The Perfectibility of Man

by John Arthur Passmore

Modern Political Philosophy

Genres: Philosophy, History

528 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Franz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both an historical account and criticism of the idea that either humans or societies can in some sense be perfect. In the first chapter Passmore, who was an Australian philosopher, distinguishes 8 different ways in which thinkers through the ages have claimed that men and women can be perfect, moral perfection and metaphysical perfection among them. Different versions of perfectionism emphasize one or more of these 8 ways. Beginning with Plato, weaving through Christian arguments both favoring and objecting to man's perfectibility, engaging the ideas of enlightenment thinkers, considering what the Romantics believed, and scathingly criticizing mystics both classical and, to Passmore, contemporary (the book was published in 1970), this book exhibits astonishing breadth, is clearly written, and is unremittingly fascinating. His discussion of love and brief mention of the advantages of pluralistic societies as alternatives to the pointless pursuit of perfection seem convincing to my ear. I learned much.