Home | About | Calendar | Contact

Statement of Purpose

  • To preserve, deepen, apply, celebrate, and build on Erich Fromm’s legacy for the benefit of clinicians, academics, activists, students, and the interested general public.
  • To promote interdisciplinary research (within, for example, psychoanalytic, activist, and/or philosophical dimensions) that addresses, amongst others, issues of alienation, authoritarianism, group narcissism, and ‘the pathology of normalcy’ characteristic of contemporary societies.
  • To critically explore Fromm’s contribution and relationship to the Frankfurt School and Critical Theory to wider social theoretical traditions.
  • To deepen and apply to Marx-Freud synthesis that Fromm envisioned by promoting studies of social character and the experiences, attitudes, and aspirations that are characteristic to specific societies, cultures, and social strata.
  • Building on the tradition of social character research, study the relationship between diverse kinds of groups and organizations with their leaders, and promote leadership within these groups that enhances human flourishing, and is conducive to promoting the growth of critical thinking and expanding conscience in individuals and society at large.
  • To infuse out collective conversations about social, political, environmental, and economic issues with a spirit of realism, tolerance, compassion, care, and inclusivity.
  • To explore, refine, and perhaps redefine the meaning and relevance of humanism for the 21st century and address the role of tradition, faith and spirituality in a rapidly changing world.
  • To promote a deeper understanding of the sources of and challenges to the growth of love and intimacy in today’s world.
  • To promote a spirit of hopefulness and collaboration among our members, and between ourselves and like-minded people, to counter the deepening cynicism and despair that grips increasing numbers of people today and bring a new generation of scholars and clinicians to this humanistic, social research agenda.
  • To promote Fromm’s radical humanistic vision of a more just, caring and equal post-capitalist society that supports the flourishing of all living things, and affirms and celebrates our common humanity.

committees

Coordinating Committee

Neil McLaughlin

Michael Thompson

Jeremiah Morelock

*

Social Inquiry

Joan Braune

Lauran Langman

Jeremiah Morelock

*

Clinical Practice

Ilene Philipson

Daniel Burston

Michael Thompson

*

Social Engagement

Rudy Leal McCormick

Lynn Chancer

Neil McLaughlin