Erich Fromm: Guaranteed Income Freedom
on Thursday, July 20, 2017Erich Fromm Money Quote saying in 1966 that Universal Basic Income (UBI) would allow freedom for all by securing basic survival expenses. Erich Fromm said:
“Guaranteed income would not only establish freedom as a reality rather than a slogan, it would also establish a principle deeply rooted in Western religious and humanist tradition, Man has the right to live, regardless!” — Erich Fromm
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In this quote, Erich Fromm is strongly advocating for a universal basic income system. By stating that guaranteed income would establish “freedom as a reality” and align with Western ideals of every person having “the right to live”, Fromm implies poverty should not negate one’s fundamental liberty or ability to merely survive.
He argues basic economic security is a human right, not just an abstract principle. The interpretation is that Fromm viewed financial subsistence as necessary to truly enable individual autonomy and dignity. Fromm’s perspective conveys that society has an obligation to ensure all people can freely live above a minimal threshold, not just proclaim freedom theoretically while some lack even livelihood necessities.
The overall message is that Fromm presented basic income as respecting inherent human worth by guaranteeing the means to merely exist regardless of one’s economic productivity or social role.
Birthday: March 23, 1900 – Death: March 18, 1980