. Freud, of course, emphasized the unconscious, biological drives, repression, and so on. In other words, Freud postulated that our characters were determined by biology. Marx, on the other hand, saw people as determined by their society, and most especially by their economic systems.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 4, 2019
I have read passages of Erich Fromm and have wanted to read his work since quite some time. I picked up this book as it seemed to offer a rounded summary of Erich Fromm’s writings. However, while it does cover many concepts Erich Fromm wrote about, I felt at the end of it that directly reading Erich Fromm’s writing would be far more satisfying.
The book is divided into several sections covering concepts Erich Fromm explored during his time. The concept of social unconscious is interesting and a logical extension & companion to Carl Jung’s collective unconscious. There are further sections on love, society, materialism, purpose, religion and others. The comparisons & contrast with Freud's writings is interesting.
While the book does a decent round-up of several important concepts – all of which are interesting even today, the treatment feels inadequate. I hopefully will read Erich Fromm’s books soon.
The book is divided into several sections covering concepts Erich Fromm explored during his time. The concept of social unconscious is interesting and a logical extension & companion to Carl Jung’s collective unconscious. There are further sections on love, society, materialism, purpose, religion and others. The comparisons & contrast with Freud's writings is interesting.
While the book does a decent round-up of several important concepts – all of which are interesting even today, the treatment feels inadequate. I hopefully will read Erich Fromm’s books soon.
November 20, 2019
Erich has some fantastic theories. Regardless of being a Socialist he supports Capitalism. It is true that Capitalism freed us from the aristocracy.
A valuable philosopher.
However, Erich has not achieved enlightenment and his work is thus shallow.
Great work and I suggest you at least read 'Escape from freedom'.
A valuable philosopher.
However, Erich has not achieved enlightenment and his work is thus shallow.
Great work and I suggest you at least read 'Escape from freedom'.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews