Erich Fromm
Overview
Erich Seligmann Fromm (March 23, 1900 – March 18, 1980) was a Jewish German-American social psychologist, psychoanalyst, sociologist, humanistic
philosopher, and democratic socialist. He was associated with what became known as the Frankfurt School
of critical theory
.
Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900, at Frankfurt am Main, the only child of Orthodox Jewish
parents. He started his academic studies in 1918 at the University of Frankfurt am Main with two semesters of jurisprudence
.
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
philosopher, and democratic socialist. He was associated with what became known as the Frankfurt School
Frankfurt School
The Frankfurt School refers to a school of neo-Marxist interdisciplinary social theory, particularly associated with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt am Main...
of critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
.
Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900, at Frankfurt am Main, the only child of Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
parents. He started his academic studies in 1918 at the University of Frankfurt am Main with two semesters of jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
.
Quotations
One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often.
ABC TV (25 May 1958)
Both dreams and myths are important communications from ourselves to ourselves. If we do not understand the language in which they are written, we miss a great deal of what we know and tell ourselves in those hours when we are not busy manipulating the outside world.
As quoted in The New York Times (5 January 1964)
The kind of relatedness to the world may be noble or trivial, but even being related to the basest kind of pattern is immensely preferable to being alone.
Ch. 1