How can we explain man's lust for cruelty? In a world in which violence

seems to be increasing, social philosopher Erich Fromm has treated this

haunting question with depth and scope in the most original and

far-reaching work of his brilliant career. Fromm goes beyond the

controversy between instinctivists like Lorenz, who argue that man's

destructiveness has been inherited from his animal ancestors, and

behaviorists like Skinner, who maintain that there are no innate human

traits since everything is the result of social conditioning. Conceding

that there is a kind of aggression which man shares with animals, Fromm

shows that it is defensive in nature, designed to insure survival. On

the other hand, malignant aggression, or destructiveness, in which man

kills without biological or social purpose, is peculiarly human and not

instinctive; it is one of the passions, like ambition or greed. Drawing

on findings of neurophysiology, prehistory, anthropology, and animal

psychology, Fromm presents a global and historical study of human

destructiveness that enables readers to evaluate the data for

themselves. Although deeply indebted to Freud, Fromm emphasizes social

and cultural factors as well. Destructiveness is seen in terms of the

dreams and associations of many patients, and of historical figures such

as Stalin--an extreme example of sadism; Himmler--an example of the

bureaucratic-sadistic character; and Hitler.

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