Man for Himself: An Inquiry into the Psychology of Ethics

By Erich Fromm

Man for Himself is Erich Fromm's 1947 inquiry into whether ethics can be grounded in human nature rather than authority. Fromm argues for a humanistic ethics in which what is good is what helps people realize their own potential. He describes character types, including the productive orientation, and discusses conscience, pleasure, faith and self-love, arguing that healthy self-love is the basis of love for others.

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David Heinemeier Hansson: “It's a beautiful, simple, yet counterintuitive notion.”