Erich Fromm’s Critical Theory: Hope, Humanism, and the Future

Description

Interest in Fromm is increasing: as a prominent Marxist, sociologist, psychoanalytic theorist, and public intellectual, the unique normative-humanist thrust of his writings provides a crucial critical reference point for those seeking to understand and transcend the societal pathologies of our age. The essays in this volume retrieve, revive, and expand upon Fromm’s central insights and contributions. They offer a critical theory of culture, the self, psychology and society that goes beyond what is typical of the narrower concerns of the fragmented and isolated disciplines of today, demonstrating the pan-disciplinary potential of Fromm's work. But this book does not simply reassert Fromm’s ideas and rehash his theories, but rather reconstructs them to bring them into meaningful dialogue with contemporary ideas and cultural, political and economic developments. Providing new approaches to Fromm’s ideas and work brings them up-to-date with contemporary problems and debates in theory and society and helps us understand the challenges of our times. Title page Copyright page CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION:MAPPING FROMM’S CRITICAL THEORY Fromm and the Frankfurt Institute of Social Research Toward a Distinct Form of Critical Theory A Radical Humanist and Prophetic Critical Theory The Structure of This Book Notes References Part I: Radical and Prophetic Humanism Chapter 1: ERICH FROMM AND THE ONTOLOGY OF SOCIAL RELATIONS Robust and Defective Relations and the Nature of the Self Expanded Autonomy: Social Structure and Self-Development The Objectivity of Ethical Value Fromm and Contemporary Critical Theory Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2: JEWISH MESSIANISM AND REVOLUTIONARY UTOPIAS IN CENTRAL EUROPE: ERICH FROMM’S EARLY WRITINGS (1922–30) The Case of Erich Fromm Notes References Chapter 3: THE NECESSITY OF PROPHETIC HUMANISM IN PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL CHANGE Prophetic Social Character The Progressive Left and Social Change The Gods of White Male Ethnonationalism Prophetic Revolution Faith and Death as the Basis of Life Notes References Part II: Social and Psychological Aspects Chapter 4: ERICH FROMM AND THE PROSPECTS FOR RENEWING CRITICAL THEORY IN THE NEOLIBERAL ERA The Original Idea of Critical Theory Fromm on Humanism and Historical Materialism The Neoliberal Turn Conclusion Notes References Chapter 5: FEMINISM, HUMANISM, AND ERICH FROMM Advantages of Fromm’s Thought for Combining Feminism and Humanism From Thesis to Antithesis: Problems of Fromm’s Analyses for Feminists Coming Full Circle Then: Why Does “Fromm and Feminism” Matter? Notes References Chapter 6: SOCIOPSYCHOANALYSIS AND RADICAL HUMANISM: A FROMM-BOURDIEU SYNTHESIS Two Social Science Careers: Fromm and Bourdieu Social Character versus Habitus: Competing and Complementary Theoretical Traditions Social Character in a Mexican Village The Mexican Study Results of the Study Bourdieu’s Theory of Habitus Bourdieu on Algeria Bourdieu and Feelings Toward a Social Character and Habitus Synthesis Notes References Part III: Authoritarianism, Fascism, and the Contested Future Chapter 7: ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN MARXISM: ERICH FROMM, HILDE WEISS, AND THE POLITICS OF RADICAL HUMANISM Among the Orthodox Paradox? Humanism and Communism Beyond Orthodoxy Leaders versus Followers “Lieber Genosse Fromm” Acknowledgments References Chapter 8: ESCAPE FROM REFLEXIVITY: FROMM AND GIDDENS ON INDIVIDUALISM, ANXIETY, AND AUTHORITARIANISM Introduction Fromm on Negative Freedom and Existential Anxiety Giddens on Modernity and Ontological Insecurity Globalization, Nationalism, and the Failure of the Third Way Conclusion: Reflexive Modernization without Reflexivity Notes References Chapter 9: SOCIAL CHARACTER, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND THE SOCIAL FUTURE Introduction Capitalism and Crisis Character and Social Change History and Social Character The Coming of Liquid Selfhood Reactionary Reactions Toward a Sane Society Conclusion Notes References CONCLUSION:WHY ANTI-FASCISM NEEDS ERICH FROMM’S CRITICAL THEORY The Need for Radical Hope References CONTRIBUTORS INDEX