"The Sane Society" by Erich Fromm is a seminal work in the field of psychology and social philosophy. It is one of the first books I read in the field of psychology and one of the reasons I’m a counselor today. Fromm's book critiques modern capitalist societies, arguing that they lead to feelings of isolation and unhappiness. He suggests that true mental health in a society is measured by how well it nurtures individual well-being and growth.
Fromm critiques modern capitalist societies, suggesting they lead to alienation and mental health issues.
He proposes that genuine progress in society must happen across economic, socio-political, and cultural spheres simultaneously.
The book examines the notion of a "sane" society, questioning the mental health of Western civilization and the adequacy of its response to individual mental disturbances.
Fromm discusses the role of automation ("robotism") in societal alienation and suggests "humanistic communitarian socialism" as an antidote.
He advocates for creating a society based on human needs and values, emphasizing the importance of human connections, creativity, and active participation in shaping a sane society.
“We consume, as we produce, without any concrete relatedness to the objects with which we deal; We live in a world of things, and our only connection with them is that we know how to manipulate or to consume them.” – Erich Fromm