Page 24 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 29
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Fromm enlightens us of the forms of violence
in relation to unconscious drives. We also
add one more form of violence the French
When we look sociologist, Pierre Bourdieu, emphasizes
with reference to power dynamics in a social
closer into the context.
ethical conflicts Playful Violence: This form of violence is
in Ethiopia, often the most normal and acceptable one.
we often find It doesn’t originate from any pathological
disorder, but rather from the desire to
reactive violence show and prove our abilities. Erich Fromm
explains, “We find it in those forms in
originating from which violence is exercised in the pursuit
a perceived or of displaying skill, not in the pursuit of
destruction, not motivated by hate or
alleged threat. destructiveness.” The best example of playful
violence is sport. Consider a boxing match
and the opponents for instance. The boxers
hit each other where it hurt, they bleed,
stumble and fall. But neither are driven
To describe Homo Sapiens is not the same by hatred; they rather strive to show their
as defining them. Just as we describe the fighting ability. Some even argue that playful
features of animals and plants, we can violence purges violent tendencies from the
describe human beings. Such features can be competitors and the spectators, reducing the
seen as human potentialities and tendencies occurrence of more destructive violence.
that arise in various contexts. I repeat that
they are not definitions but elements that can Reactive Violence: Such violence originates
be seen as part of ‘the human condition’. Of from our survival instinct or from the
the various features, we are going to explore retaliation for self-preservation. When we
one dominant tendency: Violence. Here, it is encounter something that threatens us, we
important to distinguish the act of violence defend ourselves in order to escape danger.
from the underlying reasons that create it. In Erich Fromm explains that such violence,
discussing forms of violence, we focus on the “is employed in the defense of life, freedom,
later. The forms of violence are not detected dignity, property – one’s own or that of
in the act of violence but in the unconscious others.” He further explains how it is rooted
drives or motivations that lead to the action. in fear and can employ some rationality by
linking cause with effect. For instance, when
In his book ‘The Heart of Man’, Erich a robber enters your house, you act violently
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