In Man for Himself, Erich Fromm examines the confusion of modern women and men who, because they lack faith in any principle by which life ought to be guided, become the helpless prey forces both within and without. From the broad, interdisciplinary perspective that marks Fromm’s distinguished oeuvre, he shows that psychology cannot divorce itself from the problems of philosophy and ethics, and that human nature cannot be understood without understanding the values and moral conflicts that confront us all. He shows that an ethical system can be based on human nature rather than on revelations or traditions. As Fromm asserts, “If man is to have confidence in values, he must know himself and the capacity of his nature for goodness and productiveness.”
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Editorial Reviews
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"A fascinating volume . . . magnificent in its implications."—Saturday Review
“Courageous and thoughtful . . . Fromm’s book has a great deal to offer, both to the philosopher and to the psychologist, and can be read with profit by the layman.”—Ethics
“Courageous and thoughtful . . . Fromm’s book has a great deal to offer, both to the philosopher and to the psychologist, and can be read with profit by the layman.”—Ethics
About the Author
Erich Fromm was a German-born American psychoanalyst and social philosopher who explored the interaction between psychology and society. His works include The Art of Loving, Escape from Freedom, and The Sane Society. He died in 1980.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
inspiring,
By S.R. (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics (Paperback)
Can there be an ethical system that does not rely on moral absolutes on the one hand or moral relativism on the other? Is there any other way? This book says yes and -- amazingly, brilliantly -- lays it out in a way that makes perfect sense. The only value we can know, the only value we need, and the only value that can have any real claim on us is OUR value, human value, and that is neither absolute nor relativistic. If this sounds absurd or offensive to you, skip this book. If you see the brilliance in it, you're in for a treat. I've read this book several times and can't get enough. Fromm is an underappreciated genius.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
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The hobo Philosopher,
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This review is from: Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics (Paperback)
As a young idealistic college student protesting on behalf of humankind I was arrested on one occasion. And when they took all my "valuables" from me, I happened to have a copy of this book in my pocket. The police officer said, "Yeah, Every Man for Himself, that is just what we need more of in this country." And I said, this is not a book about every man acting out of personal greed and selfishness. This is a book about how Mankind could serve its own interest in trying to do good for one another. And he said "Yeah, yeah, yeah - put this butt-head in cell # 4."
So as you can imagine this book has a significant personal memory for me. I will bet if I read it over today there is not that much that I would disagree with. I am now 65. Richard Edward Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - Author of: "Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By A Strong Poet (Evanston, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics (Paperback)
"There is no meaning to life except the meaning man gives his life by the unfolding of his powers." This sentence may be one of the most important themes in this wonderful book.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
A spirit of pride and optimism has distinguished Western culture in the last few centuries: pride in reason as man's instrument for his understanding and mastery of nature; optimism in the fulfillment of the fondest hopes of man. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
authoritarian conscience, nonproductive orientations, humanistic conscience, irrational strivings, authoritarian ethics, hoarding orientation, existential dichotomies, humanistic ethics, receptive orientation, symbiotic relatedness, productive love, transcending man, irrational authority, sadistic person, sexual strivings, personality market, irrational pleasure, anonymous authority, irrational faith, marketing orientation, productive thinking Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Peer Gynt, John Dewey, Positive Aspect Negative Aspect, High Court, Random House, Oxford University Press, United States New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
A spirit of pride and optimism has distinguished Western culture in the last few centuries: pride in reason as man's instrument for his understanding and mastery of nature; optimism in the fulfillment of the fondest hopes of man. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
authoritarian conscience, nonproductive orientations, humanistic conscience, irrational strivings, authoritarian ethics, hoarding orientation, existential dichotomies, humanistic ethics, receptive orientation, symbiotic relatedness, productive love, transcending man, irrational authority, sadistic person, sexual strivings, personality market, irrational pleasure, anonymous authority, irrational faith, marketing orientation, productive thinking Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Peer Gynt, John Dewey, Positive Aspect Negative Aspect, High Court, Random House, Oxford University Press, United States New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 52
books:
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100
books
cite this book:
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- The Principles of Ethics: In Two Volumes by Herbert Spencer on 5 pages
- Peer Gynt : A Dramatic Poem (Oxford World's Classics) by Henrik Ibsen on page 73, page 94, and page 137
- The Will to Power by Friedrich Nietzsche on page 124, and page 125
- Productive Thinking by Max Wertheimer on page 87, and page 105
- The Genealogy of Morals (Dover Thrift Editions) by Friedrich Nietzsche on page 151, and page 159
See all 52 books this book cites
- Erich Fromm and the Quest for Solidarity by Lawrence Wilde on 29 pages
- Ethics in a Christian Context (Library of Theological Ethics) by Paul L. Lehmann on 5 pages
- Love and Hope: Fromm and Education (Special Aspects of Education) by A. Cohen on 5 pages
- Understanding Experience: Psychotherapy and Postmodernism by Roger Frie on 4 pages
- Basic Christian Ethics (Library of Theological Ethics) by Paul Ramsey on page 94, page 352, and Back Matter
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