Review article
Nobility of Spirit in the philosophy of Erich Fromm
Krešimir Tabak
; University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Ivica Musić
orcid.org/0000-0002-8434-3742
; University of Mostar, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
Wisdom as the universal category was mostly replaced by its instrumental variant in the intellectual discourse of the 20th century. Dystopian thought, that brings nihilism and absurd in the life of a contemporary man, dominated in the mentioned century. Universal life values as the connective tissue of the civilization, ideal which was permanently present in history of the human race, is not on the prominent place in modern era. Despite those unfavorable circumstances certain philosophers will answer to modern challenges through their creativity and show the existence of values the civilization cannot live without. Erich Fromm was an important person who was thinking about life in affirmative way and searching for the current status alternative. This paper connects his essentialism with the widely known and applicable term “nobility of spirit”. It also describes Fromm’s critics of capitalism and socialism as unsuitable social systems. Fromm’s vision of the ideal human nature or the character type whose aim are growth and development of all human capabilities is opposed to the modern reality which is considered as the world without alternative. Productive thinking and productive love belong to the most valuable human capabilities. The highest form of productivity is attributed to the revolutionary character or life orientation which is identified with mankind, it uses universal criteria and nourishes propensity and love for life. It is concluded in the end that the vision of mature life cannot last without spiritual nobility.
Keywords
nobility of spirit; capitalism; socialism; productive character; love; opinion
Hrčak ID:
230800
URI
Publication date:
9.7.2019.
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