Online Philosophy

Erich Fromm speaks with with wisdom, compassion, learning and insight into the problems of individuals trapped in a social world that is needlessly cruel and hostile. Nothing less than a manifesto for a new social and psychological revolution to save our threatened planet, the discussed book 'To Have or To Be?' is a summary of the penetrating thought of Eric Fromm. His thesis is that two modes of existence struggle for the spirit of humankind: the having mode, which concentrates on material possessions, power, and aggression, and is the basis of the universal evils of greed, envy, and violence; and the being mode, which is based on love, the pleasure of sharing, and in productive activity. To Have Or to Be? is a brilliant program for socioeconomic change.

Mike Wallace interviews English writer Aldous Huxley in 1958. In the interview, Huxley’s best-selling novel Brave New World is discussed. The dystopian novel was written in 1931 and published in 1932. Brave New World ranks high in the Modern Library 100 Best Novels. Topics examined are overpopulation, freedom, social control, central government, social unrest, death control, over-organization, propaganda, television, technology, drugs, bureaucracy, and futurology. Huxley refers to American political campaigns: “All that is needed is money and a candidate who can be coached to look sincere. Political principles and plans for specific action have come to lose most of their importance. The personality of the candidate, the way he is projected by the advertising experts are the things that really matter.” His visions are probably more relevant as ever.