To Have or To Be by Erich
Fromm
Book Review, Five Stars
A compendium of
philosophical insights into what generates humankind's driving
forces.
Filled with
thought provoking comparisons from political, religious, and
environmental powers, Fromm states his analyses that are eye opening
and relevant. I loved the books presentation of original perceptions
that will make you ponder his power of thinking. This is the kind of
book that will leave a lasting memory.
Excerpts:
Erich Fromm on
faith.
Faith,
in the having mode, gives certainty; it claims to pronounce ultimate,
unshakable knowledge, which is believable because the power of those
who promulgate and protect the faith seems unshakable. Indeed, who
would not choose certainty, if all it requires is to surrender one’s
independence?
Erich
Fromm on owning material things:
The
greatest enjoyment is perhaps not so much in owning material things
but in owning living beings. In a patriarchal society even the most
miserable of men in the poorest of classes can be an owner of
property—in his relationship to his wife, his children, his
animals, over whom he can feel he is absolute master. At least for
the man in a patriarchal society, having many children is the only
way to own persons without needing to work to attain ownership, and
with little capital investment. Considering that the whole burden of
childbearing is the woman’s, it can hardly be denied that the
production of children in a patriarchal society is a matter of crude
exploitation of women.
