Time and Place: New York, May 17, 1966

Abstract: The lecture “Independence and Freedom” is the second lecture of two presentations entitled “Responsibility, Duty, Independence and Freedom”. It starts with the word “listy” as a special way of being responsive – as it is intended in the term “responsibility”. The problem of freedom is first addressed in terms of the concept of fate as understood by the Greeks and in religious thought where freedom is based on awareness of norms and of facts of life. Spinoza, Marx and Freud were convinced that we are led by forces which operate behind our back. So, freedom is only possible by becoming aware of those forces which Freud understood as secret plots, complexes or hidden meaning. Finally, the concept of independence as a psychological phenomenon is discussed. In contrast to duty, responsibility, freedom, and independence form a syndrome and cannot exist without each other. A free person must be a responsive and responsible person, and the independent person cannot be other but a free and responsible person. – The lecture was given by Erich Fromm on the invitation of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association at Kaufman Concert Hall. The lecture (67’) is followed by Fromm’s answers (25’) to questions from the audience.

The text of the lecture and discussion can be downloaded as a PDF file.

ID in the directory of Erich Fromm’s works (https://fromm-online.org/en/works/original-writings/): 1966x-eng