Erich Fromm’s Reflections On The Human Condition?

According to Erich Fromm’s reflections, the human condition needs a change. This German psychoanalyst and social philosopher dared to challenge Sigmund Freud to his times by reformulating the concept of freedom and trying to emphasize an idea that is still relevant in our increasingly technological, cold and structured society: the loss of happiness.

In your book To have or to be? has left us timeless messages that contain innovative ideas. Among these there is one that can be very familiar: people have become accustomed to living based on the premise that those who do not own something are not. In fact, man’s authentic well-being and fulfillment resides in being, which defines us independently of what we possess.

Forty years have passed since Erich Fromm’s death, but his thoughts, reflections and cultural heritage are still very important. We need a change, a reformulation of the way of thinking to have a real freedom thanks to which we can stop measuring ourselves based on what we possess and value ourselves as we are.

What does the human condition need according to Erich Fromm’s reflections?

Below we will analyze what the human condition needs according to Erich Fromm. To understand his approach and point of view, we must first remember that his philosophy was always based on an almost radical humanism. What does it mean? With his thoughts and analyzes, this social psychologist tried above all to free people from their chains.

Each of us, almost without realizing it, carries with it many burdens. The industrial, social and political structure traps us in such a way that it vetoes our ability to fulfill ourselves, to choose, our way of thinking and our will. Furthermore, each of us limits our happiness in many ways.

We do this by choosing conflict and violence rather than peace. We let ourselves be guided by instinct and not by reason and emotions and above all we do not love ourselves as we should.

In the book Anatomy of Human Destructivity , Erich Fromm shows us that the human condition has reached a very dangerous point today. It is therefore necessary to create new mental schemes and new reflection scenarios through which to generate changes. So let’s see what the human condition needs to foster well-being and freedom.

We need to be more spontaneous

In the book Escape from Freedom (1941), Fromm appeals to a concept that can catch our attention and that, without a doubt, stimulates our inspiration. According to him, we place too much emphasis on rational thinking. However, the human being is in itself a perfect combination of emotion and reason, feeling and self-control.

To freely express our true personality, we need to be more spontaneous. This is how we can break the chains and express our essence by freeing ourselves from the conventions imposed by society.

A commitment to solidarity

In your book To have or to be? Erich Fromm provides us with various ideas that he believes are fundamental to preventing humanity from plunging towards a catastrophic doom.

Not only did he face the darkness of World War II himself, but he also lived through the Cold War period where the arms race gave the whole world a feeling of permanent anguish.

Times are different today, but the essence of the problem has some similarities. The suggestions he gave us in To have or to be? are still valid and inspiring:

• Be more supportive and love and respect life in all its manifestations.
• It is also necessary to feel joy in the act of giving. We must share and not just have or accumulate property.
• Greed, hatred and deceit must be reduced.

Erich Fromm’s reflections: getting rid of narcissism

Erich Fromm’s reflections convey to us the message that the human condition needs to free itself from narcissism. This is a recurring premise in his works, to such an extent that he has introduced an expression that is worth remembering: malignant narcissism. For him, the true essence of evil is represented by the constant pursuit of self-gratification, ego strengthening or grandiloquence.

We must cultivate humility, mutual respect between people and towards oneself. And this must be done in a healthy, loving way and in harmony with society. According to Fromm, selfishness is the worst of all evils, something that must be avoided at all costs because it generates ignorance and submission.

Regardless of whether Erich Fromm’s works were written decades ago, they still remain essential and valuable today. Rereading them is an invitation to reflect on aspects of life that are worth knowing.