Philosophy and the Social Problem

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

42880

Title

Philosophy and the Social Problem

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Will Durant revitalizes classic philosophy to address the modern social problem, arguing that reducing human misery requires modifying institutions through a renewed engagement with thinkers like Socrates, Plato, Bacon, Spinoza, and Nietzsche.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Philosophy and the Social Problem*, Will Durant argues that the primary task of philosophy is to address the 'social problem': the challenge of reducing human misery by modifying social institutions. He posits that civilization inevitably faces a crisis of 'rebarbarization,' where the dissolution of traditional customs and the rise of individualism lead to social disintegration. Durant contends that philosophy must serve as a mediator between science and statesmanship, organizing intelligence to reconstruct society and forge a new, natural ethic to replace obsolete supernatural sanctions. Durant traces this historical struggle through five major figures. He begins with Socrates, whose ethic challenged Athenian traditions by prioritizing individual reason, sparking a shift from collective citizenship to isolated individualism. Plato is presented as a political thinker who attempted to solve this chaos through philosopher-kings and a rigid state structure, though his views on slavery and democracy remain contentious. Francis Bacon shifts the focus toward science, asserting that knowledge empowers society to reconstruct itself, moving beyond scholasticism to practical utility. Baruch Spinoza offers a political ethics where virtue is equated with power and freedom. He rejects the notion that man is merely a political animal, advocating instead for a robust conception of liberty and order where democracy and intelligence coexist. Friedrich Nietzsche provides a radical critique, diagnosing modern despair as a result of Christian morality. He proposes a 'will to power' as the new metric for value, advocating for the creation of 'supermen' who transcend mediocrity and embrace life's suffering. Nietzsche argues that true morality is not mediocrity but the cultivation of strength and the capacity to overcome resistance. Transitioning to Part II, Durant examines modern solutions to the social problem, including feminism, socialism, and anarchism, while warning against the nihilism that arises from a 'dead God.' He concludes that philosophy must revitalize itself by engaging with the social problem, urging a return to a vital, instinctive engagement with life. True morality, he asserts, is the expression of ascendent and expanding life, achieved through the will to power rather than paralyzed adherence to duty. Ultimately, Durant calls for an organized intelligence that can transform the social problem into an opportunity for human rejuvenation.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42880.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg42880.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 12:45 UTC

Categories

• Philosophy
• Social Problems