The dichotomy of human existence and existential loneliness in the Erich Fromm theory

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The dichotomy of human existence and existential loneliness in the Erich Fromm theory

Journal Title: Мultiversum. Philosophical almanac - Year 2016, Vol 0, Issue 3

Abstract

This article describes the opinion of the outstanding scientist and psychoanalyst Erich Fromm about the nature and development of loneliness. The author reveals the main provisions of the Fromm theories and places particular emphasis on the dichotomy, existential conflict and the analysis of the nature structure. A characteristic feature of modern society is the crisis, and our society also destroys the spiritual world, as it was during Fromm. Therefore, the article’s issue is relevant. The fundamental ideas of the Erich Fromm theory grow from the soil of the two terrible world wars. He was their witness, and they affected him deeply. He was surprised that people’re very irrational, prone to destructive actions. Man cannot be the master of nature, and even of himself, since man has lost the main goal in life. Fromm realizes that most people avoid talking about it. Having knowledge of the exact sciences, people remained ignorant of the most important and fundamental questions of human existence. We have forgotten who a man is, how he ought to live, how to use our huge potential. Complex and contradictory social climate is unfavorable for spiritual development. There is the splitting which is clearly observed in the manifestation of instincts and passions. Fromm wants to solve these contradictions and refers to the works of Freud and Marx. Their work had a great influence on him. He learned a lot from them, their teachings helped establish his own concepts. The Fromm humanistic psychoanalysis relies on several provisions. The most important provision: the identity can be represented as a product of the dynamic interaction between the innate needs and demands of the society where the person exists. Fromm sought to show that society and culture influence the formation of the person and define its uniqueness. Fromm introduces the concept of «human nature». Appealing to ancient philosophy, he notes that even the ancient Greeks knew that every person had certain features of the human nature elements. He believes that for understanding human nature it's important to take into account that the person is being formed in the culture, and human nature is determined by culture. Thus, it can be summarized that the person is «social animal», «intelligent being» and «creature, being able to create symbols». On the one hand, he is the individual with all the specific features, the carrier of all the characteristic qualities inherent in man. Its Individuality is determined by the peculiarities of the human race existence, common to all people. In the process of creation man builds fruitful relations with the world through his active operations. Man comprehends the world, mentally and emotionally, through love and reason. The power of the mind allows him to penetrate deeper, and to comprehend the essence of the subject, engaging in active relationship with him. The power of his love enables him to break down the all that separates one person from another. Although love and reason are just two different ways of understanding the world, and the one is impossible without the other, they are expressions of different forces. Fromm sees the most important thing in learning how to be yourself. He says: it’s difficult to listen to yourself because this art requires the ability, rare in modern man. A careful study of the Fromm theory allows to say that loneliness serves as the main core of underlying personality issues: pathological perversion (sadism, masochism, conformism), the existential conflict of the problem of the social nature choice. Fromm sees the solution in the personal responsibility of each person for his life. He believed that it was necessary to face the truth, be aware of your solitude in a Universe that indifferent to the fate of a man and admit that there is no force outside of man which is capable to solve your problem. A man needs to take the responsibility for himself and admit that he is the only one who can give the meaning to his life.

Authors and Affiliations

Olʹha Gromova

Keywords

loneliness isolation destructiveness psychoanalysis neofreudianism existential crisis Erich Fromm humanistic psychoanalysis

EP ID EP661660
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