In this sociological study, Erich Fromm distinguishes between two fundamental modes of human existence: having and being. He argues that modern industrial society is centered on the having mode, which equates identity with private property, status, and the accumulation of material objects. This orientation leads to atomization and social conflict. Fromm contrasts this with the being mode, characterized by active presence, internal productivity, and the shared use of resources. He analyzes how these orientations manifest in everyday life, from the way individuals acquire knowledge to how they experience love and authority, ultimately proposing a blueprint for a new society based on communal welfare.
Social scientists and students of psychology read this work to understand the psychological roots of consumerism and its impact on mental health. Readers gain a framework for analyzing how economic structures shape personal character and interpersonal relationships. The text provides a specific critique of the "Great Promise" of unlimited progress, offering instead a model for living that prioritizes human experience over the obsession with ownership. Those interested in the intersection of psychoanalysis and political theory find here a concrete plan for structural change centered on self-actualization.
Deep, inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.
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- Published
- 1976
- Language
- EN
