The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that man may become robots

The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that man may become robots

Erich Fromm, a renowned psychologist and social philosopher, was deeply concerned with the impact of modern society on the individual. In his work, Fromm often explored the dangers of conformity and alienation in a world increasingly dominated by technology and consumerism. The quote "The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that man may become robots" encapsulates Fromm's fears about the dehumanizing effects of modernity.

Fromm believed that in the past, individuals were enslaved by external forces such as oppressive political systems or economic structures. However, in the present and future, he saw a different kind of enslavement taking place – one in which individuals willingly surrender their autonomy and agency to conform to societal norms and expectations. This conformity, Fromm argued, could lead to a loss of individuality and a sense of alienation from oneself and others.

The rise of technology and automation in the modern world only exacerbates this danger, as individuals become increasingly reliant on machines and algorithms to make decisions for them. Fromm warned that as humans become more dependent on technology, they risk losing touch with their own humanity and becoming mere cogs in a vast, impersonal system.