Fears and Symbols: An Introduction to the Study of Western Civilization

Az emberi kaland #3

by Elemér Hankiss

Hankiss (sociology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences) surveys the major theories of civilization and develops a new hypothesis, according to which existential fear has been a major factor in generating human culture. Citing many examples, he contends that the struggle for safety and freedom, a for meaningful life, and for dignity appears not only in the great human symbolic systems, but also in the most trivial everyday activities. The Hungarian original, Az emberi kaland was published by Helikon Kiad=, Budapest, in 1999. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: History, Philosophy, Sociology

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001