Maxwell's Silver Hammer

[NJCher]

18. Erich Fromm

Last edited Sat Jul 26, 2025, 04:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Explains so much of what is going on today. I read his Escape from Freedom when I was very young and have posted about it many times on these threads.

Also, at the schools I taught at, "emotional contagion" is a phenomenon and body of scholarly literature that we teach.

I will tell you a funny story about it.

In speech class, students have to give a basic "how to" speech. How to sew on a button, how to wash your car, how to whatever it is the student knows about. Not surprisingly, this exercise gives rise to a "how to make a mixed drink" because so many of the students work as bartenders. When they ask if they can do that topic, I tell them yes but any bottles have to have only colored water or plain water in them (their props).

The funny part is that when they go around serving their "water cocktails," the students start acting like happy drunks. Believe me, I check those bottles before they start the speech because alcohol is not allowed on public campuses in NJ. It's water they are drinking.

I always find it funny that they act like they have had a few when they watch these speeches. They become noticeably more animated, participate more, and find everything funny. They can get a little loud, and I have to sometimes quiet them down so they don't disturb other classes.

Emotional contagion.