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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1625]

*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17th_century 1625]

==Definition==

==Definition==

*1: a [[hatred]] or distrust of [[humankind]]  

*1: a [[hatred]] or distrust of [[humankind]]  

'''Misanthropy''' is the general [[hatred]], mistrust or dislike of the [[human]] species or human [[nature]]. A misanthrope, or misanthropist is someone who holds such view or [[feeling]]. The word's origin is from [[Greek]] [[words]] μῖσος (''misos'', "hatred") and ἄνθρωπος (''anthrōpos'', "man, [[human]]"). The condition is often confused with asociality.

'''Misanthropy''' is the general [[hatred]], mistrust or dislike of the [[human]] species or human [[nature]]. A misanthrope, or misanthropist is someone who holds such view or [[feeling]]. The word's origin is from [[Greek]] [[words]] μῖσος (''misos'', "hatred") and ἄνθρωπος (''anthrōpos'', "man, [[human]]"). The condition is often confused with asociality.

In Western philosophy, misanthropy has been connected to [[isolation]] from human [[society]]. In Plato's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaedo Phaedo], [[Socrates]] defines the misanthrope in relation to his fellow man: "Misanthropy develops when without art one puts complete [[trust]] in somebody [[thinking]] the man absolutely true and sound and reliable and then a little later [[discovers]] him to be bad and unreliable...and when it happens to someone often...he ends up...[[hating]] everyone." Misanthropy, then, is presented as the result of thwarted [[expectations]] or even excessively [[naive]] [[optimism]], since Plato argues that "art" would have allowed the [[potential]] misanthrope to recognize that the [[majority]] of men are to be found in between [[good]] and [[evil]]. Aristotle follows a more ontological route: the misanthrope, as an essentially [[solitary]] man, is not a man at all: he must be a beast or a god, a view [[reflected]] in the [[Renaissance]] of misanthropy as a "beast-like state."

In Western philosophy, misanthropy has been connected to [[isolation]] from human [[society]]. In Plato's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phaedo Phaedo], [[Socrates]] defines the misanthrope in relation to his fellow man: "Misanthropy develops when without art one puts complete [[trust]] in somebody [[thinking]] the man absolutely true and sound and reliable and then a little later [[discovers]] him to be bad and unreliable...and when it happens to someone often...he ends up...[[hating]] everyone." Misanthropy, then, is presented as the result of thwarted [[expectations]] or even excessively [[naive]] [[optimism]], since Plato argues that "art" would have allowed the [[potential]] misanthrope to recognize that the [[majority]] of men are to be found in between [[good]] and [[evil]]. Aristotle follows a more ontological route: the misanthrope, as an essentially [[solitary]] man, is not a man at all: he must be a beast or a god, a view [[reflected]] in the [[Renaissance]] of misanthropy as a "beast-like state."

It is important to distinguish between philosophical [[pessimism]] and misanthropy. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant] said that "Of the crooked timber of [[humanity]], no straight thing can ever be made," and yet this was not an [[expression]] of the uselessness of mankind itself. Kant further stated that hatred of mankind can take two distinctive forms, aversion from men (Anthropophobia) or enmity towards them. The condition can arise partly from dislike and partly from ill-will.

It is important to distinguish between philosophical [[pessimism]] and misanthropy. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant] said that "Of the crooked timber of [[humanity]], no straight thing can ever be made," and yet this was not an [[expression]] of the uselessness of mankind itself. Kant further stated that hatred of mankind can take two distinctive forms, aversion from men (Anthropophobia) or enmity towards them. The condition can arise partly from dislike and partly from ill-will.

Another example of mistaken misanthropy is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sartre Jean-Paul Sartre]'s quote "Hell is other people." On the face of it, this looks deeply misanthropic, but actually Sartre was making an [[observation]] about the tendency of human beings to lack [[self-knowledge]]. We tend to project our worst [[fears]], and our most deeply disliked personal characteristics, onto other people, rather than look inside and face them within ourselves. Thus, when we look at other people we often see the worst of what is in our own [[personality]].

Another example of mistaken misanthropy is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sartre Jean-Paul Sartre]'s quote "Hell is other people." On the face of it, this looks deeply misanthropic, but actually Sartre was making an [[observation]] about the tendency of human beings to lack [[self-knowledge]]. We tend to project our worst [[fears]], and our most deeply disliked personal characteristics, onto other people, rather than look inside and face them within ourselves. Thus, when we look at other people we often see the worst of what is in our own [[personality]].

The German philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Schopenhauer Arthur Schopenhauer], on the other hand, was as famously misanthropic as his reputation. He wrote that "[[human]] [[existence]] must be a kind of [[error]]." It should be added, however, that misanthropy does not necessarily equate with an inhumane [[attitude]] towards humanity. Schopenhauer concluded, in [[fact]], that ethical treatment of others was the best attitude, for we are all fellow sufferers and all part of the same will-to-live; he also discussed suicide with a sympathetic understanding which was rare in his own time, when it was largely a taboo subject.

The German philosopher [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Schopenhauer Arthur Schopenhauer], on the other hand, was as famously misanthropic as his reputation. He wrote that "[[human]] [[existence]] must be a kind of [[error]]." It should be added, however, that misanthropy does not necessarily equate with an inhumane [[attitude]] towards humanity. Schopenhauer concluded, in [[fact]], that ethical treatment of others was the best attitude, for we are all fellow sufferers and all part of the same will-to-live; he also discussed suicide with a sympathetic understanding which was rare in his own time, when it was largely a taboo subject.

Martin Heidegger had also been said to show misanthropy in his concern of the "they" — the tendency of people to conform to one view, which no-one has really [[thought]] through, but is just followed because, "they say so". This might be thought of as more of a [[criticism]] of [[conformity]] rather than people in general. Unlike Schopenhauer, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidegger Heidegger] was opposed to any systematic [[ethics]], however in some of his later thought he does see the possibility of [[harmony]] between people, as part of the four-fold, mortals, gods, earth and sky.

Martin Heidegger had also been said to show misanthropy in his concern of the "they" — the tendency of people to conform to one view, which no-one has really [[thought]] through, but is just followed because, "they say so". This might be thought of as more of a [[criticism]] of [[conformity]] rather than people in general. Unlike Schopenhauer, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidegger Heidegger] was opposed to any systematic [[ethics]], however in some of his later thought he does see the possibility of [[harmony]] between people, as part of the four-fold, mortals, gods, earth and sky.

In early and pre-Islamic philosophy, certain thinkers such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_al-Rawandi Ibn al-Rawandi], a [[skeptic]] of [[Islam]], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Zakariya_ar-Razi Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi] often expressed misanthropic views.

In early and pre-Islamic philosophy, certain thinkers such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_al-Rawandi Ibn al-Rawandi], a [[skeptic]] of [[Islam]], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_Zakariya_ar-Razi Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi] often expressed misanthropic views.

In the Judeo-Islamic philosophies (800–1400), the Jewish philosopher [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadia_Gaon Saadia Gaon], uses the Platonic idea that the self-isolated man is dehumanized by friendlessness to argue against the misanthropy of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorite anchorite] [[asceticism]] and reclusiveness.

In the Judeo-Islamic philosophies (800–1400), the Jewish philosopher [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadia_Gaon Saadia Gaon], uses the Platonic idea that the self-isolated man is dehumanized by friendlessness to argue against the misanthropy of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorite anchorite] [[asceticism]] and reclusiveness.

[[Category: Psychology]]

[[Category: Psychology]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]

[[Category: Philosophy]]