On Erich Fromm’s Virtue Ethics
List of Authors
  • He, Yicheng , Peter Gan Chong Beng

Keyword
  • Erich Fromm, moral guidance, true self, pseudo self, virtue ethics

Abstract
  • Fromm’s ethics can be viewed as a form of virtue ethics, which emphasizes the importance of developing one’s true self and reducing one's false self. By doing so, one can change their psychological state in terms of character and psychological tendencies, leading to an improved moral life and higher moral standards. While some criticisms have been raised about virtue theory, including its perceived inability to guide one on how to act properly, Fromm's virtue ethics is unique in that it does not focus on establishing universal rules for specific actions. Instead, it seeks to establish universal laws for human behavioural tendencies or trends. Through his unique social psychology, Fromm provides an in-depth analysis of the inner world of man, which can serve as a valuable guide to the general direction of human development and freedom. In addition, Fromm’s virtue ethics also highlights the importance of social relationships and the impact they have on our moral development. He argues that our relationships with others can have a profound effect on our psychological state and our ability to live virtuously. Overall, Fromm’s virtue ethics provides a unique perspective on human development and morality. By focusing on the development of one’s true self and the importance of social relationships, his approach offers a valuable guide to living a fulfilling and virtuous life.

Reference
  • 1. Aristotle. (2009). Nicomachean ethics (W.D. Ross, Trans.). Oxford University Press.
    2. Baron, M., Kagan, S., Schneewind, J. B., & Wood, A. W. (Eds.). (n.d.). Groundwork for the Metaphysics of morals. Immanuel Kant. (Edited and translated by Allen W. Wood.). (Original Work Published 1785).
    3. Besser-Jones, L., & Slote, M (2015). The routledge companion to virtue ethics. Routledge.
    4. Chong, K. C. (2006). Virtue and rightness: A comparative account. In C. K. Chong & Y. Liu (Eds.). Conceptions of virtue: East and West (pp. 59-77). Marshall Cavendish.
    5. Cooper, J. M., & Hutchinson, D. S. (1997). Plato's complete works. Hackett.
    6. Diogenes Laertius. (1972). Lives of the Philosophers (R. D. Hicks, Trans.). Loeb Classical Library. Harvard University Press.
    7. Fromm, E. (1941). Escape from freedom. Farrar & Rinehart.
    8. Fromm, E. (2013). Man for himself: An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics. Open Road Media.
    9. Fromm, E. (1955). The sane society. Rinehart.
    10. Fromm, E. (1956). The art of loving. Harper & Row.
    11. Fromm, E. (2013). Zen Buddhism and psychoanalysis. Open Road Media.
    12. Fromm, E. (1964). The heart of man: Its genius for good and evil. Harper & Row.
    13. Fromm, E. (1968). The revolution of hope: Toward humanized technology. Harper & Row.
    14. Fromm, E. (1973). The anatomy of human destructiveness. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
    15. Friedman, L. J. (2013). The lives of Erich Fromm: Love's Prophet. Columbia University Press.
    16. McKay, N. (1989). Motivation and explanation: An essay on Freud's Philosophy of science (Psychological Issues Monograph 56). International Universities Press.
    17. Plato. (2004). The Republic (C.D.C. Reeve, Trans.). Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
    18. Schaar, J. H. (1961). Escape from authority: The perspectives of Erich Fromm. The American Political Science Review, 55(2), 243-255.
    19. Slote, M. (2000). Virtue ethics. In H. LaFollette (Ed.). The blackwell guide to ethical theory (pp. 325-347). Blackwell Publishing.
    20. Tiwald, J. (2010). Confucianism and virtue ethics: Still a fledgling in Chinese and comparative philosophy. Comparative Philosophy, 1(2), 55-63.