MAN FOR HIMSELF --- AN INQUIRY INTO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ETHICS
by Erich Fromm. Rinehart and Company, Inc., 1947
FORWARD (pvii)

    This book is in many respects a continuation of my book, Escape From Freedom, in which Fromm attempted to analyze modern man's "escape from himself" and from his FREEDOM!

    In this book, Fromm explores the "problem of ethics," of norms and values leading to the realization of a person's "self" and of his or her potentialities. Topics of "characterology" are discussed.

    Fromm takes the position that psychology must not only debunk false ethical judgments but can --- beyond that --- be the basis for building objective and valid norms of conduct!

    This is in contrast to the trend that started about 60 years ago to emphasize "adjustment" rather than "goodness." The book is on the side of "ethical relativism." Fromm is convinced, from his experience as a practicing psychoanalyst, that "problems of ethics" cannot be omitted from the study of personality, either theoretically or therapeutically. He believes that the "value judgments" people make determine their actions, and that there mental health and happiness depends upon their validity.

    To consider evaluations only as so many rationalizations of unconscious, irrational desires --- although they can be that too --- narrows down and distorts the true comprehensive picture of the true personality or self.

    Neurosis itself is a symptom of either moral failure or brain damage. In many instances, a neurotic symptom is the specific result of "moral conflict." The success of the therapeutic intervention depends upon the understanding and solution of the person's moral problem!

    The separation of psychology from ethics is recent historically. The great humanistic ethical thinkers of the past, on whose works this book is based, were philosophers and psychologists. They believed that the understanding of human nature and the understanding of values and norms are interdependent.

    Irrationalism, whether veiled in psychological, philosophical, racial, or political terms, is not progress but simply anti-intellectual reactionism. The failure of 18th and 19th century rationalism was not due to its belief in reason but to the narrowness of its concepts. Not less, but more reason and a vigilant search for the truth can correct errors of a distorted one-sided irrationalism. Using reason is better than any pseudo-religious obsucrantism.

    To repeat, psychology cannot be divorced from philosophy and ethics nor from sociology and economics. Even though this book emphasizes the philosophical problems of psychology, it does not mean that socio-economic factors are less important. They are just as important for understanding irrational strivings.

    In spite of the tenacity and stubbornness of some patients' problems, the view of this book is not pessimistic. In fact, just the opposite attitude has developed as patients' have strongly expressed their strivings for happiness and health, which are part of the "natural equipment" of people.

    The word "curing" means removing the obstacles which prevent people from becoming effective. It is a wonderful fact that most people are relatively healthy in spite of the many adverse influences to which they are exposed.

    This book does not contain any advice on how you can attain happiness or peace of mind. Rather it is a theoretical attempt to clarify the problem of ethics and psychology in order to make readers question themselves rather than to pacify them.

    PART 1 --- THE PROBLEM (p3-7)

    PART 2 --- HUMANISTIC ETHICS ---the applied science of the art of living ( p8-37)

    PART 3 --- HUMAN NATURE AND CHARACTER (p38- 117)

    PART 4 --- PROBLEMS OF HUMANISTIC ETHICS (p118-244)

    PART 5 --- THE MORAL PROBLEM OF TODAY (p245-250)

    INDEX (p251-254)

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    Go to: Interactive Index of Ideas