apcampbell

In Erich Fromm’s classic 1941 work, Escape from Freedom, he argues that the future of democracy depends on the realization of true individualism. He writes:

The victory of freedom is possible only if democracy develops into a society in which the individual, his growth and happiness, is the aim and purpose of a culture, in which life does not need any justification in success or anything else, and in which the individual is not subordinated to or manipulated by any power outside of himself, be it the State or the economic machine; finally, a society in which his conscience and ideals are not the internalization of external demands, but are really his and express the aims that result from the peculiarity of his self. (p269)

Of course, this was written against the threat of a rising fascist power in Europe and a growing monopolistic culture of capitalism in the U.S., but it is clear to me that his words are still relevant to contemporary society. To what extent has the average person lost his/her ability to think criticially and act accordingly? How many of our desires and dreams are so strongly conditioned by a consumer society who places great value on success, beauty, youth, and material wealth; while holding false understandings of the conditions that lead to true happiness, freedom, love, and personal integrity?

It is clear what the role of education has in reversing this self perpetuating state of affairs: espousing practices of learning that encourage critical thinking skills, personal autonomy, self empowerment, responsibility, spontaneity, process-orientation, and action toward social change. As individuals though, aside from our own strivings toward greater awareness and balance, what kind of changes in the practices of our daily lives can we make toward helping others to overcome the hypnotic spell of a profit-oriented culture and the automated habits the economic machine has demanded for its ceaseless “progress”? I also cannot help but wonder at what role the internet might play in the struggle for freedom and democracy, and for enabling the necesssary solidarity of those who strive to realize a different set of values at the level of society, politics, and government.

I still haven’t read Free Culture and Extreme Democracy. Any good reads out there on related topics?