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Fromm's Critique of Capitalist Society in the Sound Society

Author(s)

Yangyang Wu

Affiliation(s)

Tongji University, Shanghai, China

Abstract

Erich Fromm offers a profound critique of capitalist society in his work The Sane Society, viewed as a continuation of his earlier books Escape from Freedom and Man for Himself. Integrating Freudian psychoanalysis with Maslow's humanism, Fromm explores the psychological and social issues afflicting Western society after the World Wars, highlighting the contrast between material wealth and spiritual impoverishment. He contends that capitalism, with its emphasis on "things over people," leads to widespread alienation, as individuals are increasingly distanced from the products of their labor, each other, and their inner selves. Fromm critically examines how the capitalist drive for profit, efficiency, and mass consumption fosters conformity, standardizes desires, and suppresses individuality. He asserts that both workers and managers become dehumanized, as labor is reduced to mechanical processes devoid of creativity, and bureaucratic structures treat people as objects. Furthermore, he critiques the alienation in consumer culture, where insatiable desires are cultivated by market forces, disconnecting consumption from genuine human needs. Through his psychoanalytic approach, Fromm ultimately calls for a new society where human growth and well-being are prioritized over profit, and where individuals live meaningfully, free from the systemic pressures of capitalism.

Keywords

Erich Fromm; Capitalist Society; Alienation

References

[1] E. Fromm, The Sane Society, New York: Rinehart and Company, 1955. [2] E. Fromm, Escape from Freedom, New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1961. [3] E. Fromm, The Heart of Man: Its Genius for Good and Evil, New York: Harper & Row, 1964. [4] P. W. Kurtz, Review of The Sane Society, Ethics, Vol. 66, No. 4, 1956, pp. 289-29 [5] B. Brennen, Searching for “The Sane Society”: Erich Fromm’s Contributions to Social Theory, Javnost - The Public: Journal of the European Institute for Communication and Culture, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2006, pp. 7-16. [6] M. Gane, On Erich Fromm: Psychoanalysis and the Theory of Alienation, Theory, Culture & Society, Vol. 5, No. 3, 1988, pp. 447-471. [7] B. R., Review of The Sane Society, Review of Metaphysics, Vol. 10, No. 1, 1956, pp. 175-176. [8] C. Wahl, Erich Fromm’s Social Philosophy, Social Research, Vol. 39, No. 4, 1972, pp. 566-590. [9] M. James, Fromm’s Critique of Consumer Culture, The Journal of Consumer Culture, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2002, pp. 143-160. [10] S. E. Bronner, Fromm’s Humanism: Roots and Implications, Humanity & Society, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1992, pp. 488-508.