Background
Kitahara, Michio was born on January 10, 1937 in Moji, Japan. Son of Nobuo and Kitako (Miyata) Kitahara.
(Why are democracy, equality and freedom currently in such...)
Why are democracy, equality and freedom currently in such turmoil? Kitahara discusses the confusion and pessimism in Western civilization today. The author presents his theory of civilization and suggests how the enormous problems within Western civilization can be addressed by pursuing the original basis of Western civilization-individualism. The three key values of democracy, equality and freedom are then re-interpreted from the perspective of individualism, and possibilities for dealing with the problems of Western civilization are suggested. Contents: PART I: PROBLEMS OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION; Western Civilization in Confusion; Democracy; Equality; Freedom; Ideology, Bureaucracy, and Technology; Culture and Biology; Culture and the Individual; PART II: A THEORY OF CIVILIZATION; The Self in the Life Space; The Manipulatory Drive; Identification and Variation; The Conditions for Civilization; The Maintenance of Civilization; The Failure of Civilization; PART III: REFLECTIONS ON WESTERN CIVILIZATION; The Contradictions; Individualism and Democracy; Individualism and Equality; Individualism and Freedom; Epilogue.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1871871239/?tag=2022091-20
( In this examination of problems in the modern world, Mi...)
In this examination of problems in the modern world, Michio Kitahara argues that a logical inconsistency in the philosophy of Enlightenment has caused humans to approach their environment in a way that is inconsistent with their biological background. Human biological and cultural evolution has created a form of suffering that derives in part from Western civilization's simultaneous acceptance and rejection of human variation. Both specialists and the general public assume that evolution is good and desirable, but Kitahara's analysis suggests the opposite: that evolution itself is tragic. In his analysis of human evolution, Kitahara discusses deviant and criminal behavior, social conflict, liberalism, and the nature of Western civilization. He holds two axiomatic assumptions: that humans are characterized by stimulus seeking behavior accompanied by the manipulatory drive, and that humans are characterized by physical, psychological and cultural variation. He argues that the tyranny of the majority and the technology we have developed deny human variation, and that the drive to manipulate the environment is the wellspring of modern, sociocultural phenomena. This book will be of interest to scholars of anthropology, sociology, philosophy, history, political science, and environmental studies.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0275940411/?tag=2022091-20
Kitahara, Michio was born on January 10, 1937 in Moji, Japan. Son of Nobuo and Kitako (Miyata) Kitahara.
Bachelor, University Montana, 1961. License philosophy, Uppsala University, Sweden, 1968. Doctor of Philosophy, Uppsala University, Sweden, 1971.
Assistant professor psychology Acadia University, Wolfville, Canada, 1968-1971. Visiting scholar University Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1972-1973. Lecturer University Maryland, Tokyo branch, 1974-1978.
Visiting scholar State University of New York, Buffalo, 1980. Professor psychology Nagaoka (Japan) Institute of Science 7 Technology, 1978-1986. Director Nordenfeldt Institute, Sweden, 1986-1997.
( In this examination of problems in the modern world, Mi...)
(Why are democracy, equality and freedom currently in such...)
(Western civilization's abuse of Africans boomeranged back...)
(Very nice book)
Member American Anthropological Association, Society Psychological Anthropology, Society Medical Anthropology, Society Cross-Cultural Research.
Married Anne-Marie Ulla Davidsson, August 8, 1981.