To Have or to Be? Chapter 1: Characteristics of a consumer society1.1 Dominance of the concept of possession - Definition: The concept of possession is the psychological state of acquiring and retaining something. - Social phenomenon: In today&39;s society, possessiveness is widely regarded as a symbol of happiness and social status. - Economic impact: Consumerism encourages people to buy more items to improve the quality of life, but it may actually lead to a decline in materialism and happiness. 1.2 The shift from possession to experience - The value of experience: More and more people begin to value experience itself rather than material possessions. - Social transformation: From a society that prides itself on material accumulation to a society that pursues life experience and personalized expression. Chapter 2: Possessive personality and existential personality2.1 Characteristics of possessive personality - Dependence: People with possessive personality rely on material wealth and external recognition to gain a sense of security. - Competitiveness: They see the world as a place of competition and pursue success that surpasses others. - Sense of isolation: Despite material abundance, they may feel lonely and empty inside. 2.2 Characteristics of Existential Personality - Independence: People with Existential Personality do not rely on external possessions to define themselves. - Sharing: They prefer to share what they have with others and emphasize the value of community. - The meaning of life: They pursue the experience of creating and enhancing life. Chapter 3: The Psychological Roots of Possession and Consumption3.1 Deep Psychological Needs - Sense of Belonging: Fill the lack of inner sense of belonging by owning certain things. - Self-affirmation: Possession is seen as a way to prove self-worth. 3.2 Social and Cultural Factors - Advertising: The media constantly emphasizes the importance of owning something for happiness. - Parental Education: People are taught to accumulate property from childhood and regard it as a sign of success. Chapter 4: The Path to Existence4.1 Individual Awakening - Self-cognition: Recognize and accept one&39;s dependence on material things and have one&39;s own views on life. - Value Transformation: Shift from pursuing material values to pursuing the intrinsic value of life. 4.2 The Practice of Existence - Creative Activities: Engage in activities that express one&39;s uniqueness and creativity. - Interpersonal Relationships: Build relationships based on mutual understanding and respect, rather than on material exchange. Chapter 5: Conclusion: Cultural Change Toward Existence 5.1 The Forces of Social Change - Education System: Spread the values of existence through education, encourage innovation and individual independent thinking. - Economic Structure: Develop a service-oriented economy and reduce dependence on material consumption. 5.2 The Significance of Personal Change - Freedom of Choice: Everyone can choose whether to live primarily through possession or existence. - The True Meaning of Happiness: Understand that happiness does not come only from material wealth, but from the profound experience of life and personal growth.

The book "To Have or to Be" is written by the famous psychologist and sociologist Erich Fromm, which deeply explores the lifestyle and spiritual dilemma of modern people. The following are wonderful sentences or paragraphs selected from the book, which are profound, unique, beautiful, wise, or creative. These sentences will be divided into three parts and output by number for readers' reference. Part I 1. "In modern industrialized society, people are often possessed by the things they own and forget their true existence." 2. "Possession and existence are two completely different states of existence: the former is based on greed and fear, the latter is based on freedom and creation." 3. "Only when a person can say 'I am who I am' can he truly exist; when a person can only say 'what I have', he is actually possessed by things." 4. "True love is not possession, but letting the loved one exist freely." 5. "In modern society, people often fill the emptiness in their hearts by constantly possessing, but this filling is only temporary and may even aggravate the sense of emptiness." 6. "Existence means living in the present and establishing a real connection with oneself and the world; while possession is escaping from reality and seeking security through material things." Part II 7. "Work is not just for survival, but also a way to realize self-worth. But in a possession-oriented society, work is often alienated into a means of making money." 8. "True happiness does not come from how much you possess, but from the quality of your existence." 9. "Art is a way of expressing existence. It helps us transcend the constraints of material things and touch the essence of life." 10. "In a world of possession, people use each other; in a world of existence, people respect and understand each other." 11. "Learning should not be for the purpose of possessing more knowledge, but to elevate the level of self-existence." 12. "Only when a person dares to face his own heart can he truly exist." 13. "Possession is a form of death because it hinders the flow and change of life; existence is the embodiment of life because it embraces change and possibility." Part 3 14. "Interpersonal relationships oscillate between possession and existence. True friendship and love are based on existence, while utilization and control are based on possession." 15. "Freedom is not about doing whatever you want, but about being able to get rid of the constraints of possession and truly exist." 16. "Creation is a higher form of existence, which requires us to transcend the limitations of possession and bravely explore unknown areas." 17. "Possession makes us narrow-minded and selfish, while existence makes us open and inclusive." 18. "In the pursuit of possession, we lose our awe and gratitude for life; in the pursuit of existence, we regain these beautiful qualities." 19. "Life is not a material feast, but a spiritual practice. Only through existence can we touch the true meaning of life." 20. "Possession is short-lived, existence is eternal. In this ever-changing world, let us choose to exist and live out our true selves." These sentences and paragraphs show Fromm's profound insight into possession and existence, and have important implications for understanding the values and lifestyles of modern society.

About the author: Erich Fromm Erich Fromm is a German-born American social psychologist, philosopher and psychoanalyst.< His works cover a wide range of fields including human relations, social structure, personal freedom and mental health.

Fromm is known for his profound insights into modern society and his unique views on human behavior.< 1.

Basic personal information Erich Fromm was born on March 23, 1900 in Frankfurt, Germany, and died on March 18, 1980 in Mexico, USA.< 2.

Education and career background Fromm received his doctorate from the University of Heidelberg and received psychoanalytic training at the Berlin Psychoanalytic Institute.< His career included working as a researcher at the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and a professor at the New York Institute for Social Research.

3.< Writing career Fromm's writing career began in the 1930s, and his first book was about the combination of Freud and Marxism.

His works include Escape from Freedom (1941), Analysis of Human Destruction (1973) and To Have or to Be (1976).< 4.

Style and Theme of Works Fromm's works are known for being easy to understand and plain to understand.< He focuses on the survival of human beings in modern society and explores themes such as human relationships, freedom, love and work.

His works emphasize the harmonious coexistence of individuals and society, and that while human beings pursue material wealth, they should also pay attention to the development of the spiritual level.< 5.

Personal Life Fromm's personal life is relatively low-key.< He has been married twice.

He has devoted his life to research and writing in order to contribute to the progress of human society.< 6.

Social Influence Fromm's thoughts have had a profound impact on social psychology and psychoanalysis in the 20th century.< His views have been widely recognized and applied in the fields of psychology, sociology and philosophy.

7.< Quotations and Evaluations Authoritative media and experts generally have a high evaluation of Fromm.

The New York Times once evaluated him as "one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century.< " The famous psychologist Carl Rogers also praised Fromm's works for their profound insight and inspiration.

8.< Latest News Although Fromm died in 1980, his thoughts and works still have an impact on contemporary society.

Many scholars and researchers continue to study and explore his theories in order to provide more inspiration for the development of modern society.< In short, Erich Fromm is a psychologist and philosopher with a wide range of influence.

His work "To Have or to Be" provides us with a profound reflection on the human survival state, which is worth every reader's careful appreciation.