A Comparative Study Of The Essential Ideas Of Marx And Fromm

The question of human nature has always been one of the focal points which philosopher concern about.Under different historical conditions,Marx and Fromm have different explorations of human nature and draw the conclusion which have a certain connection but there are significant differences.Understanding these connections and differences will help us to understand Marx's humanistic thinking more specifically and better implement the people-oriented concept of scientific development.Marx's understanding of human nature is mainly reflected in the following aspects:the nature of human beings is "free conscious activity" ? "the essence of man is the sum of all social relations" ? "the essence of man is the true community of man".Practical activities which are based on human material production activities as the main content,that is to say,"free conscious activity " is the basis for the formation of human nature,the social connection between people is formed on the basis of practice,the reality of the existence of human form is community which is formed on the basis of these links.But in Marx's view,due to the level of productivity constraints,in the capitalist private system,people do not regard social connections and society as the essence of their life can not be left,they understand themselves as isolated individuals,and regard the various social connections as external constraints that need to be fled.This universal alienation in the face of human nature can only be discarded through the development of productive forces and the fundamental transformation of the relations of production.And all this can only be achieved through the proletarian revolution and the establishment of the communist system.Fromm as a Freudian Marxist,his humanistic thought was influenced by various ideas such as Freud,Marx,and Judaism and Buddhism.In his opinion,The understanding of the nature of man must proceed from this point of view----the same potential that they are born,but labor is the concrete way to realize these potentials.However,under the condition of capitalist private ownership,people can realize the richness of morality and love in real life in the process of realizing their potential,which will produce a profound sense of loneliness.The alienation of these connections between people is alienation of human nature.To avoid the alienation of human nature,it is necessary to rebuild the relationship between people in the public society beyond the possession of private property.Marx's human thought,especially its labor point of view,has a clear influence on Fromm's human thought.But Marx's anthropological thought and Fromm's anthropological thought have a clear distinction.Marx regards labor as the basis for the essence of man,and Fromm is regarded labor as a way to realize the essence of man;Marx argues that alienation is labor alienation,and Fromm understands alienation as a psychological experience;Marx argues that the abandonment of alienation can only be achieved through the development of productive forces and the proletarian revolution,and that Fromm is the way to dissipate alienation in the way of psychotherapy.