you are asked to consider the work of two thinkers–Erich Fromm and the Dalai Lama–who are addressing the same kinds of
questions in a similar kind of way. It is hoped you will gain a richer understanding of the thinking process involved in the
construction of a social systems theory by comparing two theorists engaged in similar approaches. The learning goal of the
assignment is less about the specific theories or critiques of them, but rather for you to become immersed in the kinds of
questions involved when someone designs a broad-based social systems theory, thereby facilitating your own ongoing process
of social systems theorizing and related social action.
This assignment is based on the following readings:
Chapters 1-4, in Fromm, E., (2002). The sane society: With introduction by David Ingleby. (2nd enl. ed.). London, England:
Routlege. (Available in Ebrary database Ebooks.)
Part I (Chapters 1-5) and Part III (Chapters 11-16), in Dalai Lama, H.H. (1999). Ethics for the new millennium. New York,
HarperPerennnial: 1993.
In The Sane Society, Erich Fromm posits a social systems theory that includes a model of a healthy (“productive”) individual
and of a healthy (“sane”) society that facilitates individual health, and the implication that societies can be more or less
healthy based on those standards. The most important part of the book is thus in the opening chapters (chapters 1-4). The
rest of the book is his attempt to make sense of how well society is doing in relation to the standards of healthy society
he enumerated in the early chapters, and then how society might do better (“roads to sanity,” etc.).
In Ethics for the New Millennium, the Dalai Lama similarly posits a theory of human happiness (in Part I of the book), and
then proceeds to explore the implications of this theory for global social system contexts.
The assignment is to write a 8-10 page paper analyzing and critiquing the social systems theories presented in the Sane
Society and Ethics for the New Millennium. Compare and contrast Fromm’s notion of “productive orientation” with the Dalai
Lama’s notion of “happiness.” Compare and contrast Fromm’s concept of “productive love” with the Dalai Lama’s concept of
“compassion.” Compare and contrast their theories of a healthy self in relation to the health of various social systems,
including society as a whole. Does each writer’s theory of societal health/illness make sense to you, in general? If so, in
what way, and if not, why not? In what ways are the two theories complementary or conflicting? In what ways is each one a
systems thinker–or: in what ways is each one putting forward a systems theory? Does one of these theories of human nature /
human psychology / mental health ring truer to you? If so, in what ways? If not, why not? Can you suggest alternative
approaches?
Option II
In an 8-10 page essay, complete the assignment as stated in Option I, only shift the emphasis of the majority of the essay
to answering the final question of Option I: “Can you suggest alternative approaches?” Construct your own social system
theory that includes a theory of the human potential, a critique of existing social systems and institutions in light of
that potential, and social system paradigm shifts that might better enable the fulfillment of the human potential in your
conception of it.
Please note: whichever option you choose, this is a traditional research paper assignment, in which you should use standard
APA format. The essay should be posted as a Word document in the Assignment IV essay posting area, under Week 10 on the
course home page.
Supplemental Material
Recordings of talks by Dalai Lama (2007) and Erich Fromm (2012) are available on the internet. Though, in each case, the
talks do not go as far in depth or breadth as the readings for this assignment, listening to them directly adds wonderfully
rich dimension to our understanding of how each one formulates and emphasizes their ideas–and how they connect the personal
dimension of human happiness and development to larger social systems.
The Essential Erich Fromm is a documentary film-in-the-making about Fromm’s life and work. Below is the trailer for the
film.
There are thousands of videos of the Dalai Lama on the internet; you are encouraged to check these out on your own. Many of
these videos are longer than the one linked below. But this video, an invitation to attend the Seeds of Compassion (Links to
an external site.) conference that took place in April 2008 in Seattle, Washington, captures, in a very brief amount of
time, the essence of the Dalai Lama’s message about spirituality, ethics, and their application to social systems at all
levels.
The Essential Erich Fromm
Film Trailer
.
The Essential Erich Fromm (Trailer) (Links to an external site.) from Figura Media (Links to an external site.) on Vimeo
(Links to an external site.).
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