This open access book is about the German term ‘Menschenbild’. This term concerns basic beliefs about humanity such as equality or hierarchy, the desirability of freedom or control, and the relationship of people to nature. Such beliefs shape everything - how to live, how to treat others, how society is built. They underpin laws, morals, politics, and education. They shape how children are raised, how society functions, and how people view the future.
This book examines these beliefs, exploring why they matter, and how they affect people. Drawing on Friedrich Nietzsche, it argues three things:
- Everyone holds a set of basic beliefs about what it means to be human.
- These beliefs shape our knowledge, values, and institutions.
- They are not passive; they become real. Over time, they influence people.
By uncovering the hidden power of these beliefs, this book introduces a concept as foundational as it is overlooked and offers a new lens for understanding today’s cultural and political conflicts. It suggests that rethinking our understanding of humanity might be key to shaping a better future.
The Concept of Menschenbild and What it Means to be Human is essential reading for all scholars, researchers and advanced students of social philosophy and the philosophy of the human self. It is also of interest to researchers of the philosophy of language, linguistics and theology.