Very often one hears about famous people: "famous scientist", "philosopher", "inventor", "made a great contribution to the development of a certain sphere of human activity" and at the same time … "misanthrope". What is hidden behind this word? Who is
misanthrope?
Misanthrope (compound from the Greek "man" and "hatred") is a person who adheres to a certain philosophy of life, or rather the philosophy of misanthropy. Misanthropy can manifest itself both in a mild form of a predisposition to rejection of people, and in an extreme form of intolerance. However, it is worth emphasizing who a misanthrope is. This is an individual whose hatred is not directed at specific people, but at existing social values and norms of behavior, at sinful human nature, which cannot be changed by anything. The misanthrope is not at all devoid of self-criticism, sometimes he makes more exaggerated demands on himself than on others. The rejection of society does not prevent, however, such people from maintaining warm close relationships with the few friends or relatives for whom they feelsympathy.
Having found out who a misanthrope is, let's try to trace the history of the term itself. The word "misanthrope" was widely used after the publication of the same name
comedy by Jean Baptiste Molière. In it, the author tells us about the young boy Alceste, who surprised his relatives and friends with his strange deeds. Contrary to the sugary-flattering manner of communication then accepted in society, the hero did not want to follow generally accepted norms in any way and preferred to tell the whole truth in person, whatever it was. He constantly denounced his friend Filinta, his beloved Celiment and other people around him, adhered to his principles even when they brought him to a very disadvantageous position. The result of this play is sad: persecuted by his legal opponent, rejected by his beloved, he retires to live alone in order to have every right to say what he really thinks about people. What is actually more important for a person - social position or his own opinion? Here is the question that The Misanthrope makes the reader think about.
The meaning of this word acquired a new meaning during the heyday of capitalist society, when money becomes higher than moral values and breaks the foundations that have been formed for centuries, workers are exploited as working units. Against the backdrop of this worldwide fair of human vices, the most vivid protest against the existing order of things is expressed in the writings of Schopenhauer (who believed that he lived inworst of all worlds) and F. Nietzsche (who claimed that man no longer evolves). Misanthropy became almost ubiquitous due to the wars and social catastrophes of the 20th century, when it was even fashionable to say: "I am a misanthrope." Therefore, with a certain degree of confidence, it can be argued that the spread of anti-humanistic sentiments is an important indicator of the state of social decline, when a person becomes a burden to his brothers in reason, their values and principles.
One can argue for a long time about who a misanthrope is, whether he is useful to society, but one thing remains obvious - the phenomenon of misanthropy has existed throughout human history, only on a different scale.