Episode 46: Very Good Men (with Very Bad Wizards)

In 'Lord of the Flies', William Golding tells the story of a group of British schoolboys who are stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. The novel follows their attempts to govern themselves and the gradual descent into chaos and savagery. The story is an allegory that explores themes of human nature, morality, leadership, and the fragility of civilization. Key characters include Ralph, who represents order and democracy; Jack, who symbolizes power and violence; and Piggy, the voice of reason. The novel highlights the tension between the desire for civilization and the primal savagery that lies beneath the surface of human society.

In 'Escape from Freedom', Erich Fromm examines the human relationship with freedom, distinguishing between 'freedom from' (negative freedom) and 'freedom to' (positive freedom). The book discusses how the rise of democracy and the destruction of feudal societies led to a new kind of freedom that many individuals found overwhelming. Fromm argues that this sense of freedom can lead to feelings of alienation, anxiety, and a desire to escape these feelings through mechanisms such as authoritarianism, destructiveness, and automatic conformity. He also analyzes the psychosocial conditions that facilitated the rise of Nazism and other totalitarian regimes. The book is divided into sections that explore the historical transition from medieval to modern society, the psychological factors at play in contemporary society, and the dissection of authoritarian societies with a vision of potential alternatives.