Toward a Spiritual Humanism: A Philosophical Exploration of Love and Personality in Erich Fromm’s Thought
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56404/jsc.v1i1.209Keywords:
Erich Fromm, Love, Islamic Spirituality, Humanistic Psychoanalysis, Critical AnalysisAbstract
This study aims to critically examine Erich Fromm’s conception of love and its intrinsic relationship to his theory of personality, while situating his ideas within a broader philosophical dialogue that includes the perspectives of classical Muslim thinkers. Love has long occupied a central place in both Islamic and Western intellectual traditions. Muslim philosophers typically understand love as a metaphysical and spiritual reality oriented toward the Divine, whereas Western philosophers and psychologists—among them Erich Fromm—often approach love as a humanistic, psychological, and socio-ethical phenomenon. As a leading figure in humanistic psychoanalysis, Fromm conceptualizes love as an active capacity that enables individuals to overcome alienation, actualize their humanity, and cultivate meaningful relatedness, as articulated in The Art of Loving. Employing a philosophical and analytical method, this research explores the epistemic foundations, assumptions, and implications of Fromm’s thought in order to assess its coherence and relevance within wider spiritual and ethical frameworks. The findings reveal that Fromm’s philosophy of love is grounded in humanistic psychoanalysis, emphasizing autonomy, social responsibility, and the productive orientation of the self. This stands in contrast to Islamic philosophical and mystical understandings of love, which center on spiritual purification, metaphysical purpose, and the quest for closeness to Allah Swt. The study concludes that while Fromm’s theory offers valuable insights into the psychological dimensions of love and personality, it remains limited when evaluated through the lens of Islamic spirituality. Consequently, a more comprehensive articulation of love—especially for Muslim readers—may be achieved by integrating Fromm’s humanistic insights with the spiritual and metaphysical perspectives of classical Muslim philosophers, thereby moving toward a richer form of spiritual humanism.
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