ERICH FROMM'S IDEAS ON BUILDING A NEW SOCIETY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61421/IJSSMER.2026.4202Keywords:
Erich Fromm, society, new society, new manAbstract
Erich Fromm, a German-American psychoanalyst and social philosopher, developed a profound system of thought on constructing a new society based on humanistic socialism. The author delves into the fundamental distinction between two modes of existence: “having” and “being,” thereby demonstrating that alienation in modern industrial society stems from social conditions that distance individuals from their own humanistic values. The paper also presents the conditions for personality change, outlines the portrait of the “new man,” and outlines the model of a humanistic democratic society that Erich Fromm envisioned. Simultaneously, the author offers a critical assessment of the practicality of Erich Fromm's thought in relation to classical Marxism and the modern social context.
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All articles published in International Journal of Social Science, Management and Economics Research are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.