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Critical Theory has traditionally been interested in engaging classical psychoanalysis rather than addressing postclassical thought. For the first time, this volume brings Critical Theory into proper dialogue with modern developments in the psychoanalytic movement and covers a broad range of topics in contemporary society that revisit the Frankfurt School and its contributions to psychoanalytic social critique. Theoretical, clinical, and applied investigations in social pathology are explored in relation to new directions in critical cultural discourse from a variety of psychoanalytic perspectives. In this volume, internationally acclaimed social political theorists, philosophers, psychoanalysts, cultural critics, and scholars of humanities examine contemporary issues in social critique that address a myriad of topics.
The Pathology of Normalcy and Consensual Validation: Thinking Beyond Neoliberalism with Erich Fromm
(2022)
Think of the ease in which one can acquire food and clothing today. Consider the ubiquitous availability of machines that save us hours of boring labour. For the average person in the global core, it is obvious: the material standard of living has increased exponentially since the industrial-capitalist revolution. Although we may celebrate these achievements it is also clear that such rampant capitalist development has created many horrific ‘negative externalities’.
Tibor Scitovsky’s >The Joyless Economy< (1976) is now regarded as a landmark publication in the combined fields of economics and psychology, with standard accounts of Scitovsky’s ideas emphasizing the influence of 1960s motivational psychology literature. While this encounter is all-important, Scitovsky’s ideas must at the same time be read in the context of the evolution of his critique of twentieth-century mass society. The present paper presents that critique and demonstrates its fundamental importance for Scitovsky’s diagnosis of an economy he termed >joyless<. Drawing upon his >Memoirs<, we show how Scitovsky’s ideas were initially shaped by the culture/aesthetics of his early years in Budapest, followed by his experiences of rising totalitarianism in interwar Europe, and further affected by his move to the consumption society of postwar America. The way he engaged with the writings of influential contemporary cultural commentators, including André Gide, Erich Fromm, Bertrand de Jouvenel, Lewis Mumford, and Bernard Rudofsky, was incisive. Close scrutiny also reveals resonances between Scitovsky’s cultural concerns and those of some of the Bloomsbury Group.
Psychoanalysis in the shadow of fascism and genocide: Erich Fromm and the interpersonal tradition
(2022)
In this chapter, we argue that Frankfurt School Critical Theory is in crisis and we offer three potential remedies drawn from the work of Erich Fromm (1900–1980). Juxtaposing a critical analysis of the state of ‘domesticated’ contemporary Critical Theory with a sympathetic reconstruction of Fromm’s work, we identified crucial insights which have been neglected by many of those who work within the ambit of Frankfurt School Critical Theory today. In this endeavour, we seek to build upon and extend the work of Michael J. Thompson, Stathis Kouvelakis, and Nancy Fraser.
One of the challenges of modern business ethics is to deal with the limitations of the existing model of man in economics and business – the image of homo economicus as a rational selfish being – and search for alternative visions of criteria of success for business entrepreneurs and leaders. Business ethics needs the concept of genuine love. Otherwise, business ethics is reduced to an instrumental endeavor and cannot play the ultimate role it should in a world dominated by big corporations which compete fiercely on a global market. The so-called >the Ethics Management Paradox< is an important warning against the problems with a rational and technocratic conception of ethics. The paper applies Erich Fromm’s concept of >productive love< in business education. To contextualize Fromm’s concept of love, the paper draws on the author’s personal experiences with the course >Ethical action< that has been offered for more than two decades at NHH Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen. The central question is: Can Fromm’s conception of love be applied in a business school setting with the purpose to develop the students’ empathy, to enrich their personal development and their understanding of what a good manager looks like?